Wyoming does not tax LLC income at the state level and does not require member names on public record, which means a non-resident owner gets charging order protection and privacy at a recurring cost that rarely exceeds $260 per year.
State Filing Fee and What It Buys You
Wyoming charges a flat $100 filing fee for Articles of Organization, paid to the Secretary of State, regardless of where you live or what passport you hold. Online filing is processed in 1 to 3 business days; expedited processing costs an additional $50 and typically clears same-day. There is no minimum capital requirement, no residency requirement, and no requirement to list members publicly, which is why non-residents choose Wyoming over most other US states.
Registered Agent: The Fee You Cannot Skip
Every Wyoming LLC must maintain a registered agent with a physical Wyoming address, and non-residents cannot fulfill this role themselves. Commercial registered agent services range from $49 to $200 per year depending on the provider. Budget-tier services at around $49 to $75 annually handle basic mail forwarding and compliance alerts; premium services at $150 to $200 add document scanning, online portals, and faster notification. This is a hard annual recurring cost with no workaround for anyone living outside Wyoming.
Annual Report and License Tax
Wyoming's annual report is due on the first day of your LLC's anniversary month each year. The fee is $60 minimum for LLCs with assets under $300,000 located in Wyoming, calculated at $0.0002 per dollar of assets above that threshold. Most early-stage non-resident LLCs with no Wyoming-based assets pay the $60 minimum. Late filing adds a $25 penalty, and failure to file for two years triggers administrative dissolution. For a full breakdown of what you pay year over year, Wyoming LLC Yearly Cost: Every Fee You Will Actually Pay covers each line item in sequence.
Formation Services and Attorney Fees
Non-residents almost always use a formation service or attorney rather than filing directly, since managing the process remotely through an unfamiliar portal carries error risk. Online formation services including registered agent for year one typically run $150 to $350 all-in. An attorney-handled formation with operating agreement drafting runs $750 to $1,500 depending on complexity. If your structure involves multiple members, foreign ownership layers, or an operating agreement designed to survive scrutiny in another jurisdiction, attorney fees at the higher end are worth it.
EIN for Non-Residents and What It Costs
A non-resident without a US Social Security Number must obtain an EIN by mailing or faxing IRS Form SS-4 directly, since the online application requires a US tax ID. There is no IRS fee for an EIN, but fax-to-IRS processing takes 4 to 6 weeks and mail can take longer. Third-party EIN services for non-residents charge $75 to $250 to handle the submission and follow up on your behalf. Without an EIN, the LLC cannot open a US bank account or be recognized by most payment processors.
Total First-Year and Ongoing Cost Summary
A non-resident Wyoming LLC typically costs $400 to $700 in year one when using a formation service, including the state filing fee, first-year registered agent, and EIN assistance, but excluding attorney fees if any. Ongoing annual costs settle at $110 to $260, covering the $60 annual report and registered agent renewal. US banking, accounting, and any multi-jurisdiction structuring add variable costs on top of this, but the Wyoming-specific fees themselves are among the lowest of any US state for a non-resident single-member setup.
Things people ask first.
Can a non-US citizen own a Wyoming LLC?
Yes, Wyoming imposes no citizenship or residency requirement on LLC members or managers. A non-US citizen can be the sole member and manager of a Wyoming LLC without restriction.
Do I need a US address to form a Wyoming LLC?
You do not need a personal US address. You are required to have a Wyoming registered agent address, which the registered agent service provides. That address is used for official state correspondence, not as your business address.
Does a Wyoming LLC pay state income tax?
Wyoming has no state corporate or personal income tax, so the LLC itself owes nothing to Wyoming on its income. Federal tax obligations to the IRS still apply based on how the LLC is classified and where the owners reside.
How long does it take to form a Wyoming LLC as a non-resident?
Standard filing takes 1 to 3 business days after the Secretary of State receives the Articles. Expedited filing clears same-day. Obtaining an EIN as a non-resident adds 4 to 6 weeks if done by fax or mail directly with the IRS.
What is the cheapest way to form a Wyoming LLC as a non-resident?
Filing the Articles yourself through the Wyoming Secretary of State's online portal costs $100 plus a registered agent fee starting around $49 per year. Using a budget formation service that bundles both typically runs $150 to $200 in year one.
Is Wyoming better than Delaware for a non-resident LLC?
For most non-resident owners who do not need venture capital or Delaware's court system, Wyoming is cheaper and offers stronger charging order protection as a default statutory right. Delaware's annual franchise fee and registered agent costs together often exceed Wyoming's total annual cost.
Ready to layer your Wyoming LLC into a real offshore structure?
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