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From Malaysia · Asia-Pacific

Start a US company from Malaysia

For Malaysian founders who want to sell to US customers as a US vendor, raise from US investors or bill in dollars. You already have Stripe, and founders here can apply to Mercury, which decides each application. Malaysia can treat a company run from Malaysia as resident, so read that section first.

Start from Malaysia 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 Malaysia. Wise gives no USD account details there.

The banks, in detail
US tax treaty
None
Local Stripe
Yes
Mercury
Yes
Currency
MYR
Our fee
from $249
Wyoming's fee
$102.40
Until we file
Refunded in full

You can form a US LLC while living in Malaysia, without an SSN or a US visit, and founders here can apply to Mercury, which decides each application. Launch starts at $351.40 in Wyoming, including our plan and state filing fee. Stripe already serves Malaysia, so the reason is usually US customers or investors. Check two rules first: BNM's limit if you have ringgit borrowing, and the residence test, where one board meeting in Malaysia can make the company resident.

Watch

The first year from Malaysia, in 6 minutes

Can Malaysia treat your US company as Malaysian? It can. A company is resident in Malaysia if its management and control is exercised there at any time in the year, and one board meeting held in Malaysia can be enough.

Transcript

Before you form

Start with whether you need a US company, and where it's run.

  • You may not need a US company

    Card payments from customers worldwide

    Stripe already supports Malaysian businesses. A US company adds US filings, and one run from Malaysia can be resident there, so it needs a reason.

    Getting access to Stripe
  • A Wyoming LLC may fit

    Selling software to US customers

    Some US buyers and platforms want a US contracting party. Founders here can apply to Mercury, which decides each application. Plan where decisions are made, because one board meeting in Malaysia can make it resident.

    US companies for SaaS
  • A Delaware C-Corp

    Raising from US investors

    US investors usually want a Delaware C-Corp. Check BNM's limit if you have ringgit borrowing, and plan where the board meets.

    Raising from US investors
  • Review the US footprint

    Selling on Amazon US or holding US stock

    An LLC 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 Malaysia

Wyoming LLC

Owner-run business selling to US customers as a US vendor.

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.
  • Owners' names exactly as on their passports, ownership shares, managers and home addresses.
  • Where decisions and board meetings will happen, because Malaysia'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

  • Whether you have domestic ringgit borrowing, for BNM's limit.
  • Records of where the company's board meets and decisions are made.
  • Your return, with Malaysian income and any foreign income you brought in.
You and your tax adviser

For your bank and LHDN

You don't need a Malaysian Sdn Bhd to form a US LLC. 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 Malaysia to a maintained US company.

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

You and your tax adviser

Check the Malaysian side first

Decide whether you need a US company at all, where it will be managed and controlled, and whether BNM's limit applies to what you'll send.

You leave this stage with: A management and tax plan that fits Malaysia'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 Malaysia

  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 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 Malaysia 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: None

There's no US–Malaysia income tax treaty; the two countries' agreement covers only shipping and air transport.

US-source dividends, interest and royalties paid to you are withheld at 30% unless a US exemption applies. Pay for work you do in Malaysia generally isn't US-source income, so nothing is withheld on it.

BNM and LHDN rules

Check the ringgit borrowing rule, then where the company is run.

The investment rule comes from Bank Negara Malaysia's own pages, and the income rules from LHDN's guideline and PwC's summaries. They run alongside the US steps below.

  1. Before you send money

    You and your bank

    Without domestic ringgit borrowing, invest any amount abroad. With it, up to RM1 million a year. One housing loan and one car loan don't count.

  2. When you decide where it's run

    You and your tax adviser

    Management and control exercised in Malaysia at any time in the year makes the company resident; one board meeting there can be enough. Resident companies pay 24%.

  3. When you're paid for your own work

    You

    Pay for work you do in Malaysia is Malaysian income, taxed at resident rates of 0% to 30%.

  4. When you bring foreign income in

    You and your tax adviser

    Individuals are exempt until 31 December 2036 if the income was subject to tax where it arose. You declare the type, amount and country in your return.

Worked example

Does BNM's limit apply to you?

This follows BNM's FAQ. Your bank applies the rule to your own accounts.

  1. You have one housing loan and one car loan, and nothing else. That isn't domestic ringgit borrowing, so there's no limit.

  2. You add a second housing loan or a personal loan. Now you have domestic ringgit borrowing.

  3. From then on, you can invest up to RM1 million a year abroad in total, counting the company and any other foreign currency investments.

  4. The limit counts money converted from ringgit or drawn from a trade foreign currency account. Ask your bank how it applies to yours.

What Malaysia expects

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

Malaysia taxes income derived from Malaysia, and foreign income brought in, though individuals are exempt on that until 2036 on conditions. A company managed and controlled from Malaysia is resident.

Money you send abroad

Without domestic ringgit borrowing, you can invest any amount abroad. With it, the limit is RM1 million a year. One housing loan and one car loan don't count as borrowing.

Sources

Income from Malaysia

Anyone is taxed on income accruing in or derived from Malaysia, and residents pay 0% to 30%. Pay for work you do in Malaysia is Malaysian income, whoever pays it.

Sources

Foreign income you bring in

Residents are taxed on foreign income received in Malaysia. Individuals are exempt until 31 December 2036 if the income was subject to tax where it arose, which includes a country whose system doesn't tax it. Partnership business income is left out.

Sources

Where it is run

A company is resident in Malaysia if its management and control is exercised there at any time in the year. One board meeting held in Malaysia can be enough. Resident companies pay 24%.

Sources

Residence and credit

You're resident after 182 days in Malaysia in a calendar year. Without a tax treaty, a credit for foreign tax is limited to half of the foreign tax paid.

Sources

On the record

We form US companies. We aren't Malaysian 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 Malaysia 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, LHDN and ownership checks

Keep the registered agent active and track the state's yearly charge. In Malaysia, file your return with Malaysian income and any foreign income you brought in, and keep BNM's limit in mind if you have ringgit borrowing.

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.
LHDN returnYou 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, where the board will meet, your ringgit borrowing and the business activity. Agree who handles each filing in Malaysia and in the US.

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

    Would the US company's management and control be exercised in Malaysia, making it resident?

  2. 02

    If it is, which of its income is derived from Malaysia and taxed at 24%?

  3. 03

    Is my pay from the company Malaysian income, because I do the work here?

  4. 04

    Does any income I bring in qualify for the individual exemption to 2036, and how do I show it was subject to tax?

  5. 05

    Do I have domestic ringgit borrowing for BNM's RM1 million limit?

  6. 06

    How do I show the company and its income in my LHDN return?

  7. 07

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

Questions

Questions from Malaysia.

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

Can a Malaysian 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. On the Malaysian side, BNM lets residents invest abroad, with a yearly limit only if you have ringgit borrowing. Owning a US company doesn't give you a US visa.

How much can I send abroad to fund the company?

If you have no domestic ringgit borrowing, any amount. If you do, up to RM1 million a year in total across your foreign currency investments. One housing loan and one car loan don't count as borrowing.

Can Malaysia treat my US company as Malaysian?

It can. A company is resident in Malaysia if its management and control is exercised there at any time in the year, and one board meeting held in Malaysia can be enough. Resident companies pay 24%.

Is money I bring home from the company taxed in Malaysia?

Foreign income received in Malaysia is taxable, but individuals are exempt until 31 December 2036 if it was subject to tax where it arose. Pay for work you do in Malaysia isn't foreign income at all, so the exemption doesn't cover it.

How much does a US company from Malaysia 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 your LHDN filing 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 Malaysia?

A Wyoming LLC usually suits an owner-run business selling to US customers. A Delaware C-Corp suits raising from US investors. Either way, where the board meets decides Malaysian residence. 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 Malaysia?

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 Malaysia?

Usually you can apply. Malaysia 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?

Not for USD account details. Wise gives no USD details to a US company run from Malaysia, because people here can hold money with it in personal accounts only. Relay doesn't bar Malaysia, but it asks every owner for a physical US address.

Do I need a US company for Stripe in Malaysia?

No. Stripe supports businesses in Malaysia. 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 Malaysia?

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

Is there a US–Malaysia tax treaty?

Not for income tax. The two countries' agreement covers only shipping and air transport. US-source dividends, interest and royalties paid to you are withheld at 30%, and Malaysia's credit for foreign tax without a treaty is half of the tax paid.

Does BaseAcross file the US and Malaysian 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 LHDN return is 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.

Malaysia

United States (IRS, Treasury and FinCEN)

Banks and payments

States

The investment limit is read from Bank Negara Malaysia's own page and FAQ, and the foreign income condition from LHDN's June 2024 guideline. Residence, rates and the 2036 end date come from PwC's Worldwide Tax Summaries, a professional summary. Confirm the current position with your adviser 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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From

Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia

To

Wyoming

LLC · Cheyenne, WY

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

Launch · $249 + $102.40 Wyoming · Same day