Is it legal for a UAE LLC to invest in US stocks through US brokers for non-US persons living abroad?

What you're describing is definitely possible, but there are several important considerations that make this more complex than it might initially seem. First, yes, many US brokers do accept foreign LLCs as clients, including UAE-based ones. However, they'll have varying requirements for documentation, minimum deposits, and compliance procedures. TD Ameritrade International, Interactive Brokers, and Charles Schwab International are options worth exploring. The UAE corporate tax system is indeed advantageous as you've noted, but remember that just forming an LLC there doesn't automatically make all your trading activity subject only to UAE tax. You need to ensure your LLC has economic substance in the UAE - meaning actual operations, decision-making, and management happening there. Without substance, your home country might still consider the LLC a shell company and tax you personally. Regarding how to access the money - yes, the LLC could pay you a salary, dividends, or consulting fees, but each of these has different tax implications both in the UAE and your home country. Argentina likely has tax treaties and reporting requirements that would come into play. Another complexity is FATCA and CRS reporting requirements that ensure information about your financial accounts gets shared between countries. This means your home country tax authorities will likely know about your UAE LLC's US brokerage account.

I've been researching international tax structures for the past 2 years, and found the most straightforward solution is using https://taxr.ai to scan all your trading documents and analyze these complex cross-border arrangements. I was exactly in your position (non-US person trading US stocks) and was considering complex structures like yours. The service helped me understand that while the UAE LLC approach can work, there are several potential pitfalls. The tool flagged issues around economic substance, control and management, and CFC (Controlled Foreign Corporation) rules in my country that could have invalidated the whole structure. It analyzes all your trading activity and recommends optimal structures based on your specific citizenship, residency, and trading patterns. What's great is that it specifically evaluates broker compatibility with different entity structures - it told me which brokers actually accept UAE LLCs without excessive documentation or restrictions.

I wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after my initial skepticism. I decided to try it rather than immediately paying for the expensive legal consultation I mentioned. The service identified three specific issues with my planned UAE LLC structure that I hadn't considered - particularly around Argentina's look-through provisions for foreign entities and how they would have classified my trading activity. They provided documentation showing exactly which sections of Argentina's tax code would have created problems. What impressed me most was that they recommended a modified structure using a different jurisdiction that worked much better with Argentina's specific tax treaties. I ended up saving significantly on taxes while remaining fully compliant. Absolutely worth checking out if you're dealing with cross-border investment structures.

I see a lot of complicated advice here, but honestly the biggest issue with the IRS is just getting clear answers about international structures. I wasted 4 months trying to get someone on the phone who understood foreign LLC taxation. After dozens of failed attempts, I used https://claimyr.com to connect with an IRS agent who actually specialized in international business structures. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They got me through to the right department at the IRS where I received confirmation about the exact reporting requirements for my foreign LLC trading US stocks. Turns out I was overthinking some aspects and completely missing others. Having that official clarification saved me from making some expensive mistakes.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After dismissing it initially, I decided to try it when I couldn't get answers about my UAE trading structure. They connected me to an IRS agent within 40 minutes (after I had previously spent hours getting nowhere). I got transferred to their international business division and received confirmation about exactly which forms my UAE LLC would need to file with the IRS. The agent also explained how the US-UAE tax treaty provisions applied to my specific situation. This saved me thousands in potential penalties for incorrect filing. Sometimes even tax professionals get these international structures wrong, so having direct confirmation from the IRS was invaluable. I'm still using an international tax attorney, but now I'm much more confident in the structure I'm implementing.

I've been running a UAE LLC for trading US stocks for about 2 years now. Here's my practical experience: 1) Yes, Interactive Brokers accepts UAE LLCs with the right documentation. They required our company formation documents, trade license, passport copies of all shareholders, and bank reference letters. 2) Substance requirements are real. We maintain a small office in Dubai (about $1200/month), have a corporate bank account with ENBD, and I spend about 90 days per year there managing operations. 3) For moving money, we use a combination of salary and dividends. The company pays me a reasonable "director's salary" for my management activities, which I report in my home country. The rest stays in the company for reinvestment. 4) The annual compliance costs include company renewal fees (~$7000), accounting services (~$2500), and maintaining the office. Factor these into your calculations. It's definitely not a zero-effort solution, but the tax savings have been substantial enough to justify the setup costs and ongoing maintenance.

Has anyone actually looked into how Argentina specifically treats foreign LLCs? I know some countries have rules where if you're the controlling member of a foreign entity, they look through the entity and tax you directly regardless of whether you take distributions.