Florida LLC for non-residents

What you need

• A Florida registered agent. Required for every Florida LLC. If you live abroad, a service like ours is the practical option.
• A principal office address. It can be outside Florida and outside the United States.
• A passport for identification with banks and service providers.

Getting an EIN without a Social Security number

The IRS online EIN application requires the responsible party to have an SSN or ITIN. Without one, you apply with Form SS-4 by fax or mail. International applicants can also apply by phone. You do not need an ITIN to get an EIN for your LLC. We prepare the SS-4 for you. See our EIN guide.

Opening a US bank account

This is often the hardest step for non-residents. Some banks require the owner to visit a branch. Others, including several online business banks, accept non-resident owners remotely with the Articles, the EIN letter and a passport. Requirements change often, so check with the bank before you form.

US taxes for foreign-owned LLCs

• A single-member LLC owned by a foreign person must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 for each year it had a reportable transaction with its owner or related parties (for example, money put in or taken out). Penalties for not filing are high, so check the IRS instructions or ask a CPA.
• A multi-member LLC is taxed as a partnership and files Form 1065.
• Whether the LLC owes US income tax depends on whether it has income connected with a US trade or business. Talk to a cross-border CPA.

Florida taxes

Florida does not tax personal income. Your LLC may still owe sales tax or local taxes depending on its activity. See how Florida LLCs are taxed.

Using the LLC in your home country

Banks and registries abroad usually ask for your LLC documents with an apostille and a Spanish translation. Our Founder Abroad bundle, which is for Florida LLCs, includes the LLC, registered agent, EIN, a certified copy of your Articles, the Florida apostille and the Spanish translation for $444 in total: $319 for our service, which covers the State's certified-copy and apostille fees, plus the $125 Florida filing fee.

Can a Florida LLC get me a visa?

No. Owning an LLC does not give you immigration status or permission to work in the US. Visas that involve a business, like the E-2, have their own requirements. Talk to an immigration attorney.

Prefer another state?

You don't have to choose Florida. We form LLCs in 49 states and Washington, D.C., and act as your registered agent in each. See LLC cost by state or the Delaware, Wyoming and Texas pages. The EIN and Form 5472 steps above are federal.

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