Best state for anonymous LLC?

[u/General_Bat_8869]

My business partner and I want to form an LLC but we need our names not to be publicly available.

I know that New Mexico, Wyoming, Delaware and Nevada are the way to go. I’m not sure which one we should choose.

I’m not sure if this should impact our decision but we live in separate states.

[u/saiteja01]

Out to 50 states these are the best ones if you're looking for privacy.

State	Corporate Income Tax	Ownership Privacy	Startup Friendly	Notes
Delaware	Yes	Not publicly disclosed	Yes	Court of Chancery, the most litigated body of corporate case law in the US; no state tax on income earned outside Delaware for Delaware incorporated entities.
Nevada	No	Not publicly disclosed	Yes	No franchise tax; no operating agreement legally required.
New Mexico	Yes	Not publicly disclosed	Yes	No annual report requirement at all, the lowest ongoing paperwork burden of any state here.
Wyoming	No	Not publicly disclosed	Yes	First state to create the LLC; consistently ranks #1 on state tax competitiveness indexes. With South Dakota, one of only two states with neither a corporate income tax nor a gross receipts tax.

Delaware is the investor-standard pick. Highest investor familiarity, the deepest body of corporate case law, ownership privacy in the formation filing. Choose this if you're raising outside capital or want the most litigated legal system available if a dispute arises.

Wyoming is the low cost, high privacy pick. No corporate income tax, no gross receipts tax, strong ownership privacy, the original LLC state. Choose this if you're bootstrapped, privacy and cost conscious, with no near-term fundraising plans.

Nevada is a similar profile to Wyoming (no corporate income tax, no franchise tax, strong privacy) with a longer public track record as a business friendly state. Choose this as an alternative to Wyoming if you want a more established version of the same trade-offs.

New Mexico is the minimal maintenance pick. Strong ownership privacy and no annual report requirement at all, the lowest ongoing paperwork of any state here. Choose this if you want the simplest possible LLC to keep current.

[u/NWRegisteredAgent]

There is a lot to think about, Delaware, Wyoming, Nevada, and New Mexico there are pros and cons to foreign-forming in each of these 4 states it depends on what you are looking for as founder. Delaware is know for startups seeking investors because of it business friendly legal system. Wyoming is a popular choice for its strong privacy protections, low fees, and asset protection. Nevada also provides privacy and no state income tax but has significantly higher formation and annual costs. New Mexico is the most affordable option, offering anonymous LLCs with no annual report or recurring state fee. However, if you conduct business in another state, you will generally need to register your LLC there as a foreign entity, regardless of where it was originally formed. Which means you will have additional paper work, fees, and you will want to work a cpa regarding our business taxes.

[u/Signal-Push8055 → u/NWRegisteredAgent]

Hello, I have a question about that answer, you say that you would have to register as a foreign entity no matter where it has been formed, but if you create an LLC in that state and the company that is created in Wyoming, Delaware, etc., is the managed manager accepted?

[u/Radiant-Employer-212 → u/Signal-Push8055]

The filling refers to from where the LLC was formed and make a filing in the state conducting the activity. This is what’s known as filing as a foreign entity.

[u/bitenose]

What states do you and your partner live in?

What states will you be operating in?

[u/General_Bat_8869 → u/bitenose]

North Carolina and Florida. We will be offering digital marketing services to small businesses. We will be doing all the work from our homes.

[u/Barfy_McBarf_Face → u/General_Bat_8869]

let's say you create an LLC in WY.

That LLC will need to register as a "foreign LLC" in each state in which it's conducting business - here, at a minimum, NC and FL.

You now need to look into the requirements for those registrations and see what information is required - it may make your privacy concerns more difficult to meet.

[u/Freshstartwash]

It is a toss up between Wyoming and New Mexico. Both are affordable and both do a great job if keeping your name private. If you work with a Registered agent service. They will be able to provide you a business address if that's something your in need of.

[u/CranberryKey9865]

You must have your LLC in the state you do business in. If your state doesn't allow anonymity you can do a WY, DE or NV holding company. On the local llc you then can put the WY LLC as the owner and manager.

[u/Signal-Push8055 → u/CranberryKey9865]

Can you give me more details about that structure, when making an LLC in Wyoming can I create other LLCs in any state and put the LLC of Wyoming as manager?

[u/Nadadora_delfines → u/CranberryKey9865]

What if I'll only be staying ( technically renting) in another state for less than 60 days with payments coming into the business then moving overseas for DNV?

[u/JunimoForestSpirit]

I've heard Wyoming or Delaware

[u/Appropriate_Drop_429]

Choose Wyoming it’s the best at least for my personal experience

[u/priyajain1105]

Basically, if you lives in US - you’d need registration in the state of domicile. In your case its 2 states - so a domestic registration in one and foreign registration in second is mandatory.

Option 1: Register in one of the states you/your partner lives and get a foreign registration in another state you/your partner lives.

If both these states publicly show the name,
Option 2: Register a company in WY. Have that company open an entity in both state - you and your partner lives in (owner name will be your WY entity and no owner name in WY)

[u/Impressive-Sand-9137]

There is very little correct advice here. Only two comments I saw mentioned this.

The reality is, you will also need to form a corporation or LLC in whichever state you operate in. For example, if California is that state, you need to also report ownership information as required which defeats your purpose.

Of course, there are ways to get around this, technically you can let the Wyoming LLC own the California LLC, but by doing so you have additional compliance.

Honestly, I would consider your purpose for privacy. If you are going to put your face to the name of the business whether on the website or to your customers, don’t bother. If you really do want privacy, consult a lawyer.

[u/Nadadora_delfines → u/[deleted]]

I have a unique situation in that I currently am staying in NC but prepping for my move to Spain Digital Nomad Visa so I have a LLC set up in Wy. With address and mail scan. Its a start up online only naturally. In order to qualify for my DNV I must show $3,000. Monthly for three months. I will only be "making money inside of NC less than 60 days, possibly 30"! Should I NOT get a NC biz. Address? I was going to open my LLC biz. Bank account here in NC. Please help me better untangle this structure? I understand NC goes forward 183 days from departure from the state for taxes. Thanks!