Skip to content

From Latvia · Europe

Start a US company from Latvia

For Latvian founders who sell into the US as a US vendor or raise from US investors. A Latvian SIA already gets you Stripe. Mercury doesn't serve founders living in Latvia, so plan the bank first. How Latvia taxes the dividend depends on whether tax was paid on the profit.

Start from Latvia 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 doesn't open for founders living in Latvia, so Wise Business is the one to check first.

The banks, in detail
US tax treaty
In force
Local Stripe
Yes
Mercury
No
Currency
EUR
Our fee
from $249
Wyoming's fee
$102.40
Until we file
Refunded in full

You can form a US company while living in Latvia, without an SSN or a US visit. Wise Business opens for founders here; Mercury doesn't. Launch starts at $351.40 in Wyoming, including our plan and state filing fee. A Latvian SIA already gets you Stripe, so the reason is usually US customers or investors. The Latvian points: dividends are taxed at 25.5%, or 0% if you can show tax was paid on the profit, and running the company from here doesn't make it Latvian.

Before you form

Start with whether you need a US company, and how its dividends will be taxed.

  • You may not need a US company

    Card payments from customers worldwide

    Stripe already supports Latvian businesses, and an SIA is what Latvian banks and the State Revenue Service understand.

    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. Ask how its dividends to you will be taxed before you choose.

    US companies for SaaS
  • A Delaware C-Corp

    Raising from US investors

    US investors usually want a Delaware C-Corp. A C-Corp pays US tax, which can matter for the Latvian rate on its dividends.

    Raising from US investors
  • A US subsidiary

    A Latvian company expanding to the US

    A Latvian SIA can own a US company as its subsidiary. Ask how the SIA's own distributions are taxed first.

    US holding companies

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

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; it pays US corporate tax.

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.
  • Owners' names exactly as on their passports, ownership shares, managers and home addresses.
  • Where the business will actually be carried on, because a fixed place used permanently in Latvia can be a permanent establishment.
  • 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

  • Your annual return, with dividends from the company.
  • Evidence of any tax paid on the profit, if you claim 0%.
  • Any permanent establishment's own filings, if there is one.
You and your tax adviser

For the State Revenue Service

You don't need a Latvian 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 Latvia to a maintained US company.

The state approves the company, the IRS issues the EIN and each provider approves its own account. In Latvia, your tax adviser handles the State Revenue Service; we don't file there.

You and your tax adviser

Check the Latvian side first

Decide whether you need a US company at all, and how its dividends to you will be taxed.

You leave this stage with: A structure and tax plan that fits Latvia'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 Latvia

  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
    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 Latvia 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–Latvia income tax treaty is in force.

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

How Latvia sees it

In Latvia, the dividend is where the tax falls.

Residence, the rates and the dividend rule come from PwC's summary. They run alongside the US steps below.

  1. If you run it from here

    The company

    Not Latvian-resident; only companies that are, or should have been, incorporated in Latvia are.

  2. When it pays you a dividend

    You

    25.5%, or 0% with evidence that tax was paid at source.

  3. If it sits in a tax haven

    You, at 25% or more

    The CFC rules can tax your participation.

Worked example

A one-person LLC run from Riga, worked through

This is an illustration, not a quote. How Latvia classes the LLC, and what counts as evidence of tax paid, are for your tax adviser.

  1. Your Wyoming LLC makes €80,000 of profit and pays no US income tax on it, because the work is done in Latvia.

  2. It isn't Latvian-resident, so Latvia doesn't tax the company itself.

  3. If it pays you the €80,000 as a dividend, there's no tax paid to show, so Latvia taxes it at 25.5%: €20,400.

  4. A C-Corp that paid US corporate tax could show it, and the rate on its dividend could be 0%.

What Latvia expects

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

Latvia taxes residents' dividends at 25.5%, or 0% with proof that tax was paid on the profit, and treats only companies incorporated there as resident.

Where it is incorporated

A company is Latvian-resident if it is, or should have been, incorporated in Latvia. A fixed place used permanently for business here is a permanent establishment.

Sources

Tax when profit is paid out

A Latvian company, or a permanent establishment registered here, pays corporate tax only on profit it distributes: 20% after dividing by 0.8, so 25% in effect.

Sources

Dividends

Dividends are taxed at 25.5%. They're taxed at 0% when you can show that corporate or income tax was paid at source, except from a company in a tax haven.

Sources

Controlled foreign companies

Latvia's CFC rules reach individuals. A resident holding 25% or more of a foreign company in a tax haven pays income tax on that participation.

Sources

Residence

You're resident with a declared place of residence in Latvia, or after 183 days here in any 12 months.

Sources

On the record

We form US companies. We aren't Latvian 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 Latvia 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 and Latvian checks

Keep the registered agent active and track the state's yearly charge. In Latvia, declare dividends on your annual return, with evidence of any tax paid if you claim 0%.

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.
Latvian returnsYou and your tax adviserWe 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 your tax adviser before you order.

Bring the owners, where each lives, the operating agreement, whether you plan an LLC or a C-Corp and the business activity. Each question is also in Latvian.

Download the checklist for your tax adviser (.txt)
  1. 01
    EN

    Will dividends from my US company be taxed at 25.5%, or can I show tax paid and get 0%?

    LV

    Vai dividendes no manas ASV sabiedrības tiks apliktas ar 25,5 % likmi, vai es varu pierādīt samaksāto nodokli un piemērot 0 %?

  2. 02
    EN

    How does Latvia class my US LLC: as a company or as transparent?

    LV

    Kā Latvija klasificē manu ASV LLC: kā sabiedrību vai kā caurskatāmu vienību?

  3. 03
    EN

    Does a US state count as a tax haven for the CFC rules?

    LV

    Vai ASV štats tiek uzskatīts par zemu nodokļu vai beznodokļu teritoriju kontrolēto ārvalstu sabiedrību noteikumu izpratnē?

  4. 04
    EN

    Does working from Latvia give my US company a permanent establishment here?

    LV

    Vai mans darbs no Latvijas manai ASV sabiedrībai rada pastāvīgo pārstāvniecību Latvijā?

  5. 05
    EN

    How do I get credit for US tax withheld?

    LV

    Kā es varu ieskaitīt ASV ieturēto nodokli?

  6. 06
    EN

    Would a Latvian SIA serve me better than a US company?

    LV

    Vai Latvijas SIA man būtu piemērotāka nekā ASV sabiedrība?

  7. 07
    EN

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

    LV

    Kā man kārtot uzskaiti ASV deklarācijai un manai Latvijas deklarācijai?

Questions

Questions from Latvia.

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

Can a Latvian 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 Latvian questions are how dividends are taxed and where the business is carried on.

Does running the company from Latvia make it Latvian?

No. A company is Latvian-resident if it is, or should have been, incorporated in Latvia. A fixed place used permanently for business here can still be a permanent establishment.

How are dividends from the company taxed in Latvia?

At 25.5%. They're taxed at 0% when you can show that corporate or income tax was paid at source, unless the company is in a tax haven. A 3% extra rate applies once your total income passes €200,000.

Would an LLC or a C-Corp change the Latvian rate?

It can. A single-owner LLC with no US income often pays no US tax, so there may be nothing to show, and 25.5% applies. A C-Corp pays US corporate tax, which may support the 0% rate. Ask your tax adviser before you choose.

Do Latvia's CFC rules reach me?

They can. Latvia's CFC rules apply to individuals holding 25% or more of a foreign company in a tax haven. Whether a US company counts is for your tax adviser.

How much does a US company from Latvia 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 tax adviser's fees, US return preparation and Latvian filings 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 Latvia?

A Wyoming LLC suits an owner-run business selling to US customers, once you know how its dividends will be taxed. 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 Latvia?

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 Latvia?

No. Latvia is on Mercury's list of countries it doesn't serve, and the list goes by where you live. Wise Business is the one to check first.

Can I use Wise Business for the US company?

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

Do I need a US company for Stripe in Latvia?

No. Stripe supports businesses in Latvia, and an SIA gets you Stripe too. 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 Latvia?

Generally not, for an LLC. Pay for work you do in Latvia is generally not US-source income, so a US LLC 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. A C-Corp pays US corporate tax on its profit.

Is there a US–Latvia tax treaty?

Yes, it's in force. It caps interest and royalties at 10%, with 5% for some equipment rentals, and dividends at 15%, or 5% for a qualifying company shareholder.

Does BaseAcross file the US and Latvian 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 Latvian returns are for you and your tax adviser.

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.

Latvia

United States (IRS, Treasury and FinCEN)

Banks and payments

States

Residence, the rates, the dividend rule and the CFC rules come from PwC's Worldwide Tax Summaries. Confirm the current position with your tax adviser before acting.

Europe

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.

Compare the plans

Your company's route

Nothing charged yet

From

Riga

Latvia

To

Wyoming

LLC · Cheyenne, WY

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

Launch · $249 + $102.40 Wyoming · Same day