For Founders Outside the U.S.
Own a U.S. Business.
Never Leave Home.
No U.S. visa. No Social Security Number. No flight to Phoenix. Thousands of founders outside the United States form an Arizona LLC every year, entirely online, to sell into the U.S. market or hold U.S. assets. Here's exactly how it works, and the one annual filing almost no one warns you about.
$50
Arizona state filing fee, the same whether you live in Phoenix or Ho Chi Minh City
0
Required trips to the United States to form or maintain your LLC
$25,000
The penalty for skipping Form 5472, even on an LLC with zero revenue
The Process
Four Steps, Zero Passport Stamps
01
Choose Your State & Package
Arizona is one of the most founder-friendly options: a $50 filing fee, no annual report, and no franchise tax. You don't need to live here, or anywhere in the U.S., to form here.
02
Get an EIN Without an SSN
Non-U.S. founders can't use the IRS's instant online tool, but an EIN can still be issued by fax or mail using Form SS-4. Most paid formation services handle this step directly on your behalf.
03
Open a U.S. Business Bank Account Remotely
A growing number of U.S. banking partners now verify and open accounts for foreign-owned LLCs entirely online, no flight, no in-person branch visit required.
04
File Form 5472 Every Year, Even With $0 Activity
This is the step most guides skip. It's the single most important compliance detail on this page, covered in full below.
The Detail Most Guides Skip
Form 5472: The Filing That Applies Even If You Never Made a Sale
Since 2017, any U.S. LLC that is wholly owned by a non-U.S. person is treated as a "foreign-owned disregarded entity" for tax purposes, and must file Form 5472 along with a pro forma Form 1120 every year. This applies whether your LLC generated $500,000 or $0. Even a single capital contribution when you funded the company counts as a reportable transaction.
The filing is due April 15 (extendable to October 15), and missing it carries a $25,000 penalty per form, per year, with no maximum cap if it goes unfiled. The good news: it's an information return, not a tax bill. Your LLC likely owes no U.S. corporate tax on it. But the paperwork has to be filed correctly and on time, every year, for as long as the LLC exists.
Get Started
Start Your Arizona LLC From Wherever You Are
Bizee's global entrepreneur package is built specifically for non-U.S. founders: EIN assistance without an SSN, a U.S. address, and guidance through your first year of compliance.
Common Questions
What International Founders Ask Us
Do I need a U.S. visa or green card to own a U.S. LLC?
No. Owning a U.S. LLC does not require a visa, green card, or residency of any kind. Company ownership and immigration status are entirely separate matters, forming an LLC does not grant you the right to live or work in the United States.
Can I get an EIN without a Social Security Number?
Yes. The IRS's online EIN tool requires an SSN or ITIN, so non-U.S. founders without one must apply by fax or mail using Form SS-4 instead. It takes longer than the instant online option, but it's a normal, well-established path.
What is Form 5472, and why does it matter so much?
Any U.S. LLC that is 100% owned by a non-U.S. person must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, by April 15 (extendable to October 15), even if the LLC had zero income or activity. Missing this filing carries a $25,000 penalty per form, with no cap if it stays unfiled. This applies regardless of whether your LLC ever did business.
Why Arizona instead of Delaware or Wyoming?
All three are popular with international founders. Arizona's advantage is cost and simplicity: a low $50 state filing fee, no annual report requirement, and no franchise tax, three ongoing costs that Delaware and some other states do charge every year.