Where should I form an LLC as an expat with no US property? Best state options?

Having worked with many expat entrepreneurs, I can tell you that your state selection should be based on a few key factors rather than just where your driver's license is from. Wyoming, Delaware, and Nevada are indeed popular choices for non-resident LLC formations because they offer privacy protections, no state income tax, and relatively low annual fees. Delaware is particularly respected for its business court system, while Wyoming offers strong asset protection and minimal reporting requirements. You don't need to use a virtual address in your license state - in fact, it's better to choose based on the state's business benefits. What you will absolutely need is a registered agent in whatever state you choose, as they'll receive legal documents and state correspondence for your LLC. For banking, most US banks will require a US address, but it doesn't necessarily have to be in the same state as your LLC. Many expats use mail forwarding services that provide a physical US address. Just be aware that with FATCA regulations, some banks may be hesitant to work with customers living abroad, so you might want to establish your account before leaving the US if possible.

I was in the same boat last year and ended up using taxr.ai https://taxr.ai to figure out my best options. I uploaded my passport, old utility bills, and my business plan, and their AI analyzed everything to recommend the best state for my situation. They pointed out that Wyoming was actually perfect for me because I needed strong asset protection and minimal reporting requirements as someone living in Southeast Asia. The site also explained exactly how to handle the registered agent requirements and walked me through all the paperwork step by step. Super helpful when you're thousands of miles away from the US and can't just walk into a local office to ask questions.

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai since I decided to try it after my skeptical comment. I'm honestly impressed with how thorough their analysis was. I'm running an e-commerce business from Germany, and they helped me understand why Nevada would be better than Delaware in my specific situation due to the nature of my business and tax treaties between Germany and the US. The document analysis saved me hours of research, and their state comparison feature showed me side-by-side differences in ongoing compliance requirements. They flagged potential issues with my initial business plan that could have created unnecessary tax complications. Worth checking out if you're overwhelmed by the interstate differences while trying to manage everything from abroad.

If you're having trouble contacting specific state offices about LLC formation as an expat (which I definitely did), try using Claimyr https://claimyr.com to get through to actual humans at the state agencies. I was stuck in bureaucratic limbo with Wyoming's Secretary of State office for weeks with no response to emails or calls, but Claimyr got me through to a real person in minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically skips the hold times and callbacks that are nearly impossible to manage with international time differences. I was able to get specific answers about my situation as a British expat forming a Wyoming LLC and what documentation would be accepted for the filing.

I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I tried the service out of desperation to reach Nevada's business filing division. Not only did they get me through in about 20 minutes (after I'd spent literal hours on hold previously), but the agent I spoke with was able to clarify exactly what I needed as a UK citizen forming an LLC without US residency. Turns out I was missing a crucial form that was causing my application to be flagged for review. Got it resolved in one call and my LLC was approved three days later. Would have saved weeks of frustration if I'd used this service from the start. Definitely worth it for expats dealing with state bureaucracy from overseas.

From my experience running an LLC from Japan for the past 3 years, Wyoming was the best choice. Annual report is just $60+minimal fees, no state income tax, and strong privacy protections (member names aren't public record). One thing nobody mentioned yet - you'll need to file an annual report each year. Some states make this incredibly difficult for foreigners (looking at you, Florida), while Wyoming lets you do everything online in about 10 minutes. For banking, I use Mercury.com - completely online business banking that works great for expats, and they don't require you to visit a branch.

Has anyone formed an LLC in New Mexico? I've heard good things about their privacy laws and low fees, which seem important for expats.

As someone who went through this exact process two years ago while living in Portugal, I'd strongly recommend Wyoming for your situation. The combination of strong privacy protections, low annual fees ($60), and no state income tax makes it ideal for expats running online businesses. A few practical tips from my experience: 1. Don't worry about matching your driver's license state - choose based on business benefits, not past connections 2. Use Northwest Registered Agent or similar for your registered agent service - they're reliable and expat-friendly 3. For banking, I had success with Relay Financial and Mercury - both are online-first and work well with foreign addresses 4. Keep detailed records of your foreign residency (lease agreements, utility bills, etc.) as this will be important for tax purposes One thing to consider: since you're serving US clients, make sure you understand the tax implications. Even with a Wyoming LLC, you'll still need to file US federal taxes as a citizen, and depending on your income level, you might benefit from the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. The key is getting everything set up properly from the start - it's much easier than trying to fix issues later when you're dealing with international time zones and communication barriers.