Can a resident of the Dominican Republic 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 the Dominican Republic
- A valid passport. US banks and online identity checks usually ask for a passport rather than the cédula de identidad y electoral.
- Your home address in The Dominican Republic. 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 The Dominican Republic
The United States does not have an income tax treaty with the Dominican Republic. US-source payments to you follow the default US withholding rules.
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 The Dominican Republic
How the Dominican Republic taxes income you earn through a foreign LLC depends on the type of income. Confirm with a Dominican accountant before you start invoicing.
Good to know for The Dominican Republic
For US immigration and most US offices, ask the JCE for the long-form acta inextensa rather than the short extract.
Documents between Florida and The Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents travel with an apostille instead of consular legalization.
- Florida documents going to The Dominican Republic: your LLC records get a Florida apostille, and often a Spanish translation.
- Documents from The Dominican Republic 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 The Dominican Republic by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX).
The document US offices ask for most often is the birth record. In The Dominican Republic it's called the Acta de nacimiento (inextensa). 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 The Dominican Republic
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 The Dominican Republic; 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, Chile, Ecuador.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Dominican citizen open an LLC in Florida?
Yes. Florida has no citizenship or residency requirement. You need a Florida registered agent and a passport.
Does the Dominican Republic have a tax treaty with the United States?
No, it does not appear on the IRS list of income tax treaties.
Do I have to travel to the US?
Not to form the LLC or get the EIN. Some banks may ask for an in-person visit to open an account.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. For your specific situation, talk to a licensed attorney or CPA.