US LLC for a Shopify Store: A Non-Resident's Setup Guide

You can run a Shopify store from almost any country without a US company. A US LLC for a Shopify store is still worth it for many non-residents. It can give you access to US payment processing, a US business bank account, and the trust that comes with selling as a US business. For most sellers, a single-member LLC in Wyoming or New Mexico with an EIN is the simplest setup.

Bottom line

• You don’t need a US LLC to open a Shopify store. You need one if you want to sell as a US business with US payment rails.
• Wyoming and New Mexico are the usual low-cost picks for non-residents. Delaware rarely makes sense for a solo store.
• Your main yearly obligation is Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120. If you skip it, the penalties are severe.

Do you need a US LLC to sell on Shopify?

No. Shopify accepts merchants from many countries. The real question is whether your home country gets good payment options and whether you want to look like a US business to US buyers.

Shopify’s built-in processor, Shopify Payments, is only available in certain countries. The rules depend on where your business is registered and where its bank account is. If your country isn’t on that list, you need a third-party gateway. Shopify then charges an extra transaction fee on top of the gateway’s fee.

A US LLC with an EIN and a US business bank account can usually apply for Shopify Payments as a US business. Shopify sets its own approval requirements, including what counts as an acceptable business address. Check its current help center before you plan around it.

US LLC vs selling from your home country

This table shows the trade-off most non-resident store owners face.

If most of your customers are in the US, or your country lacks good payment options, the LLC usually pays for itself quickly. If you sell mostly at home, a US entity adds paperwork without much benefit.

Which state should a Shopify seller choose?

For most non-resident Shopify sellers, Wyoming or New Mexico is the right choice. Both are low-cost and simple to maintain. You don’t need to live or sell there, and Shopify doesn’t care which state you register in.

• Wyoming: The Wyoming Secretary of State charges $100 to file Articles of Organization. The annual report fee starts at $60 and is based on assets located in Wyoming. Wyoming is popular for its clear rules and good privacy.
• New Mexico: The New Mexico Secretary of State charges $50 to file, and LLCs have no annual report. It’s the cheapest state to maintain, though some banks and partners know it less well.
• Delaware: Delaware LLCs pay a $300 annual franchise tax. That cost makes sense if you plan to raise venture capital or convert to a corporation. It usually doesn’t make sense for a store run by one person.

We compare these in depth in Wyoming vs New Mexico LLC and the best state to form an LLC for non-residents. State fees change, so confirm them on the Secretary of State’s website before you file.

How to set up a US LLC for your Shopify store

The setup has five steps, and you can do all of them from abroad. Expect a few weeks from filing to taking payments, depending on how quickly you get your EIN and how long the bank takes to approve you.

1. Form the LLC

You file Articles of Organization with the state and name a registered agent. A registered agent is a person or company with a physical address in the state of formation who receives legal and government mail for the LLC. As a non-resident, you need one. Read what a registered agent does if this is new to you.

A formation service handles the filing and the registered agent together. Bizee is a low-cost option: its basic formation package costs $0 plus the state fee, and it includes a year of registered agent service. Check the current package details before you buy.

2. Get an EIN

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is the IRS tax ID for your LLC. You need it to open a bank account and to apply for Shopify Payments. You don’t need a Social Security Number to get one. Non-residents apply with Form SS-4 by fax or mail, or through a formation service that files it for them. Our guide on getting an EIN without an SSN covers both routes.

3. Open a US business bank account

Shopify sends your payouts to a bank account, and US payment processing needs a US account. Several online banks and fintech accounts accept non-resident LLC owners. Each has its own document and country rules. See US business bank accounts for non-residents for what to expect.

4. Set up Shopify under the LLC

Create or update your store with the LLC’s legal name, EIN, and bank details, then apply for Shopify Payments. Use the LLC’s details consistently across Shopify, your bank, and your IRS records. Mismatched names or addresses are a common reason for verification delays.

If you haven’t opened a store yet, start a Shopify trial and build the storefront while the LLC paperwork is processing. Paid plans start around $29-$39/month for Basic, depending on whether you pay monthly or yearly. Check the current pricing page.

5. Add a US business address if needed

Your registered agent’s address is for legal mail. Some platforms and banks want a separate business or mailing address. A virtual address or mail-forwarding service usually covers this. See getting a US address for your LLC.

What taxes does a non-resident Shopify LLC owe?

A single-member LLC owned by a non-resident is a disregarded entity by default. Many of these owners owe no US federal income tax, but every one of them must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 each year.

Whether you owe US income tax depends on whether your income is “effectively connected” with a US trade or business. If you run the store from abroad with no US office, employees, or dependent agents in the US, your income often isn’t effectively connected. That’s a fact-specific test, though, and your home country still taxes your profit under its own rules.

The filing duty applies even when you owe nothing. The IRS penalty for not filing Form 5472 starts at $25,000. Our Form 5472 guide explains what to report.

Sales tax is separate

US sales tax is a state-level tax on what your customers buy, and it works differently from income tax. Once your sales into a state pass that state’s economic nexus threshold, you may have to register and collect sales tax there. Thresholds are often $100,000 in sales into the state, but they vary by state. Shopify includes tools to calculate and collect sales tax, but you’re still responsible for registering and filing.

For a full picture, read US LLC taxes for non-residents and our annual compliance checklist.

How much does it cost to run?

A non-resident Shopify LLC usually costs a few hundred dollars in the first year, not counting Shopify itself. The total depends on the state, your registered agent, and whether you pay someone to get your EIN.

Typical costs:

• State filing fee: $50 in New Mexico, $100 in Wyoming (set by each Secretary of State).
• Registered agent: often included free for the first year, then commonly $100-$300/year.
• EIN: free from the IRS directly; formation services charge extra to file for you.
• Annual state costs: $0 in New Mexico, from $60 in Wyoming, $300 in Delaware.
• Tax filing: if you hire a preparer for Form 5472, fees vary widely.

US LLC annual costs breaks these down by state.

Who should form a US LLC for Shopify

• Sellers whose main customers are in the US.
• Sellers in countries where Shopify Payments isn’t available and who don’t want to pay Shopify’s extra gateway fee.
• Dropshippers and print-on-demand sellers who need US payment processors and suppliers that prefer US entities.
• Sellers planning to expand to Amazon US later. See a US LLC for Amazon FBA.

Who can skip it for now

• Sellers testing a product idea with little revenue yet. Validate the product first.
• Stores selling mainly within their own country, where local payments already work well.
• Owners who don’t want to keep up with a yearly US filing. The Form 5472 requirement isn’t optional.

FAQ

Can a non-resident use Shopify Payments with a US LLC?

Often, yes. A US LLC with an EIN and a US business bank account can usually apply for Shopify Payments as a US business. Shopify runs its own verification and sets its own address rules, so check its current requirements before you apply.

Do I need an SSN or ITIN to sell on Shopify through a US LLC?

No. The LLC uses an EIN, which non-residents can get without an SSN or ITIN. Some banks or payment processors may ask for extra identity documents, such as your passport.

Is Wyoming or New Mexico better for a Shopify store?

Both work well. New Mexico costs less to maintain because it has no annual report. Wyoming has a small annual fee but is more familiar to banks and partners. Shopify accepts either one.

Will my Shopify LLC pay US income tax?

It depends on whether your income is effectively connected with a US trade or business. Many non-residents who run their store entirely from abroad owe no federal income tax, but they still must file Form 5472 every year. This is general information; confirm your situation with a CPA or attorney.

Get your store and your LLC running together

You can do both at the same time. Form your LLC with Bizee to handle the state filing and registered agent. Then build your storefront on a Shopify trial while you wait for your EIN and bank account. Once the LLC’s details are approved, switch your payouts to the US account and start selling as a US business. Form your LLC with Bizee today.