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

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

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, so most Philippine-founded LLCs have no BOI obligation at all.

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

Some founders assume outward transfers to fund a US LLC need special BSP pre-approval -- for typical formation and operating amounts, they do not. Others pick Florida by default without realizing it is the only one of the five states that publicly discloses member names, which many solo VA and BPO founders prefer to avoid. A frequent and costly mistake is skipping Form 5472, assuming no US tax owed means no filing required -- the 25,000 dollar penalty applies regardless. Finally, some founders delay forming a US entity long after outgrowing solo freelance work, missing out on cleaner invoicing and better client trust that a US LLC provides.

Wyoming is the default for most Filipino founders -- low cost, strong privacy, a simple flat fee. Delaware suits those planning to raise US venture funding. Texas fits businesses expecting real revenue, with zero franchise tax below a 2026 threshold of 2.65 million dollars. New Mexico offers the lowest lifetime cost and never collects member names. Florida gives a Miami-based presence for LatAm-facing trade, though it is the only one of the five states that publicly discloses manager and member names -- worth noting for VA and BPO founders who often prefer Wyoming or New Mexico instead. See the comparison table below.

Forming a US LLC from the Philippines follows five steps most founders finish in two to four weeks: choose a state, file with just a passport, get an EIN without an SSN, open a US bank account remotely, then maintain one annual state filing plus a federal Form 5472. EasyBrise runs the first four steps end-to-end, entirely without an SEC or DTI registration in the Philippines.

With an EIN and US bank account, Stripe treats your LLC like any other US business -- no separate incorporation step needed. This is especially useful for VA and BPO founders moving beyond individual platform payouts (Upwork, Fiverr, direct clients) into invoicing clients directly through a proper US business structure.

A US-Philippines tax treaty has been in force since 1982, preventing the same income from being taxed twice -- US tax paid can generally be credited against your Philippine tax liability. On the US side, a single-member LLC owned by a non-resident is a disregarded entity that owes no US corporate tax on income not effectively connected with a US trade or business, but it must still file an informational Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 by April 15. On the transfer side, BSP rules do not require prior approval for outward transfers of the size typical for funding or running a US LLC.

Banking options are more limited for founders based in this country. Payoneer is commonly used for receiving international payments — confirm current eligibility directly before relying on it.