Open a Florida LLC from Chile

Can a resident of Chile own a Florida LLC?

Yes. Florida has no citizenship or residency requirement for LLC owners. You form the LLC online, with a Florida registered agent, without traveling.

What you need from Chile

• A valid passport. US banks and online identity checks usually ask for a passport rather than the cédula de identidad.
• Your home address in Chile. The LLC's principal office can be abroad.
• A Florida registered agent. Required for every Florida LLC. We provide it.

Getting the EIN without a US Social Security number

Without an SSN or ITIN, the EIN is requested with IRS Form SS-4 by fax, mail or phone for international applicants. You don't need an ITIN first. See EIN guide.

US taxes and the treaty with Chile

The United States has an income tax treaty with Chile, listed on the IRS treaty page. A treaty can reduce US withholding on some payments, such as dividends or royalties, when you qualify for its benefits.

A single-member LLC owned by a foreign person files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 for each year in which it has a reportable transaction with its owner or related parties (for example, money put in or taken out). The penalty for missing it starts at $25,000, so ask a CPA whether you had one. More in LLC for non-residents and the Form 5472 guide.

Taxes in Chile

Chile taxes residents on worldwide income and has controlled foreign entity rules for passive income. A Chilean accountant can confirm how your LLC is treated by the SII.

Good to know for Chile

The income tax treaty between the US and Chile is in force, which can reduce withholding on some payments between the two countries.

Documents between Florida and Chile

Chile is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents travel with an apostille instead of consular legalization.

• Florida documents going to Chile: your LLC records get a Florida apostille, and often a Spanish translation.
• Documents from Chile used in the US: USCIS generally needs only a certified translation, not an apostille. When another US office does ask for one, it is issued in Chile by the Chilean authority responsible for each type of document, through the official online apostille service.

The document US offices ask for most often is the birth record. In Chile it's called the Certificado de nacimiento. We translate it for USCIS.

Another state instead of Florida?

Florida is not your only option. You can also form the LLC in another state we sell, such as Delaware, Wyoming, Texas or Nevada, with Coral Filings as your registered agent there. Compare fees in LLC cost by state, or see Delaware and Wyoming. We don't say one is better: ask a licensed attorney or CPA which state suits you.

One order for founders in Chile

The Founder Abroad bundle, available for Florida LLCs only, forms your LLC with a registered agent and EIN, and includes a certified copy of your Articles with the Florida apostille and a Spanish translation, prepared for use with a bank or registry in Chile; the receiving office decides whether to accept it. $444 in total: $319 for our service, which covers the State's certified-copy and apostille fees, plus the $125 Florida filing fee.

Founders from other countries

The steps above are the same for every country we cover. Guides for the other countries: Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Spain, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador.

This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. For your specific situation, talk to a licensed attorney or CPA.