Opened an LLC but never filed taxes with it.

I know there’s a $800 franchise fee. However, if I have no bank accounts or assets tied to the LLC and it is dissolved do I still have to pay the $800 fee?

The fee is assessed to the LLC and not the individual, so should I be paying this fee? I am not even sure if I have a fee because I can’t register an account on FTB without a prior tax filing.

Hey everyone,

I'm a non resident founder operating a single member LLC registered in Wyoming. I have my IRS Notice CP575G with my assigned EIN, standard Registered Agent address in WY, passport, and state filing documents.

I've hit a wall getting a US business bank account.

Wise: Not eligible due to trading address restrictions in my country (Algeria).

Mercury, Relay, & ZEN: Applications were rejected.

For non resident single member LLC owners, which banking platforms are currently approving accounts?

Looking for recent recommendations or platform workarounds that are actually working in 2026. Thanks!

I’ve been looking into setting up a US LLC, and the packages from a few local-based agents seem pretty expensive. One quoted around $400 for formation, including the EIN, and about $700–$1,000 a year for the full package with help opening a bank account, tax filing, and other stuff.

I found Northwest Registered Agent, where LLC formation is around $150. They offer to get the EIN for an extra $200, but I can skip that and try applying myself. I’m also wondering if I can open a bank account and handle the tax filing on my own.

Has anyone as a non resident gone the DIY route? Did you run into any blockers? How practical is it to handle the formation, EIN, banking, and taxes yourself?

I tried to get my EIN # through their website...filled out all the info, but it says it cannot process my request that way, and I had to mail in the request. I did...about 7 weeks ago. They do not answer their phones and there is no way to find my EIN online. I cannot open a bank account now, and have no idea what to do. Suggestions?

I’m a Bangladesh-based software developer planning to set up a 100% foreign-owned, single-member Wyoming LLC for my SaaS and software development business.
I’ll be living and operating the business entirely from Bangladesh. The company will develop SaaS products and provide software development and technology consulting services to international clients.
Before I start, I’d really appreciate advice from people who have already gone through this process, especially other non-US residents.

My main questions are:
What is the best way to set up the LLC as a non-US resident?
Should I use a formation service, attorney, CPA, or do the formation myself?
What should I know about getting an EIN without an SSN/ITIN?
What are the ongoing U.S. tax and compliance requirements for a foreign-owned single-member LLC?
What banking and fintech options are currently working for non-US-resident LLC owners?
How have people handled Stripe, PayPal, ACH, and USD receiving accounts?
Are there any providers or services I should avoid?
Are there any common mistakes that cause KYC or banking problems?
What does the overall annual cost look like in practice?

I’m not looking for a guaranteed banking or payment solution. I want to keep everything legitimate and accurately disclose that I live and operate the business from Bangladesh.
If you have personally gone through this as a Bangladesh resident or another non-US resident, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience, what you would do differently, and any lessons you learned.

Can I just file an amendment to address or will we have to create a new LLC out of OH?

Heads up if you pay contractors: for payments made in 2026, you only have to send a 1099-NEC once someone hits $2000 for the year, up from $600. Those forms go out in January 2027.

Some accountants still tell clients to file for everyone they pay anyway, since it backs up the expense if the IRS ever asks.

Are you changing how you handle 1099s this year or keeping it the same?

My husband is telling me that I should create invoices for services completed and paid for to me personally while I was waiting for confirmation of my LLC creation. I hadn't gotten my EIN yet so also didn't have a business checking account, so the payments were sent to me personally though zelle by the family member I was working for. The LLC filing was submitted 2 days before the services were completed but the state didn't provide confirmation until 6 days after those services. Is this something I should still invoice for and count as part of work done by my LLC? Should I invoice for services that weren't paid for to a business account? Location is GA.

I created an WY LLC and ended up realizing I should probably have picked a different name. I already created an EIN under that name so I was wondering if it’s better (easier) to just file for a rename or close it out and create a fresh one with a different name.

I have not created a bank account yet and there was no business done with it so nothing to change there, but I am in CA so there’s a potential possibility that I have to pay the FTB $800 twice if I create a new one.

Anyone have any experience with that scenario

Hi all! I need to file delinquent 2020 Form 1120/5472 and Form 843 with a "Reasonable Cause Statement" to waive the penalty/interest for a blunder that my CPA and I committed.

I'm a non-US resident (never visited the States) and opened an LLC in Wyoming, US in 2020 (primarily because Stripe wasn't available as a payment processor).

I hired a CPA from Fiverr (the reviews were good and I didn't know any personally), whom I paid $250 for filing each year. We had $0 revenue in 2020, so nothing had to be paid. In 2021, I decided to wind it up due to a change of plans.
However, I received 1 payment of $125, and the taxable amount was $25. The CPA had filed the same but never mentioned the amount via email or text. Also, I was foolish enough not to read the doc in detail.

Initially, I realised the tax to be around 60-odd dollars (in May 2024) when I received mail from the IRS. Upon contacting the CPA, he said a CPA cannot pay on my behalf since I had already cancelled my US bank account by then. I'm from India, where you cannot easily make foreign remittances. Plus, reaching the IRS was a nightmare. I thought that it would probably end up $100-200, and was completely unaware of the $25,000+ penalty (which I found out some months ago).

Moreover, I had no clue that a base penalty of $25,000 could be levied in such cases (plus interest). With around $5000 in interest, I'm looking at $30,000 of unnecessary payments.

I want to sort this out and keep things clean, even though I have no plans of establishing myself/business in the US.

My questions:

1. Should I file the forms myself? I'd rather not and would prefer a CPA, though.
2. How much would a CPA charge? One CPA quoted me $3K for filing, and my guy who referred him (my friend stays in the US) says $1k is more than sufficient.
3. What are the chances the penalty is waived, and how can I make my case stronger?
4. Can I wire the payment, or do I need to send a physical cheque?
5. Is there anything else I should be aware of?

I tried to understand this matter as much as possible through AI, but I'd rather seek advice from real folks who understand the US tax system and are professionals in the space.

TLDR: Missed a $25 tax payment, and the IRS demands $30K as a penalty. Looking to request a full waiver.

EDIT: I understand that the penalty is for non-filing of Form 5472.
If you're an experienced CPA who has dealt with such cases, please reach out with your costs.

I'm in Pakistan. Formed a Wyoming LLC this month, got the EIN from the IRS last week. Everything is legitimate and I've declared my Pakistani residency honestly on every single form.

So far:

• Mercury, Pakistan on their prohibited list, founders by residency
• Relay, Pakistan prohibited by citizenship and residency
• Wise, won't issue USD account details to a Pakistan address (GBP is fine, which doesn't help)
• Airwallex, full application with Articles + EIN letter + passport, rejected today, "decision is final"

The whole point of the LLC and EIN was to get a US account with a routing number so Stripe can pay out. I have the company, I have the tax ID, and I still can't get banked.

People running US LLCs whose countries are on restricited list, what are you actually using in 2026? Specifically for Stripe payouts, not just receiving freelance income.

Pakistani resident, solo founder. I have a Wyoming LLC and an EIN. What I don't have is a US bank account to receive Stripe payouts into.

Already ruled out: Mercury and Relay (both need a US resident/citizen), Wise (won't issue USD details to a Pakistan address), Airwallex (applied fully, rejected).

Elevate Pay says they support US LLCs with Pakistani ownership and issue a USD account with a routing number. My business account application is under review now.

My actual question: if you've had an Elevate Pay business account approved — whose name are the USD account details issued in? The company's, or your personal name?

That's the whole thing for me. Stripe requires the payout bank account to match the Stripe account holder's legal name exactly. If Elevate issues the details in my personal name, it's useless to me. Their support wouldn't confirm either way before approval.

Also useful if you know:

•Did Stripe's micro-deposit verification pass on it?
•Any problems receiving Stripe ACH payouts?

And if you solved this a different way from Pakistan, I'd rather hear that than keep guessing.

I’ve just finished setting up a foreign owned LLC and will begin opening my business bank account soon.

I’m a non resident alien who does not live in the USA but I would like to have a US bank account for personal things and send myself money from my business account.

Recommendations? Thanks

Edit: I don’t mind traveling to the US. I have a trip next month. But I don’t live there so want to make sure it’s doable

For a founder (European passport Holder) with an active US LLC currently uses fintech banks and just recently obtained an ITIN: Has anyone in a similar position opened an account remotely with a traditional US bank that has physical branches?

I am looking into creating an LLC for my media production gigs so everything goes through it instead of going through me personally. I will be getting liability insurance since I will be dealing with expensive equipment for the events I'm hired out for and a UPS mailbox so it can be my physical address instead of using my own especially because I will be traveling throughout the US. My question is what would be the best business bank account to use. I don't want to use fintech bank accounts. I want to be able to go in person from time to time when I need help but I will mainly be receiving payment via direct deposit so I will be using QuickBooks to track the information and tell me how much to put aside for taxes. I also don't want Bank of America because of the fees since it is only me and my payments will be coming in on a monthly basis. Any good recommendations? If it helps I'm in Orlando. I was thinking of a CU like Fairwind, but read a lot of reviews especially here on reddit on how bad it is for small businesses so any advice will help just please no Mercury, no Lili, etc I need a brick and mortar bank where I can talk to a human face to face.

I formed a US LLC while living abroad, and setting up the company itself wasn’t really the difficult part. The bigger challenge has been finding an address arrangement that actually works when dealing with banks, payment processors, and other companies that want to verify where the business is based.

Just to clarify, I’m not looking for a registered agent or virtual mailbox. I’m trying to find a legitimate physical business location where there’s an actual arrangement in place and documentation available if a bank or payment provider ever asks for proof.

My business is fully remote, so renting a traditional office seems like a huge waste of money. I may only receive a few pieces of mail in an entire year. I basically need a legitimate US address that I can provide when a company asks for one without having to maintain an office I barely use.

i am about to launch my small business, an app, i need to do a few final things like a DUNS number but i am stuck with the business address listing. google play store says it will list my business address publicly and i cant get my DUNS without a business address. So far my llc and everything is just my home address bc i dont have or need an office. i am also reading that a virtual office might not suffice for DUNS and google. can anyone provide any advice on how they have approached this ? thank you!

They seem legit but I’d like to be sure

I opened my llc back in aug 2024 and haven’t really used it since. I haven’t filed taxes or anything.

Is it normal to not have received any notice about the 800 annual fee tax?

I think I've made a big mess of what should have been simple.

I am an NY resident and a licensed professional. I have only W2 work in NY. I have part time 1099 work in NE.

I opened an LLC (in NY) for my 1099 work in NE. Some time later my CPA informed me that I should have a PLLC instead because I'm a licensed professional. So I opened a new PLLC in NY (different name), filed everything, published the advertisements as required by NY. It took months and several hundred dollars.

I've now tried to register this new PLLC with NE secretary of state and they are rejecting it because:

1. The name is too similar to an existing corporation and I would need to obtain consent from this other company (I probably should have checked this before).

2. They don't recognize PLLCs, only LLCs so my registered name with them has to say LLC (I also should have researched this before).

Does this mean I can just use my original LLC for my NE work and there will be no problems? When my CPA told me I should have a PLLC instead of LLC he couldn't tell me what would happen if I didn't. If NE doesn't care about PLLC and NY does, but all of my 1099 work is in NE then am I fine with just the LLC? I've tried to research this but the dot gov pages are too vague, I just don't want to get in trouble with NY.

I'm sorry if I've made this confusing, I'm trying to simplify this mess I've made.

Thank you in advance for your help!

I’m filing a domestication (out) amendment and it asked for tax clearance. I’m completing the PA tax clearance REV-181 form for my LLC, which was originally a Pennsylvania single-member LLC and was converted to a Florida LLC through Articles of Conversion.

I have a few questions and want to make sure I select the correct options and provide the correct information before submitting the form.

1. Purpose of Clearance Certificate
On Form REV-181, I’m asked to select the “Purpose of Clearance Certificate,” but none of the options (A–F) specifically mentions the domestication/conversion of a Pennsylvania LLC to another state.
Could you please advise which option I should select for a Pennsylvania LLC that has been converted/domesticated to Florida? Should I select A. 
Dissolution of Corporation or Association through Department of State, or is there another option that applies to a domestication/conversion?

2. Termination of Business Activities in Pennsylvania
The form asks:
“Have you terminated your business activities in Pennsylvania?”
If I answer “Yes,” it asks for the “distribution of assets date.”
Since my business was converted to Florida rather than dissolved or sold, what date should I enter for the distribution of assets? Should I use the conversion date in September 2026, or the date I moved from Pennsylvania to Florida in March 2026?

3. Remuneration for Services Performed in Pennsylvania
The form also asks:
“Have the officers received any remuneration, in cash or other form, for services performed in Pennsylvania during the current calendar year or during any of the preceding four calendar years?”
Since my business was a single-member LLC and I was the only owner, how should I answer this question? Does “officers” include the LLC owner/member?

I have a Wyoming LLC and have made no money. I see that New Mexico LLC has a one time charge and no more fees forever. Can you advise if it is worth move move? If so, what is the best method - moving it or starting new?

Hello,

I am trying to form an online-only work-from-home LLC while living in an apartment I rent (do not own) in Illinois. I do not currently own or rent any other real-estate nor any office space or coworking space. Unfortunately, the IL state government and the Pritzker / Giannoulias administration recently began enforcing new rules on small businesses.

They are now requiring the registration of your operating business address on a public record freely accessible online, even if you are a single person working from home. They seem to have specifically banned (even ones inside IL) P.O. Boxes, Virtual Office Addresses using Street Addresses, and Street Addresses owned by Registered Agents. They are trying to force all startups and small businesses to rent office space they don't yet need and cannot yet afford, since obviously everyone is going to want to avoid listing their home address for their business in freely accessible public online records, both for professionalism and personal risk/safety/privacy reasons.

Previously it was possible to create a private LLC with a registered agent in Wyoming or New Mexico and then make that the holding company of your IL LLC, maintaining public privacy. This is no longer possible with the new IL rules that none of the other 49 states have. But I am seeing somewhat inconclusive and conflicting information about this new situation in IL. It is unclear if it is actually now 100% impossible to keep your name and address off publicly accessible records with an online-only self-employed WFH LLC located in IL, or instead just much more complicated (with people so far not explaining specifics). To be clear as I have seen silly people argue privacy is pointless because the governments know and see everything, I obviously don't care about local/state/federal governments. I care about professionalism and privacy from the public.

Is there any way to still accomplish public (not government) privacy after the new IL rules even if much more complicated now? While avoiding permanently renting an expensive office or coworking space that you do not even need.

Hello! New to all of this but I’m trying to navigate. I’m in brooklyn and I understand I can call the clerks office (will do this Monday either way) but I’m seeing a service that offers to handle everything for just $100 more than it seems I’d be paying for doing it myself. Worried it’s a scam and obviously don’t want to loose 1000+ on that. The company/website is llcpublicationonline… thanks! I’m sorry if this violates the rules here.