🇬🇧
US LLC Formation for UK Founders
Guides, tools, and compliance walkthroughs for UK residents forming and operating US business entities.
For UK residents who already have a US LLC (or are about to form one)
Audit your double-tax exposure before April 2025 remittance basis removal hits.
HMRC treats US LLCs as opaque corporate entities; the IRS treats them as transparent pass-throughs. Without a Form 8832 election, you can face effective 50%+ double taxation — and post-April 2025, the remittance-basis shelter is gone. Most UK founders learn this the hard way 12-18 months after formation.
If you have not formed yet and want a starting vendor, see Doola for non-US-resident formation.
Want personalized analysis instead? See how the free META Diagnostic works
Your First Steps
UK Founder Guides
Forming a US LLC from the UK: Complete Guide (2026)
HMRC now treats US LLCs as 'opaque' entities. UK residents face a tax trap most formation guides skip. Here is the full compliance picture.
HMRC and US LLCs: The Opaque Entity Tax Trap (2026)
From April 2025, HMRC treats US LLCs as opaque entities. UK residents now face potential double taxation that the US-UK treaty may not resolve.
UK Ltd vs US LLC for Cross-Border Founders (2026)
UK Ltd costs £12 to form but limits US banking. US LLC opens Stripe but creates an HMRC classification trap. The structural trade-offs UK founders face.
Opening a US Bank Account from the UK (2026)
UK nationals face fewer banking barriers than most non-residents — but Mercury and Wise serve different needs. Here is what each platform offers.
Tools and Calculators
UK × US LLC Formation — country-specific deep dive
Doola / Firstbase / Stripe Atlas comparison for UK residents + Anson v HMRC [2015] UKSC 44 transparent treatment + operating-agreement drafting question + Wyoming vs Delaware tradeoff
UK × US Banking — country-specific deep dive
Anson v HMRC 2015 case-by-case transparent treatment + HMRC INTM180030 + IR35 cross-border interaction + 3-7 day Mercury/Relay approval reality for UK residents
UK × US Annual Compliance — calendar + filings
Form 5472 + state annual report + Self Assessment SA100/SA103/SA106 transparent route post-Anson 2015 — UK-side layer materially lighter than India/China/Canada
Free Risk Check
See structural risk in 5 minutes
Formation Cost Calculator
Estimate total first-year cost
Formation Service Comparison
Atlas vs Firstbase vs Doola
Banking Comparison
Mercury vs Wise vs Relay
Also Relevant
Stripe Atlas vs Firstbase vs Doola vs Bizee: Formation for Non-Residents (2026)
Non-resident US LLC formation compared: Stripe Atlas, Firstbase, Doola, and Bizee on price, EIN, Form 5472, Wyoming, and 3-year total cost.
Mercury vs Wise vs Relay vs Rho: Who Approves Non-Resident LLCs? (2026)
Mercury, Wise, Relay, and Rho gate non-resident founders differently: ITIN rules, country limits, FDIC tiers ($5M / none / $3M / $75M). 2026 approval criteria.
Form 5472: $25,000 Penalty for Non-Resident LLCs (Filing Guide)
Every foreign-owned US LLC files Form 5472. Miss it: $25,000 per form per year. Deadlines, CPA costs ($650-$1,200), filing steps.
US LLC Cost for Non-Residents: $297 to $6,400 Breakdown (2026)
Formation fee ($297-$500) is just the start. Add registered agent, state fees, Form 5472, and bookkeeping — Year 1 real cost hits $1,300-$3,100. Full 5-year projection from actual invoices.
Delaware vs Wyoming LLC for Non-Residents (2026)
Delaware costs $300/yr in franchise tax. Wyoming: $60/yr. Side-by-side comparison of fees, privacy, asset protection, and compliance for non-resident founders.
Tax Residency Guide for Digital Nomads (2026)
How tax residency is determined: the 183-day rule, center of vital interests, habitual abode — specific criteria countries use to claim you as a resident.
Deep Dives
Not sure where to start?
Two free ways to map your cross-border risk across Money, Entity, Tax, and Accountability — pick the depth that fits your time.