Delaware LLC for non-US founders

What we file

We prepare and submit your Certificate of Formation to the Delaware Division of Corporations, with our partner as your registered agent in Delaware. Before filing we search the Delaware register for your name; if it is taken we ask you for another before anything is submitted.

Name search against the Delaware register
Certificate of Formation filed, state fee paid at cost
Registered agent in Delaware for 12 months, with mail scanned to your dashboard
With Standard and Complete: EIN application, operating agreement and banking resolution

The name must be distinguishable on the Delaware register and contain LLC, L.L.C. or Limited Liability Company.

Every year after

Annual LLC tax. Delaware LLCs pay a flat $300 tax every year by June 1, starting the year after formation. There is no annual report to file for an LLC, only the tax.

A late payment adds a $200 penalty plus monthly interest, and an LLC that stays unpaid can lose good standing.

Separately from the state, a foreign-owned single-member LLC files IRS Form 5472 every year, even with no income.

Processing time

Standard processing usually takes several business days, longer at busy times of year. Delaware sells paid priority options, from 24-hour up to same-day and one-hour service. Our Complete package uses priority handling where it helps.

Privacy

The Certificate of Formation lists the registered agent. Members and managers are not named in the public filing.

Whatever the state publishes, your bank, the IRS and your registered agent always know who owns the company.

State tax

No Delaware income tax for an LLC that does no business in Delaware. The $300 yearly tax applies regardless.

General information, not tax advice. Where you live decides most of your tax position; speak to a tax adviser in your country.

For a founder outside the US

Works well

The state US investors and their lawyers know best
Its business court and case law are well developed
Owners are not named in the public record
Paid expedite available

Watch out for

$300 every year, five times the Wyoming fee
Investors who want to buy shares usually want a C corporation, not an LLC, so the Delaware advantage is smaller for LLCs

What a Delaware LLC costs with us

First year

Standard package$199
Delaware filing fee (paid to the state)$110

Total$309

Each year after

Delaware franchise tax$300
Registered agent renewal$99

Total$399

State fees as of October 2026, passed on at cost. Yearly items renew only if you keep them; you can use another registered agent. Not included: US tax preparation, such as the yearly Form 5472, which a tax preparer charges for separately.

Start with Standard in Delaware

Delaware questions

Is Delaware better for a non-US founder?

Only if US investors or partners ask for it. For a small online business, Wyoming or New Mexico usually costs less every year and offers similar privacy.

When is the Delaware LLC tax due?

June 1 every year, starting the calendar year after you form. The amount is a flat $300.

Can a Delaware LLC convert to a corporation later?

Delaware allows conversion from an LLC to a corporation. If you plan to raise venture money, ask a US lawyer which structure to start with.

How long does a Delaware LLC take?

The state typically approves in 3–5 business days. Standard processing usually takes several business days, longer at busy times of year. The EIN from the IRS is a separate step that usually takes 2 to 6 weeks for owners without a Social Security number.

What does LLCBolt charge for a Delaware LLC?

Our packages start at $99, plus the $110 Delaware filing fee, which we pass on at cost. The first 12 months of registered agent service are included.

Forming a Delaware LLC from outside the US