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

An EIN is the US tax ID your bank and payment platforms will require. German 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.

Once the EIN is issued, Mercury or Relay let founders open a US business account fully online. 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.

German founders often default to forming a UG or GmbH first, then wonder why US clients and platforms still create friction. A US LLC is not a replacement for a German entity -- it is a separate, US-facing structure that gets full Stripe access, a US bank account, and a US-registered vendor identity that a GmbH cannot provide on its own.

German engineering, SaaS, and manufacturing-adjacent consulting founders selling into the US market get the most from a US LLC, particularly when US clients or platforms specifically expect a US-registered vendor rather than a German one.

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.

Wyoming suits most founders for cost and privacy. Delaware fits those planning to raise US venture funding. Texas suits revenue-generating businesses. New Mexico offers the lowest lifetime cost. Florida gives a Miami-based presence for LatAm-facing trade, though it publicly discloses member names. Comparison below.

Some founders assume forming a GmbH first is a prerequisite for a US LLC -- it is not; the two are entirely independent and serve different purposes. Others skip Form 5472 assuming their German tax filings cover US obligations -- they do not, and the 25,000 dollar penalty applies regardless of tax owed.

A US-Germany tax treaty has been in force since 1991, preventing the same income from being taxed twice. A single-member LLC owned by a non-resident is a disregarded entity for US tax 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. Germany has no exchange controls -- the euro is freely convertible with no fixed cap on funding a US LLC, though German tax residents should confirm with a Steuerberater how the LLC's income is treated on their own German return.