How to Form a US LLC to Sell on Amazon From Outside the US
You can run a US company from Pakistan, India, the UAE or anywhere else without visiting the US. This guide walks through the order that works: company, EIN, bank account, seller account, and the yearly filings that catch many founders out.
Do you actually need a US LLC?
Amazon lets sellers from many countries register with a business from their home country, so a US company is not always required. Founders usually form one because it makes the rest of the US setup easier: a US business bank account, US payment processors, marketplaces with stricter requirements such as Walmart, and a cleaner structure when the brand grows. If you only plan to test one product, it is worth asking whether your home-country business is enough for now.
Step 1: Choose your state
You do not have to form the LLC in a state where you live or hold stock. Founders abroad most often choose Wyoming, New Mexico or Delaware because of their fees, annual requirements and privacy. Compare the filing fee, the yearly report or franchise tax, and whether you will have a physical presence elsewhere. Our LLC formation page lists the current first-year costs by state.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
Every state requires a registered agent with a street address in that state to receive legal and government mail on the company's behalf. If you live abroad you will use a registered agent service. See registered agent.
Step 3: File the articles of organization
The state creates your LLC when it accepts the articles of organization. Use your exact intended company name, and make sure the address details match what you will later give the bank and Amazon, because mismatched documents are a common reason for verification delays.
Step 4: Sign an operating agreement
Most states do not file it, but banks and marketplaces often ask for it. It shows who owns the company and who can act for it. Single-member and multi-member LLCs need different versions.
Step 5: Get an EIN from the IRS
The EIN is your company's federal tax number, and you need it for the bank and for Amazon. Without a US Social Security number or ITIN you cannot use the online application. Instead you complete Form SS-4 and send it to the IRS by fax or mail, or apply by phone on the IRS international line, 267-941-1099 (not toll-free, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern time), with the completed form in front of you. The IRS does not charge a fee for an EIN. You do not need an ITIN to get one. See EIN registration.
Step 6: Open a US business bank account
Several online banks and payment platforms open US business accounts for non-resident founders, with the LLC documents, EIN and your passport. Eligibility depends on your country of residence and changes over time, so check before you apply. Amazon pays out to the bank account you add during registration, and its details should match your business, so open the account before you start. See US banking.
Step 7: Register your Amazon seller account
Have these ready before you start:
- Your passport or national ID
- The LLC formation documents and EIN
- A recent bank or credit card statement, with names and addresses that match your documents
- A credit or debit card Amazon can charge
- A phone number you can receive codes on
Amazon verifies identity, and many sellers are asked for a short video call. Consistent details across every document are the single biggest factor in getting through quickly.
Step 8: Stay compliant every year
This is where most founders slip. A US LLC with a single foreign owner is normally treated as a "disregarded entity", which brings a federal filing every year, even if the company had no income:
- Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120. Required for foreign-owned single-member LLCs. For calendar-year companies it is generally due on April 15, and an extension is available with Form 7004. The penalty for not filing is $25,000 per form, per year.
- State annual report or franchise tax, depending on the state you chose.
- Registered agent renewal, so the state can always reach the company.
Beneficial ownership (BOI) reports: under FinCEN's rules finalised in August 2026, companies formed in the US no longer have to file them. Requirements can change, so confirm before relying on this.
A note on taxes
Amazon collects and remits US state sales tax on most marketplace orders. Whether you or your company owe US income tax depends on how and where the business operates, and on the tax treaty with your home country. Get advice from a qualified tax professional for your situation.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees, forms and requirements change; check the current rules or speak to a professional before you file.
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