Can a resident of Ecuador 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 Ecuador
- A valid passport. US banks and online identity checks usually ask for a passport rather than the cédula de ciudadanía.
- Your home address in Ecuador. 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 Ecuador
The United States does not have an income tax treaty with Ecuador. 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 Ecuador
Ecuador taxes residents on worldwide income. Money sent abroad may be subject to Ecuador's currency outflow tax (ISD), so check the current rate before you fund the LLC.
Good to know for Ecuador
Ecuador uses the US dollar, so there's no currency conversion between your local accounts and your LLC's US bank account.
Documents between Florida and Ecuador
Ecuador is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents travel with an apostille instead of consular legalization.
- Florida documents going to Ecuador: your LLC records get a Florida apostille, and often a Spanish translation.
- Documents from Ecuador 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 Ecuador by the Cancillería.
The document US offices ask for most often is the birth record. In Ecuador it's called the Partida 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 Ecuador
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 Ecuador; 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, the Dominican Republic.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Ecuadorian citizen open an LLC in Florida?
Yes. Florida has no citizenship or residency requirement. You need a Florida registered agent and a passport.
Does Ecuador 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.