How to Start a US LLC from Chile (2026 Complete Guide)

An EIN is the US tax ID your bank and payment platforms will require. Chilean founders without an SSN or ITIN can still get one through IRS Form SS-4, filed by phone, fax, mail, or a third-party designee like EasyBrise. Processing usually takes one to three weeks.

Mercury and Relay both let Chilean founders open a US business account fully online once the EIN is issued. Mercury is free with FDIC-backed sweep coverage up to five million dollars and free international wires; Relay is free on its Starter plan with native QuickBooks/Xero sync.

Every state requires some annual filing -- a flat fee in Wyoming and Delaware, a free Public Information Report in Texas, nothing in New Mexico, a mandatory report in Florida. Federally, Form 5472 plus Form 1120 is due April 15. Since a FinCEN rule effective August 14, 2026, US-formed LLCs are permanently exempt from BOI reporting.

Chile's economy leans on mining, agriculture, and a genuinely active fintech and startup scene -- home to companies like NotCo and Betterfly. A US LLC tends to make the most sense for founders in these sectors who are already exporting services or software to US clients, rather than businesses purely serving the domestic Chilean market.

Choose a state, complete a short onboarding form, and submit a scanned passport. EasyBrise files the Certificate of Formation directly with the state -- approval typically takes three to fifteen business days -- then applies for the EIN and helps open a Mercury or Relay account.

Chile stands out among Latin American founders for one specific reason: it is one of the very few countries in the region with a comprehensive US tax treaty, in force since January 2024. Combined with a stable peso, an open capital account, and Chile's OECD membership, the mechanics of forming and running a US LLC from Chile are about as friction-free as anywhere in Latin America.

Wyoming suits most founders for cost and privacy. Delaware fits those planning to raise US venture funding. Texas suits revenue-generating businesses, with no franchise tax below a 2026 threshold of 2.65 million dollars. New Mexico offers the lowest lifetime cost and collects no member names. Florida gives a Miami-based presence for LatAm-facing trade, though it publicly discloses member names. Full comparison below.

Forming a US LLC from Chile is a five-step process most founders finish in two to four weeks: choose a state, file with a passport, get an EIN without an SSN, open a US bank account remotely, then keep up with one annual filing and Form 5472. EasyBrise runs the first four steps end-to-end.

Some founders assume Chile has no US tax treaty, confusing it with the rest of the region -- Chile actually has one, in force since 2024. Others skip Form 5472 assuming no US tax owed means no filing required -- the 25,000 dollar penalty applies regardless. Some also default to Florida without weighing that it is the only one of the five states that publicly discloses member names.

With an EIN and a US bank account, Stripe treats the LLC like any other US business. This particularly benefits Chilean founders in mining-adjacent SaaS, wine and agri exports, and fintech, where US clients and platforms often expect USD invoicing from a US-registered entity.

A US-Chile tax treaty has been in force since January 1, 2024 -- Chile is one of a small handful of Latin American countries with one -- preventing the same income from being taxed twice. A single-member LLC owned by a non-resident is a disregarded entity for US purposes, owing no US corporate tax on income not effectively connected with a US trade or business, but it must still file Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 by April 15. Chile has no fixed remittance cap and an open capital account, so funding the LLC works through ordinary bank transfers.