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Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers about forming and running a US company as a non-resident — company formation, EIN and ITIN, banking, taxes, pricing, and how Brio works. Can’t find your question? Book a free consultation or message us on WhatsApp.

Company Formation

Can I open a US company without living in the US?

Yes. You don’t need a US visa, an SSN, or a US address. Brio forms your company entirely remotely, wherever you are in the world.
For most non-resident founders an LLC is the simpler, more flexible choice. A C-Corporation is usually the right structure when you plan to raise outside investment. An S-Corporation is not an option for non-residents — it can’t have non-resident-alien owners. On a free call we’ll recommend the right fit for your plans at no charge.
It depends on your goals. Wyoming is popular for low ongoing cost and privacy; Delaware is the standard when you expect outside investment; New Mexico has the lowest filing fee and no annual report; Florida makes sense when your business genuinely operates there. One important point: state income tax follows where a business actually operates, not where it is formed — forming in a no-income-tax state does not exempt you from tax in a state where you really do business.
Yes. There is no US citizenship or residency requirement to own a US LLC or C-Corporation, and there is no cap on how much a non-resident can own.
State approval typically takes 3 to 7 business days. Some states, such as Wyoming and Delaware, offer same- or next-business-day processing where expedited filing is available. Timelines are set by each state, not by Brio.
We file your LLC for $1 — you pay your state’s own filing fee, which is set by the state, not by us. Every US state also requires a registered agent with a physical in-state address (ours is $35 for the first year), and most non-resident founders also need an EIN (+$35), so a typical all-in first year is about $71 plus your state’s filing fee. Every add-on is priced openly.
No. A US company is a business, not an immigration document — it does not grant a visa, work permit, green card, or any right to live or work in the United States. Brio does not provide immigration advice; for that, speak to an immigration attorney.

EIN — Employer Identification Number

What is an EIN?

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is the tax ID the IRS issues to your company — think of it as your company’s number with the IRS. Your company gets the EIN, not you personally.
An EIN identifies your company to the IRS. An ITIN identifies you personally. Many non-resident founders eventually need both, but for different reasons.
No. You do not need an SSN or an ITIN to get an EIN for your company.
The IRS typically takes about 2 to 4 weeks to issue an EIN to a non-resident applicant. The IRS controls this timeline, not Brio, so we never promise you a specific date.
You can — the IRS charges nothing for an EIN. Our $35 fee covers preparing your Form SS-4 correctly, acting as your Third Party Designee, submitting it, and chasing it through, so a small error doesn’t cost you weeks.
A brand-new EIN can be used immediately for many things, but allow up to two weeks before it clears the IRS’s systems for automated checks such as e-filing, electronic tax payments, and some bank or payment-processor verification. This short gap is the usual reason a valid new EIN is rejected by an automated system at first.
The CP 575 is the one-time notice the IRS sends confirming your EIN — it’s the letter banks and payment processors often ask to see. It can’t be re-issued; if you lose it, the replacement is a Letter 147C, which you request from the IRS.

ITIN — Individual Taxpayer Identification Number

What is an ITIN, and do I actually need one?

An ITIN is a nine-digit US taxpayer ID for people who need to be identified for federal tax purposes but aren’t eligible for a Social Security Number. A federal tax purpose is the gate — simply owning a US LLC is not, by itself, automatically a reason to get one. If someone tells you an ITIN is a compulsory part of forming or running your LLC, that’s an upsell, not a requirement. We’ll check whether you actually need one for free.
No. Brio is listed by the IRS as a Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA), which means we authenticate your identity documents ourselves and hand them straight back — your original passport is never sent to the IRS. The IRS does require an interview, which we hold by video call. (A Certifying Acceptance Agent is authorised by the IRS to certify documents and submit Form W-7; it is not an agent of the IRS, and the IRS does not endorse any firm.)
The IRS asks you to allow about 7 weeks, and 9 to 11 weeks during tax season (mid-January to end of April) or when you apply from overseas. Because applications from abroad fall into the longer band, we quote clients an honest 9 to 14 weeks end to end. The IRS controls this clock.
No. An ITIN is for federal tax purposes only. It does not authorise you to work in the US, does not provide or change immigration status, and is not a form of ID outside the tax system. Anyone selling it as a route to a visa, work permit, or US residency is misleading you.
$175. That covers checking your eligibility, preparing your Form W-7 and the supporting return or exception documents, the required interview, certifying your documents as a CAA (so you keep your passport), and submitting everything to the IRS.
A valid passport is the only document that can stand on its own. Without one, you’ll need at least two current documents (one with a photo). Any certified copy must come from the issuing agency with its official seal — the IRS does not accept notarised or self-certified copies. We’ll tell you exactly what applies to you before you start.

Banking & Payments

Can I open a US bank account from abroad?

Yes. We guide you through fintech options such as Mercury and Wise that work with non-resident-owned US LLCs. One honest note: no provider can guarantee you a US bank account — anyone (including us) can only make an introduction, and the bank sets its own requirements. Anyone promising approval is promising something they don’t control.
US customer-identification rules require a US taxpayer ID before an account is opened, and your LLC is a US entity whatever your own nationality. Banks also typically want to see your EIN confirmation letter (CP 575), not just the number.
Generally yes. Stripe requires a verifiable Taxpayer Identification Number (your EIN) and checks the legal name against the IRS record, so the details on your formation documents and your EIN letter need to match exactly — mismatches are the usual reason applications get flagged. (This is Stripe’s own policy, not an IRS rule.)
Your company’s US business account turns on the company’s EIN, not your personal ITIN. Some banks and fintechs will open a personal account for a non-resident with an ITIN and some won’t — that’s set by each institution, not by the IRS.

US Taxes & Compliance

Do I have to pay US taxes?

It depends on your business activity and your country’s tax treaty with the US. Most non-resident LLC owners owe less than they fear — but filing is still mandatory even when little or no tax is due. Our tax team will tell you what applies to your situation. Brio is not a law firm, a CPA firm, an enrolled agent practice or a tax adviser; this is general information, not advice on your situation.
A foreign-owned single-member US LLC generally has to file Form 5472 (with a pro forma Form 1120) each year. The trigger is a reportable transaction — money moving between you and the company, including contributions, distributions, and even formation costs — not whether you made a profit. It matters: the penalty for a missed or substantially incomplete Form 5472 is $25,000. Our tax team can handle this filing for you. Brio is not a law firm, a CPA firm, an enrolled agent practice or a tax adviser; this is general information, not advice on your situation.
Typically: your federal filing, your state’s annual report (where the state requires one), your registered agent renewal, and your US address renewal if you use one. Companies taxed as C-Corporations have additional corporate filings. Our US Tax Deadline Calculator gives you a personalised list, and our team can manage the filings for you. Brio is not a law firm, a CPA firm, an enrolled agent practice or a tax adviser; this is general information, not advice on your situation.
Every US state requires your company to have a registered agent: a real, continuously staffed street address in the state of formation that can receive official mail and legal notices. A PO box, a mail-forwarding service, or a virtual address does not qualify — and you can’t act as your own agent from abroad. Brio provides a compliant registered agent (included at $35 for the first year).
Possibly, yes. For example, a reportable transaction can trigger Form 5472 even with no profit, and being engaged in a US trade or business can require a personal return even with no income. “No income” does not automatically mean “no filing.” Our team can confirm what applies to you. Brio is not a law firm, a CPA firm, an enrolled agent practice or a tax adviser; this is general information, not advice on your situation.
A FinCEN final rule issued on 11 August 2026 permanently ended beneficial-ownership (BOI) reporting for companies created in the United States — including US LLCs owned entirely by non-residents. Because this position has changed more than once, please confirm the current requirement with us before relying on it. Brio is not a law firm, a CPA firm, an enrolled agent practice or a tax adviser; this is general information, not advice on your situation.

Pricing & Getting Started

What does everything cost?

Our published prices: company formation $1 plus your state’s filing fee; registered agent $35 for the first year; EIN $35; US virtual address $50; operating agreement $50; federal tax return $300; ITIN $175. A typical all-in first year for a new LLC is about $71 plus your state’s filing fee. Everything is priced openly — no surprise bundles.
You can book a free consultation and we’ll recommend the right entity and state, or start your order online any time. Throughout, you get a named person on WhatsApp (Monday to Friday) — not a ticket queue.
Yes. The call is free, and we’ll tell you honestly what you do and don’t need — including when you don’t need to buy something.
That’s exactly what the free call is for. Tell us about your business and we’ll recommend the right structure, state, and add-ons for your situation before you spend anything.

About Brio

Is Brio a law firm or a tax adviser?

No. Brio is not a law firm, a CPA firm, an enrolled agent practice, or a tax adviser. We provide general information about US filing requirements and we handle the filings themselves; we don’t give advice on your specific legal or tax situation.
Yes. Brio is an IRS-authorised Certifying Acceptance Agent, listed by name in the IRS’s own public directory of acceptance agents. Being a CAA authorises us to certify identity documents and submit Form W-7 for ITIN applications — it is not a licence to give tax advice, and the IRS does not endorse any firm.
Email [email protected], message us on WhatsApp at +44 7842 110456, or call +92 318 1380625. A named person answers, Monday to Friday.

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