What a US LLC costs to keep
Updated October 2026. General information, not tax or legal advice.
Forming a US LLC is quick and cheap. Keeping it costs a few hundred dollars and a few hours of admin each year, even if it never earns a dollar. Here is what a single-owner LLC owned by a non-resident costs before it does any real US business.
Wyoming vs New Mexico
| Wyoming | New Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Formation (one time) | $100 state fee | $50 state fee |
| State fee each year | $60 minimum, filed with the annual report | $0. No annual report |
| Registered agent (required) | About $50–300 a year | About $50–300 a year |
| Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 | About $150–600 from a preparer | About $150–600 from a preparer |
| Typical total per year | About $300–900 | About $200–850 |
Wyoming’s $60 is a minimum: the license tax is the greater of $60 or $0.0002 per dollar of assets located in Wyoming. A New Mexico LLC taxed as a pass-through owes no state franchise tax. Registered agent and preparer prices are market ranges, not quotes.
Which state to choose
- Wyoming if you want a US bank account. Banks and fintechs see Wyoming LLCs all the time, and its LLC law has more court history behind it. It costs $60 a year more and the annual report must be filed on time.
- New Mexico if you want the lowest cost and will track your own deadlines. There is no annual report, so the state sends no reminders. If your registered agent lapses unnoticed, the LLC can be dissolved. Banks may ask more questions during onboarding.
Neither state lists owners on public filings. That privacy covers public records only: banks, the IRS and courts still see who owns the company.
Your yearly calendar
| Task | When | State |
|---|---|---|
| Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 | April 15, or October 15 with an extension | Both |
| Annual report and $60 license tax | First day of the month the LLC was formed | Wyoming |
| Registered agent renewal | Yearly, on the provider’s billing date | Both |
| Records of money moving between you and the LLC | All year; needed for Form 5472 | Both |
US-formed LLCs no longer file a beneficial ownership (BOI) report with FinCEN.
The one federal form: Form 5472
Each year, a US LLC owned by a non-resident files Form 5472 with a one-page Form 1120 cover sheet. It lists money that moved between you and the company, such as your first deposit. It is not an income tax return, and no tax is paid with it. Preparers usually charge $150–600.
The one rule: file it on time every year the LLC exists, even in a quiet year. Put it on your calendar like any other fixed date.
Compared with a company at home
Before it starts selling, a US LLC asks for less each year than a company in the UK, Canada, Singapore or Hong Kong.
| US LLC | UK | Canada | Singapore | Hong Kong | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly accounts | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yearly tax return | No. One short form instead | Yes, unless accepted as dormant | Yes, even if inactive | Yes, unless waived | Yes, when requested |
| Yearly audit | No | No, if small | Usually not | No, if small | Yes, unless declared dormant |
| Local company secretary | No | No | No | Yes, plus a local director | Yes |
For a private company that isn’t trading yet. Every country also has its own yearly registry filing, and each one charges penalties for late filings.
What changes once you start selling
- US income tax returns if your income counts as US business income. A CPA should handle this.
- State sales tax registration once your sales into a state pass its threshold, usually $100,000 a year.
- Form 1099-NEC for each US contractor you pay $2,000 or more in 2026.
- California’s $800 minimum tax if the LLC is doing business there, for example through a California employee or inventory.
- Bookkeeping, typically $50–500 a month depending on volume.
If you change your mind
Changing your mind is cheap, and the cost depends on when:
- Before we file your company: full refund.
- After filing, before setup is done: we refund the work we haven’t started, minus fees already paid to the state and the registered agent.
- After setup: closing the LLC costs a one-off amount:
| Wyoming | New Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Close your US bank accounts | Usually free | Usually free |
| Dissolve the LLC with the state | $60 | $25 |
| Final Form 5472, through an accountant | About $150–600 | About $150–600 |
| Close the IRS account for your company’s tax ID | Free | Free |
| Total | About $210–660 | About $175–625 |
Your personal tax number (ITIN) needs no closing. Letting an LLC lapse isn’t the same as closing it: the yearly IRS form stays due until the IRS account is closed. We do the whole close-down for $499, fees included, or at no extra cost with yearly upkeep.
If you’re not ready yet
An unused LLC still has its yearly filings. If you have no US customers, bank or payment plans yet, wait. Formation is quick once you have a reason to start.
Figures reflect state fee schedules and federal rules as of October 2026 and can change. Confirm your situation with a qualified tax professional. See our disclaimer.