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

An EIN is the US tax ID your bank and payment platforms will require. UK 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 UK-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 UK founders assume there must be a remittance limit similar to other countries -- there is none, since the UK abolished exchange controls in 1979. A more consequential mistake is assuming a US LLC will automatically be treated as a simple pass-through for UK tax purposes the way it typically is in the US -- HMRC's treatment can differ, and getting this wrong can create unexpected UK tax complexity, so it is worth a short consultation with a cross-border accountant before relying on assumptions from guides written for other countries. Others skip Form 5472 entirely, assuming UK tax residency exempts them from US filing obligations -- it does not.

Wyoming is the default for most UK founders -- low cost, strong privacy, a simple flat fee. Delaware suits those planning to raise US venture funding or convert to a C-Corp. 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 publicly discloses manager and member names. See the comparison table below.

Forming a US LLC from the UK 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 -- no Companies House filing or UK entity is required.

With an EIN and US bank account, Stripe treats your LLC like any other US business. Many UK founders already use Stripe UK directly, so the main benefit here is for those specifically targeting US-only platforms, US marketplaces, or US investors who expect a US entity in the cap table structure.

A US-UK tax treaty has been in force since 2003 and provides relief from double taxation on the same income. Unlike India, Pakistan, and Nigeria, the UK has had no exchange controls or outward remittance limits since 1979 -- there is no cap on funding your US LLC from the UK, and GBP is freely convertible for business transfers. What genuinely differs for UK founders is entity classification: HMRC's treatment of a US LLC is more nuanced than the straightforward disregarded-entity pass-through most other countries' founders rely on, and can depend on how the LLC is structured and elected for tax purposes -- UK-resident founders should get UK-specific cross-border tax advice rather than assuming the same simplicity as founders elsewhere. On the US side, the LLC must still file an informational Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 by April 15 regardless.

Once your EIN is issued, Mercury or Relay let you open a US business account entirely 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 -- both give UK founders a genuine USD account alongside their existing UK banking.