⭐Texas LLC for Non-Residents · No State Income Tax · $0 Franchise Tax for Most · EIN Without an SSN

Form a Texas LLC
as a Non-Resident

No state income tax, a $0 franchise-tax bill for most small companies, and a huge, diversified economy. A Texas LLC gives non-resident founders a credible US base — with US banking, Stripe and PayPal, owned 100% by you and run entirely from abroad. CompanyVista handles everything — formation, EIN without an SSN, registered agent, banking and the federal Form 5472. All-in service from USD 299, with the $300 state fee added on top — never hidden.

$299+
CompanyVista Service (All-In, From)
+$300
Texas State Fee — Added On Top
0%
State Income Tax — Personal & Corporate
$0
Franchise Tax for Most (Under ~$2.47M)
✓
Strong for Staffing & Services
Vast labour market and no income tax — a natural base for staffing and recruiting
✓
EIN Without an SSN
We obtain your federal tax ID via the IRS international process — no SSN needed
✓
Low Ongoing Cost
No annual report fee; most LLCs owe $0 franchise tax
✓
Told Honestly If It Doesn’t Fit
If a presence in another state changes the answer, we’ll say so
Form Your Texas LLC

Free consultation · response within 4 hours · no obligation

🔒 Free · No commitment · Written quote before any payment

Why Texas

Why Form Your LLC
in Texas?

A Texas LLC is one of the most popular routes into US company registration for non-residents — here is why founders choose it.

💰
No State Income Tax
Texas levies no personal or corporate state income tax. For a pass-through LLC, that means one less layer of tax at the state level — a genuine, permanent advantage that has drawn businesses to Texas for decades.
🧾
$0 Franchise Tax for Most
Texas has a franchise (margin) tax, but the no-tax-due threshold is roughly $2.47–$2.65M in annualised revenue — so the large majority of small and non-resident-owned LLCs owe nothing. You still file the report, but most pay $0.
🤝
A Natural Home for Staffing & Services
Texas has one of the largest, most diverse labour markets in the US and a huge, fast-growing economy. For staffing, recruiting and professional-services firms placing talent with US clients, that depth — combined with no income tax — makes Texas a compelling base.
⚡
Fast, Low-Cost Upkeep
Online formation typically processes in 2–5 business days, and there is no annual report fee. With $0 franchise tax for most, Texas has among the lowest ongoing maintenance costs of any US state.
🏢
A Huge, Credible US Market
Texas is the second-largest US state economy, home to major corporate headquarters and a business-friendly reputation. A Texas LLC carries genuine commercial credibility with US clients, suppliers and platforms.
🌎
100% Foreign-Owned, Run Remotely
No citizenship or residency requirement, no US partner, no visit. A registered agent supplies the required Texas address, and the whole company — formation, EIN, banking — is set up and run remotely.
Who Should Choose Texas

Which Non-Residents Benefit Most
From a Texas LLC?

Within US company registration, Texas suits founders who want a large, credible, no-income-tax base — especially staffing, recruiting and services. But if your real activity or physical presence is in another state, that changes the answer, and CompanyVista tests that honestly first.

🤝
Best Fit
Staffing & Recruiting Firms
Texas is a natural base for staffing and recruiting. Its vast, diverse labour market and no income tax suit firms placing talent with US clients: US clients prefer contracting with a US entity, invoicing and payroll run through US banking, and payment terms shorten. For non-resident staffing founders serving the US, a Texas LLC offers credibility and a practical operating base.
🎯
Best Fit
Agencies, Consulting & Professional Services
Service businesses billing US clients look far more established with a Texas company and US bank account, and get paid faster through US payment methods. Texas’s size and business-friendly reputation add credibility, and the lack of state income tax keeps things simple for a pass-through service firm.
🛒
Best Fit
E-commerce & Online Sellers
E-commerce founders selling to US customers gain US banking, Stripe and PayPal, plus a credible US identity. Texas works well where you have no physical presence in another state — and if you hold inventory in a Texas warehouse or 3PL, forming in Texas aligns your entity with your actual footprint.
🏘️
Good Fit
Real Estate & Local Operators
If you invest in Texas real estate or run a genuinely Texas-based operation, forming your LLC in Texas is the correct, aligned choice — your entity matches where the activity and assets are, avoiding foreign-registration in another state.
💻
Good Fit
SaaS & Software Companies
Software and SaaS businesses selling into the US benefit from a Texas LLC’s banking and credibility. If you plan to raise US venture capital, a Delaware C-Corp may suit better — but for bootstrapped, operating software firms, Texas is a strong, low-cost home.
🚫
Weaker Fit
Businesses Physically Based in Another State
If your office, staff or owned inventory sit in a specific other US state, forming in Texas means registering as a foreign LLC there anyway — two sets of fees and agents. In that case, form in your operating state. CompanyVista will tell you honestly when Texas isn’t the right pick.
Entity & Requirements

Texas LLC for Non-Residents
Key Facts & Obligations

The essentials of Texas LLC formation — the numbers, obligations and fit that matter most in your US company registration decision.

Texas LLC — Key Facts
Entity TypeLimited Liability Company (LLC) under the Texas Business Organizations Code; C-Corporation available where venture funding is planned
RegistryTexas Secretary of State — Certificate of Formation (Form 205)
Ownership100% foreign ownership — no citizenship, residency, US partner or visit required
MembersMinimum 1 (single-member), individual or corporate, any nationality
Registered AgentRequired — must have a physical Texas street address; a professional agent also keeps your home address off the public record
EIN (Federal Tax ID)Obtained without an SSN via Form SS-4 (IRS international phone line, often same-day, or fax ~4 business days)
State Filing Fee$300 Certificate of Formation; optional +$25 expedite; name reservation optional ($40, Form 501)
State Income TaxNone — no personal or corporate state income tax
Franchise (Margin) Tax$0 for most — no tax due under ~$2.47–$2.65M revenue; above that, 0.375% retail/wholesale or 0.75% other
Annual State FilingFranchise Tax Report + Public Information Report to the Texas Comptroller by May 15 — required even if $0 is owed; no separate annual report fee
Federal FilingForeign-owned single-member LLC: Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120 annually by April 15 ($25,000 penalty if missed)
Formation Timeline~2–5 business days online; same-day/next-day with expedite; EIN and banking follow
CostCompanyVista service from $299 (all-in) plus the $300 state fee on top — itemised in a written quote before any payment; the state fee is a government charge, never hidden inside the service price
Your Mandatory Obligations After Formation
A Texas LLC is light to run, but three things are non-negotiable. CompanyVista is a tax and accounting firm; these are handled, not handed back.
1 · Registered AgentMaintain a registered agent with a physical Texas address — renewed each year
2 · Annual State FilingFranchise Tax Report + Public Information Report to the Comptroller by May 15 — even if $0 tax is owed
3 · Federal Form 5472For foreign-owned single-member LLCs: Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120 by April 15 — $25,000 penalty if missed
Home-Country TaxYour profit is generally taxable where you are tax-resident — the LLC doesn’t change that
Sales Tax (If Applicable)Texas sales-and-use tax registration only where nexus is created — assessed by activity, not automatic
BookkeepingMaintained through the year to support the federal filing and any banking review
Is a Texas LLC Right for You?
  • ✓You run a staffing, recruiting or services firm serving US clients
  • ✓You want a large, credible, no-income-tax US base
  • ✓You have Texas operations, staff, inventory or real estate
  • ✓You run the business from abroad with no other US presence
  • ✕Your office, staff or inventory sit in a different US state
  • ✕You want the very lowest formation fee (TX is $300, higher than some)
  • ✕You need full owner anonymity (TX is standard, not anonymous)
If Texas isn’t the right fit, CompanyVista will point you to Wyoming (privacy/low cost), New Mexico (no annual report) or your actual operating state instead.
What’s Included

Your Texas LLC Package
— What’s Included & What’s Separate

So there are no surprises: CompanyVista’s all-in service starts at USD 299, and the government state fee is a separate pass-through cost added on top. Here is exactly what the service covers, and what the state charges.

CompanyVista Service PackageFrom $299
Our all-in professional fee — everything needed to form and activate your Texas LLC as a non-resident.
  • ✓Local registered agent (mandatory for non-residents)
  • ✓Registered Texas business address
  • ✓State filing & professional service charges
  • ✓Certificate of Formation preparation & filing
  • ✓EIN application (without an SSN)
  • ✓Tailored operating agreement
  • ✓Notarization / attorney charges where required
  • ✓US bank account & Stripe assistance
  • ✓Client portal access & document vault
  • ✓Compliance alerts & deadline tracking
  • ✓Digital document delivery
  • ✓Dedicated WhatsApp support
Texas State Fee+$300
A government charge paid to the Texas Secretary of State — passed through at exact cost, never marked up.
  • →$300 Certificate of Formation (Form 205)
  • →Optional +$25 expedited processing
  • →No annual report fee; most owe $0 franchise tax
The honest total: your first-year cost is the CompanyVista service (from $299) plus the $300 Texas state fee — so a typical single-member formation starts around $599 all-in, with the exact figure fixed in your written quote before you pay anything. The state fee is never bundled into or hidden inside the service price.
Documentation & Restrictions

What You’ll Need to Provide
& What to Be Aware Of

Texas LLC formation is light on documents — no apostilles for the formation itself — but banking and the federal filings need care. CompanyVista prepares everything so the Certificate of Formation, EIN and bank onboarding proceed cleanly.

Documents You’ll Need to Provide
1
Passport Copy — Each Member
A clear colour scan of the passport photo page for every LLC member — the core identity document for formation, the EIN and banking.
2
Proposed LLC Names & Business Activity
Two or three name options to check availability with the Texas Secretary of State, plus a short description of your activity — which informs any licensing and the banking profile.
3
Residential Address & Contact
Your home (non-US) address and contact details. You don’t need a Texas address — the registered agent provides the required Texas street address.
4
Proof of Address (for Banking)
For bank/fintech onboarding, a recent utility bill or bank statement confirming your residential address is typically required.
5
Member & Ownership Details
The members and their ownership percentages, so the operating agreement and any multi-member structure are set up correctly from the start.
6
Source-of-Funds & Activity Notes (for Banking)
A clear explanation of your business model and where funds come from — the detail non-resident-friendly banks and fintechs expect during compliance review.
⚠️ Restrictions & What to Be Aware Of
  • ⚠The franchise-tax report is mandatory even at $0. Most small LLCs owe no franchise tax, but the Franchise Tax Report and Public Information Report must still be filed with the Comptroller by May 15 every year. Missing it risks penalties and loss of good standing.
  • ⚠Texas is not an anonymity state. Registered-agent and public-information filings mean Texas offers standard, not anonymous, ownership privacy. If owner anonymity is your priority, Wyoming or New Mexico fit better.
  • ⚠The $300 filing fee is higher than some states. Texas’s formation fee is above states like New Mexico or Colorado. The low ongoing cost usually offsets this, but if the cheapest possible setup is the goal, compare carefully.
  • ⚠Forming in Texas without a Texas footprint can misalign. If your real operations are in another state, forming in Texas forces a foreign-LLC registration there anyway — two sets of fees. Match the state to where activity happens.
  • ⚠A Texas LLC does not make you tax-free. Your profit is generally taxable in your country of residence, and US-source effectively connected income is taxable federally. Texas removes state income tax, not all tax.
  • ⚠Federal Form 5472 still applies. Regardless of Texas’s light state regime, foreign-owned single-member LLCs must file Form 5472 federally — the $25,000-penalty filing that most founders overlook.
Tax & Compliance — Made Simple

What a Texas LLC Must Do
— and What Might Apply to You

Texas keeps state tax simple — no income tax, and $0 franchise tax for most. Here is the honest picture: three things every Texas LLC must do, and a few that only apply depending on your business.

Mandatory Every Texas LLC — No Exceptions
These three are non-negotiable. Miss the state filing and your LLC loses good standing; miss the federal one and the penalty starts at $25,000. CompanyVista handles all three.
Required
1
Registered Agent & TX Address
Maintain a registered agent with a physical Texas address to receive legal and tax mail. You don’t need your own Texas address — the agent provides it — and it’s renewed each year.
Required
2
Annual Franchise Report (May 15)
File the Franchise Tax Report and Public Information Report with the Texas Comptroller by May 15 every year — required even if you owe $0. There is no separate annual report fee.
Required
3
Federal Form 5472 (Apr 15)
Foreign-owned single-member LLCs must file Form 5472 with a pro-forma 1120 by April 15 — even with no income. This federal information return carries a penalty starting at $25,000 if missed.
Situational Only If It Applies to Your Business
These depend on how and where you operate. For a typical non-resident running an online business from abroad, most won’t apply — but here’s the honest picture.
If applicable
Do You Owe US Income Tax?
Run entirely outside the US with no US office, staff or agent, and you usually have no Effectively Connected Income and owe no US federal income tax. US operations change that. We assess your position.
If applicable
Franchise (Margin) Tax
Only payable above the ~$2.47–$2.65M revenue threshold (0.375% retail/wholesale, 0.75% other). Most small LLCs are under it and owe $0 — but still file the report.
If applicable
Texas Sales & Use Tax
Only if you sell taxable goods into Texas above nexus thresholds. Purely service or B2B businesses often never trigger it — we flag it if your model does.
If applicable
Home-Country Tax
Your profit is generally taxable where you are tax-resident. A Texas LLC removes state income tax, not the tax you owe at home — this almost always applies.
Optional
C-Corp Election (Funding)
Optional. An LLC can elect C-Corp taxation (21% federal) — usually only worthwhile if raising US venture capital, where a Delaware C-Corp is the norm.
If needed
ITIN / Personal Return
An ITIN and a 1040-NR are needed only where you personally have US-source income requiring them — not for a typical LLC owner.
💡 The Bottom Line for a Typical Non-Resident
A Texas LLC run from abroad has three duties: the registered agent, the May 15 franchise report (usually $0), and the federal Form 5472. Texas removes state income tax, but your home country still taxes your profit and the federal 5472 still applies — anyone promising “zero tax, zero filing” is wrong about the $25,000-penalty 5472. CompanyVista handles all of it.
Banking & Payments — The Real Picture

US Banking & Payments
for Your Texas LLC

Banking is usually the real reason non-residents form a US LLC — and the step with the most uncertainty. Here is what actually works, and what no honest provider can promise.

Non-Resident-Friendly Fintechs
Remote USD accounts via partner FDIC-member banks
Modern fintech platforms — providing banking through partner FDIC-member banks — are the practical route for most non-residents: remote onboarding, USD accounts, no US visit. Acceptance is subject to compliance review, your country of residence and address verification, and you’ll typically need the EIN, filed Certificate of Formation, an operating agreement and your passport. Approval is never automatic, but this is what makes a Texas LLC so accessible from abroad.
Payment Processors
Stripe, card payments & marketplace payouts
A Texas LLC with an EIN and a US business account unlocks US payment processing at US rates and terms, plus marketplace payouts. For e-commerce, SaaS and agencies, this payments access is frequently worth more than any tax consideration — it’s the commercial engine of the whole structure.
What Gets You Approved
Clarity, substance & clean funds
A clear business description that matches your activity, disclosed ownership, a documented source of funds, and complete formation documents. A clean, honest file clears far more smoothly than a vague one.
⚠️ Honest Banking Expectations
No one can guarantee a US bank account for a non-resident — acceptance depends on your country, activity and the provider’s compliance review. Treat “guaranteed US bank account” claims with caution. CompanyVista prepares your documentation to the standard these platforms expect, matches you to the providers most likely to accept your profile, and sets honest expectations up front.
Formation Process

Forming Your Texas LLC
Step by Step

1
Free Consultation & Fit Check
CompanyVista confirms Texas is the right state for your situation — or points you elsewhere if not. You receive a written quote covering the state fee, registered agent and services before any payment.
2
Name Check & Certificate of Formation
We confirm name availability with the Texas Secretary of State and file the Certificate of Formation (Form 205) with a registered agent appointed. Online processing is typically 2–5 business days, with same-day expedite available.
3
Operating Agreement
A tailored operating agreement is prepared — single- or multi-member — setting out ownership, management and profit allocation. Banks and processors often ask for this, so it’s done properly from the start.
4
EIN Without an SSN
We obtain your federal EIN via the IRS international process on Form SS-4 — by phone (often same-day) or fax (~4 business days) — with no SSN required. This unlocks banking and payments.
5
US Banking & Payments Setup
With the formation documents and EIN, CompanyVista prepares your file to fintech standard and introduces you to non-resident-friendly platforms, plus guidance on Stripe and PayPal — matched to the providers most likely to accept your profile.
6
Compliance Calendar Set Up
We set your annual calendar — the May 15 Franchise Tax + Public Information Report, registered-agent renewal, and the federal Form 5472 + 1120 — so nothing is missed and the $25,000 5472 penalty never becomes a risk.
7
Ongoing Accounting & Filings
CompanyVista maintains bookkeeping, prepares and files your Texas and federal returns, and advises on sales-tax nexus as your business grows — the recurring work that keeps the LLC compliant.
Compare Other States

Other US States
to Consider

If privacy, the lowest fees, or a different market matter more than Texas’s size and no-income-tax base, one of these may fit better. CompanyVista quotes across all of them.

Texas LLC — Non-Residents

Form Your Texas LLC
Free Written Quote in 4 Hours

100% foreign-owned, formed remotely, with no state income tax, an EIN without an SSN, US banking and Stripe access, and the Form 5472 compliance handled — ideal for staffing, recruiting and services. All-in service from USD 299, with the $300 Texas state fee added on top — itemised in a written quote before you pay anything. And if Texas isn’t the right state for you, CompanyVista will say so before you spend a cent.

✓ Start online in minutes✓ No state income tax✓ EIN without an SSN✓ US banking & Stripe✓ Form 5472 handled✓ Told honestly if it isn’t right

Texas LLC Formation for Non-Residents — Complete 2026 Guide

CompanyVista provides end-to-end Texas LLC formation for non-resident founders — filing the Certificate of Formation with the Texas Secretary of State, appointing a registered agent with a physical Texas address, obtaining an EIN without a Social Security Number, drafting the operating agreement, introducing you to US business banking and payment processors, and handling the federal Form 5472 compliance that catches most founders off guard. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to own a Texas LLC: you can own it 100%, form it entirely remotely, and run it from anywhere in the world without visiting the United States. This makes a Texas LLC a popular route into US company registration for founders who want a large, credible, no-income-tax base.

Texas is one of the most business-friendly US states, and its appeal for non-residents is concrete. There is no state personal or corporate income tax. The state filing fee for the Certificate of Formation is $300, with fast online processing of roughly two to five business days and a same-day expedite option. CompanyVista’s all-in professional service starts at $299 and is added to that state fee, so a typical single-member formation starts around $599 all-in, always itemised in a written quote before any payment. Ongoing costs are among the lowest of any state: there is no annual report fee, and while Texas levies a franchise (margin) tax, the no-tax-due threshold of approximately $2.47 to $2.65 million in annualised revenue means the large majority of small and non-resident-owned LLCs owe zero franchise tax. The main recurring obligation is filing the annual Franchise Tax Report and Public Information Report with the Texas Comptroller by May 15, which is required even when no tax is due.

Texas is a particularly strong choice for staffing and recruiting firms, agencies, consultants and professional-services businesses placing work or talent with US clients. Its vast and diverse labour market, large economy and no-income-tax regime combine to make it a natural operating base, and US clients strongly prefer contracting with a US entity while invoicing and payroll flow through US banking. E-commerce sellers and SaaS companies selling into the US also benefit from the banking, Stripe and PayPal access a Texas LLC unlocks. The honest caveat, which CompanyVista always applies first, is that the right state depends on where your activity actually happens: if your office, staff or owned inventory sit in a different US state, forming in Texas would force a foreign-LLC registration there anyway, doubling fees, so you should generally form in your operating state instead.

Every foreign-owned Texas LLC also has federal obligations that are easy to overlook. A single-member LLC owned by a non-resident is by default a disregarded entity, and if the business runs entirely outside the United States with no US employees, office or dependent agent, it often has no effectively connected income and therefore no US federal income tax — though the profit remains taxable in the owner’s home country. Regardless of income, foreign-owned single-member LLCs must file Form 5472 together with a pro-forma Form 1120 by April 15 each year, and the penalty for failing to file starts at $25,000. CompanyVista — a brand of Koshika LLC with offices in Noida NCR, Albuquerque and Wyoming — lets you start your Texas LLC online at my.companyvista.com/new, or reach us on WhatsApp at +91 86309 28581 or by email at info@companyvista.com.

Start your Texas LLC from $599 all-in ($299 service + $300 state fee) · no state income tax · EIN without SSN

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