How to Form an LLC in Wyoming

Wyoming is a popular choice for owners who want a simple, low-cost LLC with a lot of privacy. It has no state income tax and asks for little on the formation filing. This guide explains how Wyoming LLC formation works, what the state requires, the yearly duty to plan for, and who it suits. To have it filed for you, see our LLC formation service.

Why people choose Wyoming

• No state income tax. An LLC is normally a pass-through for tax, so the owners report the profit on their own returns.
• Privacy. The members' names do not have to appear on the public formation document.
• A modest yearly cost. The yearly charge is based on the assets the company has in Wyoming, with a minimum.
• Protection for the owner. Wyoming's LLC law is well regarded for protecting owners, including those of single-member LLCs.

Wyoming suits an online business, a holding company or a business with no base in a particular state. If the business operates in another state, that state may still ask the LLC to register there.

What Wyoming requires

• A name that is available. It must differ from the names already on file and include "Limited Liability Company", "L.L.C." or "LLC".
• A registered agent with a Wyoming street address. It receives legal papers and official mail. A PO box is not accepted, and an owner who lives elsewhere uses a registered agent service.
• Articles of Organization. The formation document is filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State, which runs its online filing at WyoBiz.
• The state's filing fee. Check the state's site or our LLC filing fees by state table for the current figure.

Wyoming does not require a US citizen, a Wyoming resident or a Social Security Number. A non-resident can form a Wyoming LLC; see LLC formation for non-residents.

Steps to form a Wyoming LLC

1. Choose the name and check it is available.
2. Appoint a registered agent in Wyoming.
3. File the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State.
4. Write an operating agreement. It is not filed with the state.
5. Apply for an EIN through the IRS (see its Employer ID Numbers page), or through our EIN service.
6. Open a business bank account. See US business bank account.

The yearly duty: the annual report and licence tax

A Wyoming LLC files an annual report and pays a licence tax each year. It is due by the first day of the month in which the LLC was formed, so an LLC formed in May files by May 1. The licence tax depends on the value of the company's assets located in Wyoming and has a minimum. A company that misses the report can be dissolved. Put the date in a calendar once the LLC exists, and check the current tax on the Secretary of State's website.

Other points to plan for

• Registered agent renewal every year.
• A business bank account, so the company's money stays apart from yours.
• A foreign-owned single-member LLC files an information return with the IRS every year, even when it owes no tax. See US LLC tax filing.

Frequently asked questions

Is Wyoming the cheapest state?

Its yearly cost is low for most small companies, but compare all the costs, not only the formation fee. Use our fee table.

Are my name and address public?

The members do not have to be named in the public filing, but the registered agent and the company address are public.

Can I form a Wyoming LLC from outside the US?

Yes. You need a Wyoming registered agent, an EIN, and to plan for the yearly IRS filing.

This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Fees and deadlines change, so check the Wyoming Secretary of State's own website before you file.