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From Australia · Asia-Pacific

Start a US company from Australia

For Australian founders who sell into the US as a US vendor or raise from US investors. You already have Stripe, and Mercury and Wise Business both serve founders here. Australia can tax a US LLC as a partnership, or as an Australian company if it's run from here, so read that section first.

Start from Australia From $351.40 in the first year

Launch + Wyoming filing; the tax return is separate.Checked by Saais Patel, compliance reviewer.

At a glance

Mercury takes applications from founders living in Australia. Wise Business is the usual second account.

The banks, in detail
US tax treaty
In force
Local Stripe
Yes
Mercury
Yes
Currency
AUD
Our fee
from $249
Wyoming's fee
$102.40
Until we file
Refunded in full

You can form a US company while living in Australia, without an SSN or a US visit, and Mercury and Wise Business both open for founders here. Launch starts at $351.40 in Wyoming, including our plan and state filing fee. Stripe already serves Australia, so the reason is usually US customers or investors. The Australian question is residence: a US LLC can be a partnership under section 830-15, or an Australian company if its central management is here.

Watch

The first year from Australia, in 6 minutes

Thinking of a US LLC while living in Australia? Card payments aren't the reason: Stripe already supports Australian businesses, and a US LLC run from Australia can be taxed as an Australian company anyway, so it needs a reason, like a US buyer who wants a US vendor.

Transcript

Before you form

Start with whether you need a US company, and how the ATO will see it.

  • You may not need a US company

    Card payments from customers worldwide

    Stripe already supports Australian businesses. A US LLC run from Australia can be taxed as an Australian company anyway, so it needs a reason.

    Getting access to Stripe
  • A Wyoming LLC or a C-Corp, after advice

    Selling into the US as a US vendor

    Some US buyers and platforms want a US contracting party. Whether the LLC is a partnership or a resident company in Australia decides the tax.

    US companies for SaaS
  • A Delaware C-Corp

    Raising from US investors

    US investors usually want a Delaware C-Corp. Where its board meets and decides sets Australian residence.

    Raising from US investors
  • Review the US footprint

    Selling on Amazon US or holding US stock

    A US company can meet marketplace and supplier requirements. Inventory, staff or premises in a state can add registration and sales-tax obligations there.

    US companies for Amazon sellers

BaseAcross's Wyoming LLC and Delaware C-Corp options for founders in Australia

Wyoming LLC

Owner-run business selling to US customers, after advice.

State filing
$102.40
Yearly state charge
From $60
Wyoming LLC formation

Delaware C-Corp

Raising from US investors; plan where the board meets.

State filing
$110
Yearly state charge
$450 for the model shown
Delaware C-Corp formation

Both charges are the state's, before our plan, optional services and your advisers' fees. Wyoming sets a minimum yearly charge, and Delaware's franchise tax depends on how it's calculated. Staff, stock or premises in another state can bring obligations there. An S-corporation isn't an option, because nonresident aliens can't hold its shares.

Prepare the information

Different documents are needed at different stages.

You provide

Before state filing

  • Your proposed company name, business activity and chosen structure, after advice.
  • Owners' names exactly as on their passports, ownership shares, managers and home addresses.
  • Where decisions will be made, because Australia's residence test asks.
  • The approved company name and formation details.
  • The responsible party. Without an SSN or ITIN, the application goes on Form SS-4.
  • Accurate mailing and principal business addresses, and your signed authorization where required.
You confirm; we prepare

After formation, for the EIN

  • A passport for each owner the provider asks about.
  • Formation documents, the EIN confirmation and the operating agreement.
  • A real business address, your website, a description of the business and the source of funds, as each provider asks.
The provider verifies

For bank and payment applications

  • Records of where the company's central management and control sits.
  • The company's accounts, for a partnership return or a company return, whichever applies.
  • Proof of any US tax paid, for the foreign income tax offset.
You and your accountant

For the ATO

You don't need an Australian company to form a US company. The EIN is the US company's tax ID. Send identity documents through a secure request, and only the ones asked for.

How it works

Seven steps from Australia to a maintained US company.

The state approves the company, the IRS issues the EIN and each provider approves its own account. In Australia, your accountant handles the ATO; we don't file there.

You and your accountant

Check the Australian side first

Decide whether you need a US company at all, and whether it will be a foreign hybrid partnership or an Australian-resident company for Australian tax.

You leave this stage with: A structure and tax plan that fits Australia's rules.

01 / 07

Plan the wait

Formation, the EIN and banking have separate timelines.

Published service estimates and prerequisites for a Wyoming company from Australia

  1. Wyoming formationSame day
  2. Ordinary EINsix to eight weeks
  3. Expedited EINtwo to three weeks
  4. Bank and payment accountsProvider review
  5. US Stripe accountStripe's review

  1. Wyoming formation

    Same day

    The clock starts
    Complete filing accepted by the state
    What can change it
    Our order checks and filing batch come first. Expedited filing changes our queue; it doesn't speed up the EIN.

  2. Ordinary EIN

    six to eight weeks

    The clock starts
    EIN application after formation
    What can change it
    Included in the plan. This is our published estimate; the IRS queue can change.

  3. Expedited EIN

    two to three weeks

    The clock starts
    EIN application after formation
    What can change it
    Optional $199 service. An estimate, with issuance controlled by the IRS.

  4. Bank and payment accounts

    Provider review

    The clock starts
    Company and owner information ready
    What can change it
    Mercury, Wise and any other provider set their own timing, may ask for more documents and can decline an application.

  5. US Stripe account

    Stripe's review

    The clock starts
    US bank account and website ready
    What can change it
    Stripe reviews the business and the person behind it, and can decline.

These are service estimates, not promised completion dates. The IRS and each provider set their own processing times. Names or addresses that differ between documents slow every stage.

What it costs

The same price from Australia as from anywhere.

Charged in US dollars, with the Wyoming state fee passed on at cost. Where you live changes which bank we introduce you to, not the price.

LLC cost calculator

Launch

To start

$351.40

$249 our fee + $102.40 Wyoming fee

Renews from $309 a year

OperateBilled yearly

To start

$2,490.40

$2,388 our fee + $102.40 Wyoming fee

Renews from $2,448 a year

Included in both plans

  • State formation filing
  • Registered agent and registered office
  • EIN application without an SSN
  • LLC Operating Agreement or corporate bylaws
  • Bank and payment application guidance
  • Filing calendar and reminders

What changes because you live here

The filing is the same from anywhere. Four things aren't.

Treaty status, payment availability, bank eligibility and time zones. Sources checked 14 October 2026; account approval remains with the provider.

1 of 4: The tax treaty

The tax treaty

The tax treaty: In force

The US–Australia income tax treaty is in force.

It caps US withholding on interest at 10%, on dividends at 15%, or 5% for a qualifying company shareholder, and on royalties at 5%. Pay for work you do in Australia generally isn't US-source income, so the treaty matters less for a services business.

How the ATO sees it

A US LLC is either a partnership or an Australian company here.

The foreign hybrid rule is read from section 830-15 of the Income Tax Assessment Act itself; residence, rates and the CFC rules from PwC's summaries. They run alongside the US steps below.

  1. If the LLC isn't Australian-resident

    You and your accountant

    A US LLC that's a partnership or disregarded for US tax, and a CFC with an Australian owner, is taxed as a partnership here. Its income is yours each year.

  2. If it's run from Australia

    You and your accountant

    Carrying on business here with central management and control here, or votes controlled by Australians, makes it resident.

  3. If it's resident

    The company, with your accountant

    Taxed on worldwide income at 30%, or 25% for a small or medium business. The foreign hybrid rule doesn't apply.

  4. If it's a C-Corp controlled from Australia

    You and your accountant

    The CFC rules can attribute some of its income to you. For a US company, the range is narrower than for an unlisted country.

  5. When you file your return

    You

    Report worldwide income at up to 45%, and claim a foreign income tax offset up to the Australian tax.

Worked example

Which way does your LLC go?

This is an illustration, not advice. Where central management sits is a question of fact for your accountant.

  1. You own all of a Wyoming LLC, disregarded by the IRS, and make every decision from Sydney.

  2. Central management and control is then likely in Australia, so the LLC can be Australian-resident.

  3. Resident, it isn't a foreign hybrid. It's taxed as an Australian company, at 25% if it's a small business.

  4. If real management sat in the US instead, section 830-15 could make it a partnership, taxed to you each year.

What Australia expects

Owning a US company doesn't take you out of Australia's tax system.

Australia can tax a US LLC as a partnership under its foreign hybrid rule, or as an Australian company when its central management is here. Plan which one you'll be with a cross-border accountant.

A US LLC can be a partnership here

Under section 830-15, a US LLC that's a partnership or disregarded for US tax is taxed as a partnership in Australia when it's a CFC with an Australian owner and isn't an Australian resident. Its income then counts as yours each year.

Sources

Where it is run

A company formed abroad is resident if it carries on business in Australia and either its central management and control is here or Australian residents control its votes. The ATO treats central management here as carrying on business here.

Sources

If it's resident

An Australian-resident company is taxed on worldwide income at 30%, or 25% for a small or medium business, and section 830-15 doesn't apply to it.

Sources

Passive income abroad

Under the CFC rules, some income of a foreign company controlled by Australians is attributed to them. For a company in a listed country such as the United States, the range is narrower.

Sources

Residence and credit

You're resident if your domicile is in Australia, unless your permanent home is abroad, or after 183 days in the income year. Residents are taxed on worldwide income at up to 45%, with a foreign income tax offset up to the Australian tax.

Sources

On the record

We form US companies. We aren't Australian tax advisers. These are the rules as they're generally published, they change, and how they apply to you depends on details this page can't know. Take this list to a tax adviser in Australia before you order, and we'll tell you what the US forms need.

After formation

Someone has to own each filing, in each country.

US information reporting

A US LLC with one foreign owner is usually a disregarded entity that files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 when it has reportable transactions with you. Money you put in, take out or are paid for your work can count even in a year without sales. The IRS penalty for not filing starts at $25,000.

For a calendar-year company, the return is usually due 15 April, and Form 7004 requests an extension before then. A C-Corp, or an LLC with more than one owner, files different returns.

Form 5472 and the pro forma 1120

State, ATO and ownership checks

Keep the registered agent active and track the state's yearly charge. In Australia, file the return the structure needs, as a partnership or a company, with your own return beside it.

US-created companies are exempt from BOI reporting under FinCEN's current rule, effective 14 August 2026. Banks and payment providers still verify who owns the company.

Who handles each formation, banking and filing responsibility
TaskWho handles itWhere the responsibility ends
Formation and EIN applicationBaseAcross prepares and submitsThe state approves formation; the IRS issues the EIN.
Bank and payment applicationsYou, with our guidanceThe provider verifies the information and decides.
Australian returnsYou and your accountantWe provide the US company records they need.
Annual state filingYou, or our optional filing serviceReminders are included; managed filing and the state charge are separate.
US federal returnsYou and your US tax preparerLaunch and Operate remind you; they don't file the return.

Prepare the conversation

Take these questions to a cross-border accountant before you order.

Bring the owners, where each lives, where decisions will be made and the business activity. Agree who handles each filing in Australia and in the US.

Download the checklist for your accountant (.txt)
  1. 01

    Would the US LLC be a foreign hybrid company under section 830-15, taxed to me as a partnership?

  2. 02

    Or would it be an Australian-resident company, because its central management and control is here or I control its votes?

  3. 03

    If it's resident, at what rate is it taxed, and how are payments to me treated?

  4. 04

    Would a Delaware C-Corp be a CFC, and would any of its income be attributed to me?

  5. 05

    How do I claim the foreign income tax offset for any US tax?

  6. 06

    Which Australian returns would the structure need, and by when?

  7. 07

    How should I keep records for the US return and my Australian returns?

Questions

Questions from Australia.

If yours is not here, email us at hello@baseacross.com before you order.

Can an Australian resident own a US LLC?

Yes. US law doesn't require an LLC's owners to be US citizens or residents, and formation, the EIN and the bank applications all happen remotely. The Australian question is how the ATO will see it: as a partnership, or as an Australian company.

How does Australia tax a US LLC?

It depends on residence. Under section 830-15, a US LLC that's a partnership or disregarded for US tax is taxed as a partnership in Australia when it's a CFC with an Australian owner and isn't Australian-resident. If it is Australian-resident, it's taxed as an Australian company instead.

Can Australia treat my US company as Australian?

It can. A company formed abroad is resident if it carries on business in Australia and either its central management and control is here or Australian residents control its votes. The ATO treats central management here as carrying on business here.

What does an Australian-resident company pay?

It's taxed on worldwide income at 30%, or 25% for a small or medium business under the AUD 50 million aggregated turnover threshold.

How much does a US company from Australia cost?

Launch starts at $351.40: $249 for the plan plus $102.40 for the Wyoming filing. The plan and Wyoming's minimum yearly charge then total $309 a year. Your accountant's fees, US return preparation and Australian returns are separate. Wyoming's license tax can be more than its $60 minimum.

Should I form a Wyoming LLC or a Delaware C-Corp from Australia?

A Wyoming LLC suits an owner-run business selling to US customers, once you know how the ATO will treat it. A Delaware C-Corp suits raising from US investors. Nonresident aliens can't hold shares in an S-corporation.

Can I get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN?

Yes. Without an SSN or ITIN, the application goes on Form SS-4 instead of the IRS's online tool. We prepare it after the company is formed, and the IRS issues the number.

How long does it take from Australia?

Each stage has its own clock. Wyoming's published turnaround is same day once a complete filing is accepted. Our ordinary EIN estimate is six to eight weeks after the application, or two to three weeks with the $199 expedited option. Banks, payment providers and Stripe each set their own review times. These are estimates, not promises.

Can I open a Mercury account from Australia?

Usually you can apply. Australia isn't on Mercury's list of countries it doesn't serve, and the list goes by where you live. Mercury still reviews each company and can decline.

Can I use Wise Business for the US company?

Usually, yes. Australia is on Wise's list of places where people can hold money, so a US company run from Australia can get USD account details. Wise reviews each business.

Do I need a US company for Stripe in Australia?

No. Stripe supports businesses in Australia. A US company is for selling as a US vendor, US contracts, US investors or platforms that need one.

Do I pay US tax on work I do from Australia?

Generally not. Pay for work you do in Australia is generally not US-source income, so a US company with no US office or staff often owes no US income tax on it. A single-owner LLC still files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 when it has reportable transactions with you.

Is there a US–Australia tax treaty?

Yes, it's in force. It caps US withholding on interest at 10%, on dividends at 15%, or 5% for a qualifying company shareholder, and on royalties at 5%. Australia gives a foreign income tax offset up to the Australian tax on the same income.

I'm in Australia on a temporary visa. Is my foreign income taxed?

Usually not. A temporary resident, broadly someone on a temporary visa without an Australian spouse, is exempt from Australian tax on most foreign-source income. Income from work you do in Australia is still taxed here.

Does BaseAcross file the US and Australian returns for me?

On Launch and Operate, we add deadlines and reminders; you or your accountant file the federal returns. Managed annual state compliance is an optional $149 service fee a year, with the state's charge separate. Your Australian returns are for you and your accountant.

Does my new US LLC need a BOI report?

US-created companies are exempt under FinCEN's current BOI rule, effective 14 August 2026. A company formed outside the US and registered to do business there is a different case. Banks still collect ownership details for their own checks.

Sources and editorial scope

Check the published rules behind the explanation.

Prepared by the BaseAcross team and reviewed by Saais Patel, compliance reviewer. Sources checked . This is general formation information, with source links for the tax and banking context. An individual tax or legal review remains with your qualified advisers.

Australia

United States (IRS, Treasury and FinCEN)

Banks and payments

States

The foreign hybrid rule is read from section 830-15 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, in the compilation current to 27 August 2026. Residence, rates and the CFC rules come from PwC's Worldwide Tax Summaries, a professional summary. Confirm the current position with your accountant before acting.

Asia-Pacific

Other countries in the region.

Every country

Ready when you are

Answer the questions. We do the filing.

It takes about four minutes. You see the whole order, state fee included, before anything is charged.

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Sydney

Australia

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Wyoming

LLC · Cheyenne, WY

Plan
Launch
First year
$351.40
To order
10 steps
Start from Australia

Launch · $249 + $102.40 Wyoming · Same day