Freelancers, agencies and e-commerce sellers in Pakistan form US LLCs to work with US clients and platforms. Forming the company is the easy part. The real questions are the EIN, which banks and payment providers accept Pakistan-based owners, and the yearly filings. This guide covers what works in 2026.
Can you form a US LLC while living in Pakistan?
Yes. US states do not require LLC owners to be US citizens or residents, and you do not need to travel. You need:
- A valid passport.
- A company name and a chosen state.
- A registered agent with an address in that state.
- Basic details about your business activity.
See the full list on our LLC required documents page.
Which state?
Most Pakistan-based founders choose Wyoming ($100 to form, $60 minimum annual report) or New Mexico ($50 to form, no annual report). Delaware ($110 to form, $400 yearly LLC tax in 2026) mainly suits startups raising investment. Our Wyoming vs Delaware vs New Mexico guide compares them in detail.
Getting an EIN without an SSN
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your company’s US tax number. Banks, payment platforms and the IRS all ask for it. You do not need an SSN or ITIN to get one.
According to the IRS Form SS-4 instructions, applicants without a US address cannot use the online EIN application. Instead they can:
- Call the IRS international line at 267-941-1099 (not toll-free), Monday to Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern time.
- Fax Form SS-4 to 304-707-9471. The IRS generally faxes the EIN back within about 4 business days.
- Mail Form SS-4. This takes about 4 weeks.
On line 7b of Form SS-4, a responsible party with no SSN or ITIN who is not eligible for one writes “foreign”. Our EIN service ($39; the IRS charges nothing) prepares the form and handles the IRS for you.
Banking and payments: what works from Pakistan
This is where most guides get it wrong. The state you form in does not decide which banks accept you; where you live does. Based on what providers publish and what we see with clients in 2026:
| Provider | For Pakistan-based owners |
|---|---|
| Mercury | Not available. Mercury does not serve businesses with owners based in Pakistan. |
| Relay | Not available. Relay does not accept owners who are residents of Pakistan. |
| Wise Business | You can open an account, but USD account details are not available to Pakistan-based owners, so you can’t receive US bank transfers the usual way. |
| Payoneer | Available. Widely used by freelancers and marketplace sellers in Pakistan to receive USD and withdraw to a local bank. |
Providers change their rules often and every application is their own decision. We check eligibility with you before you apply.
Read more on our US business bank account guidance page and the Payoneer page.
Keep business and personal money separate
Once the LLC has an account, run every business payment through it: client payments in, software and ad costs out. Move money to yourself as a clear transfer (a distribution) rather than paying personal costs from the business account. This keeps your records clean for Form 5472, makes your yearly filing faster and avoids questions from payment providers who review account activity. A simple monthly spreadsheet of transfers between you and the LLC is enough to start; our bookkeeping service can take this over as you grow.
Stripe, PayPal and marketplaces
Platforms such as Stripe, Amazon, Etsy and Shopify Payments each have their own rules for US companies with foreign owners. They usually ask for the LLC’s formation documents, the EIN, a US business address and identity checks for the owner. A registered agent address is generally not accepted as your operating address; a US business address with mail forwarding can help. Always read the platform’s current requirements before applying.
Match your passport exactly
Use your name exactly as it appears in your passport on every form: the state filing, the EIN application, your bank and payment applications. Pakistani names are often written in different orders or spellings across documents, and a mismatch between the EIN letter, the company documents and your ID is one of the most common reasons for delays with banks and payment providers.
How long does it take?
- State approval: depends on the state’s current processing times. Online filings in Wyoming and New Mexico are usually fast; we confirm the current timing when you order.
- EIN: by fax, the IRS generally sends the EIN within about 4 business days; by mail, about 4 weeks.
- Payment accounts: each provider reviews applications on its own timeline and may ask for extra documents.
Costs at a glance
With Ze Filing, a Wyoming LLC costs $100 (state) + $49 (registered agent, first year) + $0 (our service fee until December 31, 2026) = $149. A New Mexico LLC costs $50 + $49 + $0 = $99. The EIN service is $39; the IRS charges nothing for an EIN. Form 5472 filing starts at $149 a year.
Your yearly obligations
- Form 5472 with a pro forma 1120, every year, even with zero income. The penalty for missing it is $25,000. Read our Form 5472 guide.
- State annual report or tax, depending on your state.
- Registered agent renewal, every year.
- Records of every transfer between you and the LLC.
Whether you also owe tax in Pakistan on income from the LLC depends on Pakistani tax law and your situation. Speak to a Pakistan tax adviser about that side; we handle the US filings.
Common mistakes
- Applying to Mercury or Relay first and being declined, which wastes weeks.
- Using the registered agent address as the business address on payment platforms.
- Sending blurry or cut-off passport scans. Send a clear colour scan of every page with your details.
- Skipping Form 5472 because the LLC had no sales.
- Paying LLC costs from a personal account without keeping a record. Those payments must be reported.
Step by step
- Choose your state and company name.
- Send your details and passport through our secure application or on WhatsApp.
- We file your Articles of Organization and set up your registered agent.
- We prepare your operating agreement and apply for your EIN.
- You apply to Payoneer or another provider that accepts Pakistan-based owners.
- We remind you before your Form 5472 and state deadlines.
Our LLC formation service fee is $0 until December 31, 2026; you pay the state fee and $49/year registered agent. See all prices on our pricing page.