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US LLC (Wyoming) · via Mercury (banking-only)·🇮🇳Founder profile

Forming a Wyoming LLC for Indian Freelance Developers

VerifiedJul 2026
EligibilityEligible
Setup timeline14–45days
Year-1 total$0.00

Indian freelance developers can establish a Wyoming LLC to access US-based payment infrastructure and enterprise clients. This structure provides limited liability protection while maintaining a pass-through tax status for federal purposes.

The process involves state formation, obtaining an EIN from the IRS, and opening a business bank account via Mercury. Compliance with both US IRS reporting and Indian income tax regulations is mandatory.

§ 01Cost of ownership

Model the full outlay, not just the setup fee

Renewal costs sneak up on non-resident founders. Compare year-1 filing against a 3-year total to see the real bill.
Currency · USD (live FX)
2-year cost of ownership
$0.00
$0.00/month amortized·USD @ live FX
Time horizon
Line items
Amount
  • SetupMercury (banking-only) setup
    $0.00
  • AnnualYear 2 renewal
    $0.00
Total$0.00
§ 02Tax residency · Indian Freelance Developers

What the tax authority sees

US federal / local status

Wyoming LLCs are treated as pass-through entities for federal tax purposes, where members are subject to US federal tax only on income effectively connected with a US trade or business (ETBUS).

Home-country rule

Section 44ADA presumptive taxation; foreign-source income rules

Editorial verdict

Leverage Section 44ADA for your Indian tax filings while ensuring your US LLC activity does not create a Permanent Establishment in India to avoid double taxation.

Key compliance risks
  • 01Form 5472 and 1120 penalty of $25,000 for late filing
  • 02Potential classification as a Permanent Establishment in India
  • 03FBAR reporting requirements for foreign bank accounts
§ 03Setup timeline

From filing to funded bank account

Setup timeline
14–45days total, 3 phases
Milestone check
Filing · Tax ID · Banking
d0
d11
d23
d34
d45
01FilingMercury (banking-only) submits formation docs
d0–d16
02Tax ID / EINIRS EIN issuance
d14–d34
03BankingBusiness account approved & funded
d27–d45
§ 04Head-to-head

US LLC (Wyoming) vs Estonia OÜ (e-Residency)

US LLC (Wyoming)
LLC
Estonia OÜ (e-Residency)
Entity
LLC
Setup cost
$102.00
$205.20
Annual
$60.00
$129.60
Local director
Remote OK
Remote OK
Physical presence
Remote OK
Remote OK
Tax regime
0% state tax; federal only on US-source income
20% only on distributed profit; 0% on retained earnings
§ 05Questions founders actually ask

FAQ

If you are a resident of India, income earned through an LLC may be reported under Section 44ADA if the nature of your work qualifies as a specified profession. Consult a Chartered Accountant to determine if your specific contract structure qualifies as foreign-source professional income.
Next step

Start filing with Mercury (banking-only)

Formation typically completes in 2–3 weeks. Use the promo below, then click through to begin the checklist directly on the platform.