Does Uruguay tax income from a US LLC?

Historically Uruguay taxed mainly local-source income, but the 2026 reform (Law 20.446 with Resolution 1.517/2026) now taxes foreign income earned through non-resident entities at 12% when it falls outside the exemption regime. Get a current local opinion.

Can I form an LLC in Wyoming if I live in Uruguay and have never visited the US?

For a founder in Uruguay, yes, entirely remotely. Wyoming does not ask for residency or a trip to the US, and no SSN is required. A registered agent provides the Wyoming address, and the EIN application uses "Foreign" or "N/A" where an SSN would go.

What is the 12% rate under the 2026 reform?

It is the rate applied to foreign income obtained through non-resident entities that falls outside the exemption regime. Whether your LLC is inside or outside the exemption depends on its income and your residency position.

How long does a Wyoming LLC take from Uruguay?

For a founder in Uruguay, expect a few business days to roughly two weeks for Wyoming to approve the filing, depending on volume. The EIN by phone is usually same-week, so formation, EIN and a submitted bank application commonly take 2-4 weeks in total.

What ongoing filings does a Uruguayan founder need for a Wyoming LLC?

For a founder in Uruguay, the federal Form 5472 and pro forma Form 1120 come due every year, with a $25,000 minimum penalty for a missed filing. On the state side, Wyoming's requirement is $60 minimum, filed in your LLC's anniversary month.

What is the roughly USD 2 million tax-holiday threshold?

The tax-holiday threshold in the regime was raised to about USD 2 million under the 2026 reform. A small LLC may fall below it while a larger one does not; confirm the exact test with a Uruguayan adviser.

Is there a US-Uruguay income tax treaty?

No comprehensive income tax treaty is in force, so relief from double taxation depends on Uruguay's domestic rules, not on a treaty article.

Form a Wyoming LLC from Uruguay: Complete 2026 Guide

Everything a Uruguay-based founder needs to form, bank, and run a Wyoming LLC — costs, EIN process, and tax angles specific to Uruguay.

Start your formation View pricing

$100 · State filing fee

$60 minimum · Annual fee

2-5 business days · Avg. filing time

Quick Summary

Country: Uruguay
State: Wyoming
Avg. filing time: 2-5 business days
State filing fee: $100 (mail) / $102-104 (online)
Annual report fee: $60 minimum (based on in-state assets, per Wyoming Statute § 17-29-209)

Why Wyoming

Why do Uruguayan founders look at Wyoming? Mostly because the state-level side is predictable. The filing fee is $100 ($102 online), the ongoing requirement is $60 (based on in-state assets, minimum $60, filed on the anniversary month), and the state applies no state income tax and no franchise tax. Wyoming does not publicly list LLC member or manager names in its formation filings. Keep in mind that the state says nothing about how Uruguay taxes you; that depends on Uruguay law and is covered further down this page. What Wyoming offers is a low, predictable annual cost and strong privacy.

For Uruguayan Founders

Uruguay has long been known for taxing mainly income earned inside its borders, which is why foreign-income structures attract attention there. Freelancers, software developers and online sellers in Uruguay form US LLCs to invoice in dollars and keep a US business bank account. The ground has shifted in 2026: a reform now reaches foreign income held through non-resident entities, so the old assumption that foreign-source income is simply outside the Uruguayan system should be re-tested before you form.

Is Wyoming Right For You

The case for Wyoming: you want the lowest ongoing annual cost combined with strong privacy and no state income tax, and you don't need a Delaware-specific court system or investor familiarity. The case against is simply that another state may suit your priorities better, and changing states after formation means closing the LLC and starting a new one.

After Formation Checklist

Three things to do straight after formation. First, the paperwork: an Operating Agreement, and a note of the EIN letter's location (if it is lost, ask the IRS for Form 147C). Second, the money side: bank account, then Stripe or PayPal subject to their review. Third, the calendar: your Wyoming annual obligation ($60 minimum, filed in your LLC's anniversary month) and the federal Form 5472 and pro forma 1120. Federal Beneficial Ownership Information reporting is not something you need to do: FinCEN's rule in force since August 14, 2026 permanently exempts all US-formed LLCs.

Forming In Wyoming Step By Step

For a Uruguay-based owner the order of operations is: registered agent first (you need their Wyoming address for the filing), then the Articles of Organization, then the EIN, then the bank account. The EIN application is Form SS-4; leave the SSN field as "Foreign" or "N/A". Calling the IRS international line (267-941-1099) is the fast route at about 45-60 minutes; faxing or mailing the form takes 4-6 weeks. Once you hold the EIN letter, bank and payment applications can begin.

Wyoming LLC For Uruguayan Founders

With the 2026 Uruguayan reform pushing founders to model their numbers, a Wyoming LLC at $100 to file and a $60 minimum annual fee keeps the US side cheap while the tax analysis happens at home.

Five Year State Cost Of A Wyoming LLC

Over five years, the state-level cost of a Wyoming LLC is a $100 filing fee plus $60 a year for five years, so $400 in total, before the registered agent. That makes Wyoming the middle of the five states on this measure. The same arithmetic across the five states runs from $50 to $2,110. For a Uruguayan owner, the bigger variable is not this US state cost but whether the 2026 reform's 12% rate reaches your income.

What A Wyoming LLC Costs From Uruguay

Budgeting for a Wyoming LLC from Uruguay? The one-time state fee is $100 ($102 online). Every LLC then needs a registered agent (typically $100-150 a year); the EIN itself costs nothing when you apply to the IRS directly; and Mercury or Relay accounts are usually free. The yearly state-side item is $60 (based on in-state assets, minimum $60, filed on the anniversary month). Bundled, EasyBrise Global Launch costs $295 for year one with a registered agent included and $149 a year to renew.

Banking From Uruguay Mercury And Relay

Uruguay is not on Mercury's prohibited-countries list, which is based on country of residence, and not on Relay's list, which looks at the citizenship and residency of owners. Each bank still decides on its own review, so approval is not guaranteed. Neither bank's published rules restrict international wires involving Uruguay. Because the 2026 reform makes the source and classification of income a live question, keep clean records of which client paid what into which account.

Your Recurring Dates As A Uruguayan Owner

As a Uruguayan owner, your recurring dates look like this. State: Wyoming's annual report and $60 minimum fee fall due in your LLC's anniversary month. Federal: Form 5472 with the pro forma Form 1120 is due on the return due date, April 15 for a calendar-year LLC, extendable with Form 7004. For the one-off EIN call, the IRS line (6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern) is open 7 a.m. to midnight Uruguayan time in US daylight time (8 a.m. to 1 a.m. in US standard time). Put the state date and the federal date in your calendar when the EIN arrives, because a missed Form 5472 carries a $25,000 minimum penalty.

Dual Citizenship And The Mercury Relay Rules

Mercury and Relay test eligibility differently, which matters if you hold more than one passport. Mercury's prohibited-countries list is based on country of residence, not citizenship, and a citizen of a listed country who lives elsewhere may still be eligible after review. Relay's list looks at the citizenship or residency of the owners. Uruguay is on neither list. If you hold another citizenship or live elsewhere, check that country against both lists before applying.

Uruguays 2026 Reform And The 12 Percent Rate

Under the 2026 reform (Law 20.446, with Resolution 1.517/2026), foreign income earned through non-resident entities that falls outside the exemption regime is taxed at 12%. The tax-holiday threshold in the regime was raised to roughly USD 2 million. In plain terms, a small LLC may sit inside the exemption or the holiday while a larger one does not, and the answer depends on the entity's income and your residency position. Because the rules are new, ask a Uruguayan adviser for a current opinion rather than relying on earlier guidance. On the US side the LLC files Form 5472 and a pro forma Form 1120 every year, with a $25,000 minimum penalty for a missed or incomplete filing.

No Income Tax Treaty Between Uruguay And The US

Uruguay and the United States do not have a comprehensive income tax treaty in force. Without a treaty article to rely on, double-tax relief depends on Uruguay's domestic rules and on how the US tax result is documented. Keep copies of the LLC's federal filings and proof of any US tax paid, since a Uruguayan accountant will need them to show what was already taxed.

Requirements

Requirement	Needed
US Social Security Number
US visit required
Registered agent with US address
Wyoming annual filing
Federal Form 5472 + pro forma 1120

Costs

Item	Cost
State filing fee	$100 (mail) / $102 (online)
Registered agent (annual)	$100-150/yr (or included in EasyBrise Global Launch)
EIN application	Free via IRS (or via a paid service)
US business bank account	Free (Mercury / Relay)
EasyBrise Global Launch (year 1, incl. registered agent)	$295
EasyBrise renewal (year 2+)	$149/yr

Who Should Choose Wyoming

Choose Wyoming if

you want the lowest ongoing annual cost combined with strong privacy and no state income tax, and you don't need a Delaware-specific court system or investor familiarity

Consider another state if

your priorities (fundraising plans, revenue level, or reporting tolerance) point more strongly to one of the other four states in the comparison table above.

Comparison

State	Filing Fee	Annual Requirement	State Income Tax	Privacy
Wyoming	$100 mail / $102 online	$60	None	No public member names
Delaware	$110	$400 flat annual franchise tax	None	No public member names
Texas	$300	$0 franchise tax for LLCs with revenue below the no-tax-due threshold	None	No public member names
New Mexico	$50	$0 ever	None	No public member names
Florida	$125	$138.75 mandatory annual report fee, due every year	None	Member names public

Banking

Mercury
Popular with non-resident founders; requires US LLC + EIN; no US visit needed
Relay
Remote-friendly for non-residents; requires formed US entity

Frequently Asked Questions

More guides for founders in Uruguay

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