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What does a Wyoming LLC actually cost a non-resident in 2026?
A bare-bones Wyoming LLC costs about $100 to the state plus $50–$150 for a registered agent in year one. Realistically, a non-resident should budget $400–$900 in year one and $150–$400 every year after once EIN handling, banking minimums and compliance are counted.
Quick Answer: Wyoming's LLC filing fee is $100. A registered agent (a person or company with a physical Wyoming address who accepts legal mail for your LLC) costs $50–$150 a year. The IRS charges nothing for an EIN or ITIN. Realistic year-one cost for a non-resident is $400–$900; ongoing years run $150–$400, plus $300–$800 if a preparer handles your Form 5472.
Three buckets, and mixing them up is why people get surprised:
- Government fees — Wyoming Secretary of State and the IRS. Small, fixed, unavoidable.
- Provider fees — registered agent, EIN or ITIN handling, formation service. Optional in theory, near-mandatory in practice for a non-resident.
- Recurring compliance — annual report, registered agent renewal, Form 5472. This is the bucket that grows.
The IRS issues an EIN (Employer Identification Number, your company's tax ID) and an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, a personal tax ID for people without an SSN) at no charge. Any "EIN fee" you see is a provider's service charge for preparing or forwarding your paperwork.
Note: Wyoming's fee schedule is published as a PDF on the Secretary of State site, and the state updates it periodically. Confirm the current numbers against the official schedule before you pay anything.
How much is the Wyoming state filing fee in 2026?
Wyoming's LLC filing fee is $100, whether you file online or by mail. Filing online adds a 2.4% credit card processing fee, minimum $1, which brings the online total to about $102.40. [3]
That $100 buys you exactly one thing: the Articles of Organization, the one-page document that legally creates your LLC. It does not include a registered agent, the annual report, your EIN, or a business bank account. [8]
Separately, Wyoming charges an annual report / license tax with a minimum of $60 for LLCs holding under $300,000 in Wyoming-situated assets. It scales above that threshold. [2] That fee is due in your LLC's anniversary month, every year, including years when the LLC earned nothing.
Heads-up: the $60 is a floor, not a flat rate. If your LLC ever holds Wyoming real estate or other Wyoming assets above $300,000, the license tax is calculated on asset value instead.
If you want the filing itself handled end to end — Articles, registered agent, the works — US LLC formation for non-residents walks through what's included at each tier.
What does a registered agent cost, and can a non-resident skip it?
No, a non-resident cannot skip it. Wyoming requires every LLC to name a registered agent — a person or company with a physical street address in Wyoming who can accept legal documents and state mail on the LLC's behalf during business hours. A non-resident physically cannot fill that role, so this is a permanent recurring cost: $50–$150 per year at commercial rates. [8]
Watch the "free first year" offer. Plenty of formation packages advertise a low headline price with registered agent service bundled in for year one. The renewal lands in month 13, and it is frequently priced higher than the formation fee itself. That is the single most common budgeting miss on this topic.
What you get for the money varies a lot. Basic tiers give you the address and mail forwarding. Better ones add scan-to-email, a compliance calendar, and annual report reminders. If you run an online business and never receive physical mail, the cheap tier is fine. If you expect contracts or bank correspondence, scan-to-email is worth the extra.
One thing people get wrong: a registered agent address is not a usable business address for banking or IRS correspondence. Banks and the IRS want your real operating address, and using your agent's address in the wrong field causes verification problems later.
EIN and ITIN: what do they really cost a non-resident?
Nothing, from the IRS. An EIN and an ITIN are both free. You pay a provider only when you use one to prepare or forward Form SS-4 (the EIN application) or Form W-7 (the ITIN application). Typical market rates run $75–$250 for EIN handling and $200–$500 for ITIN assistance through a Certified Acceptance Agent — a professional authorized to verify your passport without you mailing the original.
Official form (IRS.gov): Form SS-4 official PDF
You need an EIN in almost every case. Banks require it to open a business account, and the IRS requires it to file your returns. You need an ITIN only if you personally file a US tax return, claim treaty benefits, or hit a bank that insists on a personal tax ID for the signer.
Non-residents blow the SS-4 on three lines. The responsible party must be a real person — not your LLC, not your registered agent. The box stating you have no SSN or ITIN must be ticked correctly. And the third-party designee section is where a provider authorizes itself to speak to the IRS on your behalf. Get those right and the EIN typically arrives by fax within a few business days.
If you expect to file a personal US return, applying for an ITIN covers the W-7 route and when an Acceptance Agent is worth paying.
What does banking and payment setup cost for a non-resident-owned Wyoming LLC?
Opening a US business account as a non-resident costs $0 to open, then $0–$30 a month in maintenance, plus wire fees of roughly $15–$45 each way, and possible minimum balances from $0 to $5,000. The monthly fee is rarely the expensive part — wires and balance requirements are.
The realistic split:
- US fintech business accounts (Mercury, Wise Business, Payoneer) — remote onboarding, no branch visit, usually no monthly fee, but they verify hard. Expect to provide your EIN, a US phone number, and a verifiable business address before approval.
- Traditional US banks that accept non-resident applicants — often require an in-person visit, a larger opening deposit, and a higher minimum balance. Slower, but some clients and lenders prefer them.
No bank or fintech is obligated to approve you. An LLC makes you eligible to apply; approval is always the provider's decision, and it depends on your documents, your business type, and the country you operate from.
Payment processing sits in a different bucket. Stripe and PayPal charge per transaction, not a fixed monthly cost, and their underwriting for non-resident founders is stricter than their public pricing pages suggest. If that's your next step, Stripe setup for non-US founders covers what the application actually asks for.
Tip: budget the wire fees before you pick a bank. A founder moving $10,000 a month in and out pays far more in wire charges than the $0 monthly plan saves.
Annual renewal and compliance fees: what hits after year one?
Every year, a Wyoming LLC pays three things: the annual report / license tax (minimum $60), the registered agent renewal ($50–$150), and — for a foreign-owned single-member LLC — Form 5472 filed with a pro-forma Form 1120. Preparer fees for that pair typically run $300–$800, and the IRS penalty for not filing starts at $25,000. [2]
Official form (IRS.gov): Form 5472 official PDF
Form 5472 is the item almost nobody discloses up front, and it is the biggest recurring compliance cost for a non-resident. Here is the shape of it: a single-member LLC owned by a non-US person is a disregarded entity for US tax purposes — the IRS ignores it and taxes the owner directly. But that same LLC must file Form 5472 to report transactions between the LLC and its foreign owner, attached to a pro-forma Form 1120 that carries almost no numbers. It's an information return, not a tax bill. Skip it and the penalty starts at $25,000.
A Wyoming LLC with zero Wyoming-source income still owes the annual report fee. There is no "inactive" exemption. [2]
Sales tax is a separate question entirely. If you sell into other states, economic nexus rules may create registration and filing obligations there. That's outside this article's scope, but it exists, and it costs money.
Federal tax is where the variables live: your ownership structure, whether you have US-source or effectively connected income, any treaty position, your state nexus, and your entity classification election. No article can tell you your number. A qualified tax professional can. For the filing mechanics, federal tax support for foreign-owned LLCs covers Form 5472 and Form 1120.
Total first-year vs ongoing cost: a side-by-side comparison
Here is the honest comparison for a Wyoming LLC non-resident cost, split by year and by who gets the money. Government fees are what the state and IRS charge. Provider fees are what a company charges you to handle the paperwork. Recurring items repeat every year.
| Cost item | Type | Bare minimum (DIY) | Typical provider bundle | Full service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming LLC filing fee | Government | $100 | $100 (bundled) | $100 (bundled) |
| Online credit card fee (2.4%, min $1) | Government | $2.40 | $2.40 | $2.40 |
| Registered agent — Year 1 | Provider | $50–$150 | $0 (free first year) | Included |
| Registered agent — Year 2+ | Recurring | $50–$150 | $100–$200 | $50–$150 |
| EIN handling | Provider | $0 (self-file SS-4) | $75–$250 | Included |
| ITIN (only if needed) | Provider | $0 (self-file W-7) | $200–$500 | $200–$500 |
| Business bank account | Recurring | $0–$30/mo | $0–$30/mo | $0–$30/mo |
| Annual report / license tax | Government, recurring | $60+ | $60+ | $60+ |
| Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120 | Provider, recurring | $0 (self-file) | $300–$800 | $300–$800 |
| Mail forwarding / US phone | Provider | $0–$20/mo | Often bundled | Often bundled |
| Year 1 total | $400–$900 | $500–$1,000 | $600–$1,200 | |
| Year 2+ total | $150–$400 | $300–$700 | $400–$900 |
The "cheap provider" trap in one line: a $150 headline often becomes $400+ by the end of year two once the agent renewal and Form 5472 preparation land. The headline price is real. It just isn't the total.
If you want to see how those tiers map to actual packages, NexFyla pricing lists the components separately so you can compare like for like.
Common mistakes non-residents make when budgeting for a Wyoming LLC
Treating the formation fee as the whole cost. The registered agent renewal arrives in month 13 and is not in the headline number. Build it into your year-one budget now.
Paying a provider for an EIN thinking the IRS charges for it. The EIN is free. You are buying the provider's handling of Form SS-4, which is a legitimate service if the form intimidates you — just know what you're paying for.
Missing Form 5472. This is the expensive one. The penalty starts at $25,000, and it applies even if your LLC had no income and no activity.
Choosing a bank on the monthly fee alone. A $0 monthly account with $45 wires and a $5,000 minimum balance costs more than a $15/month account with free transfers for most founders.
Letting the annual report lapse. Wyoming can administratively dissolve the LLC, and reinstatement fees stack on top of the missed report fee.
Using the registered agent's address as your business address. Banks and the IRS verify addresses. Use your real operating address where they ask for it, and your agent's address only in the registered agent field.
Forgetting the ITIN line item. If you'll file a personal US return or claim treaty benefits, that is a separate $200–$500 cost most budgets skip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a non-resident form a Wyoming LLC without ever visiting the US?
Yes. Wyoming requires no residency and no in-person filing. The Articles, the EIN via Form SS-4, and a fintech business account can all be handled remotely. [4]
Is the EIN really free for non-residents?
Yes. The IRS issues EINs at no charge. Any "EIN fee" is a provider's service charge for preparing or forwarding Form SS-4.
What happens if I don't file the Wyoming annual report?
Wyoming can administratively dissolve the LLC and charge reinstatement fees on top of the missed annual report fee. [2]
Do I need an ITIN to open a US business bank account for my Wyoming LLC?
Usually no. An EIN is typically enough, though some banks ask for an ITIN for the signer. Requirements vary by institution — confirm with the specific bank before you apply.
What is Form 5472 and why does it cost me money every year?
It's an IRS information return required for foreign-owned single-member LLCs treated as disregarded entities, filed with a pro-forma Form 1120. Preparers typically charge $300–$800, and the penalty for not filing starts at $25,000.
How much should I budget for the first two years of a Wyoming LLC?
Roughly $400–$900 in year one and $150–$400 in year two for a bare-bones setup. Add $300–$800 per year if a preparer handles Form 5472. These are ranges, not quotes — your numbers depend on your provider and your banking choices.
NexFyla helps non-US founders form US companies and set up EIN and US business banking support. If you want help with US LLC formation, EIN and business setup, NexFyla can assist.
*Last updated: February 2026.*
Sources
- [2] Wise — How to Open a Wyoming LLC (Non Resident): https://wise.com/us/blog/wyoming-llc-non-resident
- [3] Wyoming Secretary of State — Form or Register a New Business: https://wyobiz.wyo.gov/Business/RegistrationInstr.aspx
- [4] Wyoming Secretary of State — Start a Business: https://sos.wyo.gov/business/startabusiness.aspx
- [8] Wyoming Secretary of State — Start A Business (fee schedule and registered agent information): https://sos.wyo.gov/business/startabusiness.aspx
*Note: [1] and [6] were drawn from a commercial provider page and are used only as attributed market-rate claims, not as official authority.*