LLC Registration in the USA from India: Step-by-Step Guide for 2026

Yes, you can register an LLC in the USA from India. No US state asks for citizenship or a visa, and you do not need to travel. You file online, get an EIN without a Social Security Number, open a US bank account remotely and run the company from India. What most guides leave out is the part after registration: the yearly IRS form, and the Indian rules on sending money abroad. This guide covers both.

Who this is for

Indian freelancers, consultants, agencies, online sellers and founders who want a US company to bill US clients, accept dollar payments or sell on US platforms. If you plan to raise venture money, read LLC vs C-Corp first, because investors usually want a C-Corp.

Can an Indian resident own a US LLC?

Yes. The LLC is a US company with an Indian owner. The US side is simple. The Indian side needs care, because India taxes its residents on worldwide income and has rules on foreign assets and remittances. Read the section on Indian rules below before you move money.

How to register an LLC in the USA from India: step by step

1. Choose a state. Compare the yearly cost, not only the first-year fee. Wyoming, Delaware and New Mexico are common for owners abroad. Our LLC filing fees by state table shows the numbers side by side.
2. Pick a name. It must be available in that state and include "LLC".
3. Appoint a registered agent. Every LLC needs a US address in its state that receives legal mail. We provide one, and the first year is included in our packages.
4. File the articles of organization with the state. This is the step that creates the company.
5. Write an operating agreement that records ownership and how decisions are made.
6. Get an EIN. This is the company's US tax number, and you can get one without an SSN. See our EIN service.
7. Open a US business bank account. Remote opening is possible with several providers, but approval is their decision, and they usually ask for your passport, the LLC documents and the EIN letter.
8. Set up payments such as Stripe or PayPal in the LLC's name. See Stripe for a non-resident US LLC.

Documents an Indian owner needs

• A valid passport. This is the main ID banks and payment providers accept.
• Proof of address in India, such as an Aadhaar card or a recent utility bill.
• The company name and the state you chose.
• Your email and phone number.

Our full list is in the guide on documents required to register an LLC from India.

How much does it cost?

Two kinds of cost apply. The state charges a filing fee, which ranges from under a hundred dollars to several hundred. A service provider charges its own fee on top. Our Basic package has no service fee, and the registered agent is included for the first year. Then add the yearly costs: the registered agent renewal, the state's annual report or tax, and the IRS filing below. See what an LLC really costs from India for the yearly picture.

The yearly IRS filing Indian owners must not miss

If you are the only owner of the LLC and you live outside the US, the LLC files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even if it earned nothing. The penalty for missing it is $25,000. It is a reporting form, not a tax payment. Our Form 5472 guide explains it, and we file it in our US LLC tax filing service. The state also wants an annual report or franchise tax, which our annual report service covers.

Indian rules to check before you send money

This is general information, not tax or legal advice. Speak to a Chartered Accountant before you act on any of it.

• Income tax. A resident Indian is taxed on income from all sources, including what the US LLC earns. Having the LLC does not remove the Indian tax duty.
• Disclosure. Foreign assets and foreign accounts are reported in the Indian income tax return. Ask your CA how your LLC is treated.
• Funding the LLC. Sending money abroad is governed by FEMA and the Liberalised Remittance Scheme, which has a yearly limit per individual. Whether putting capital into your own foreign company counts as an overseas investment, and what filings follow, is something to confirm with your CA or bank before you transfer anything.
• Receiving money. Bring income back through proper banking channels and keep the invoices.

Common mistakes

• Choosing a state by the first-year fee. The yearly cost matters more.
• Mixing personal and company money. It weakens liability protection and makes the IRS form harder.
• Skipping the yearly filing. Nobody reminds you. The IRS simply charges the penalty.
• Ignoring the Indian side. The US company does not replace Indian tax and foreign-exchange rules.

Frequently asked questions

Can I register an LLC in the USA from India without visiting?

Yes. Formation, the EIN and the registered agent are all handled online.

Do I need a Social Security Number?

No. An EIN can be obtained without an SSN.

Which state is best for an Indian founder?

It depends on the yearly cost and where your customers are. Wyoming, Delaware and New Mexico are common choices. Compare them in the fees table.

Do I pay US tax on an LLC owned from India?

A foreign-owned LLC with no US-source business income generally owes no US income tax, but it still files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120. India will tax what you earn.

Can I open a US bank account from India?

Often, yes, with providers that support remote opening. Approval is up to the bank, so have your passport, formation documents and EIN letter ready.

Where to go next

• LLC formation for non-residents and the any-country guide.
• Jupiter Filing vs Doola, IndiaFilings and Bizee: how the providers compare.
• Which tax form does your LLC file? and LLC with no income: do you still file?
• How long it takes to register an LLC in the USA, the registered agent guide and the operating agreement guide.
• ITIN application and US business bank account.

How we help

We form the LLC, get the EIN, provide the registered agent and file the yearly IRS form. Start with our page on registering a company in the USA from India, or see LLC formation and pricing.