Wyoming Limited Company Incorporation

About Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) Wyoming

Many US non-residents are choosing to incorporate in Wyoming due to the host of advantages the state holds. Some of the companies are operating within the US whilst others are operating entirely outside.

There are three common company types used to incorporate; C-Corporation (C-Corp), S-Corporation (S-Corp) and Limited Liability Companies (LLC). All types offer personal liability protection to prevent the owners personal assets being at risk for business liabilities. Our clients most often incorporate an LLC where the owners are the sole service providers.

For US non residents, use of an S-Corp is not possible because one of the requirements of becoming an S-Corp is that all shareholders must be US residents. If you are not an American citizen you will instead have to form a C-Corp or an LLC.

While there is no Corporate Tax in Wyoming for a corporation, Wyoming Corporation still has to file a tax return, and pay federal taxes. For many people, pass through taxation, or the ability to have their entity treated as a non tax paying entity is important. This objective can be achieved by incorporating an LLC instead of a corporation.

LLCs are easier to run (less paperwork) and you file the LLC taxes along with your own at the end of the year. Corporations have more paperwork (quarterly filings, minutes, and a board meeting), but you have a higher potential for tax savings (with employees or product sales).

If you are trading in the US, you may be subject to self-employment tax on LLC earnings, which you would not be, if you were trading and earning money through a corporation.

If you are trading in a number of states, be aware that some states do tax LLCs as companies, even though the Federal government does not.

You may be better off having a Corporation for one-off transactions. Since an LLC is considered a partnership for Federal Tax purposes, be aware of federal legislation for LLCs. If 50% is sold within a 12-month period, the LLC will crease to be a partnership for federal tax reasons.

How to Incorporate a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Wyoming

After you have submitted your chosen company name to us, approval can be obtained within several hours. You can carry out a free name check now using our Company Name check service). Any name identical or similar to an existing company within the state of Wyoming will not be allowed. Additionally, the use of “bank”, “trust”, “insurance” or “reinsurance” within the name of the company is prohibited; special licences and permission must be given if you require such a name. Checking a company name using our online service takes less than 30 minutes and a name may be reserved for 10 days.

For LLCs, the company name must have suffixes to denote the limited liability of your company, i.e. Limited Liability Company and Limited Company or their abbreviations LLC and LC. For corporations, the name must end with Corporation, Company, Incorporated, Limited, Syndicate, Union, Society, Club, Foundation, Fund, Institute, Association; or the relevant abbreviation such as Co., Corp., Inc., or Ltd.

Upon receiving your completed order, we will reserve the name with the state that same day or the next business day. The certificate of incorporation is prepared and filed. The state typically approves filings within seven business days from the date that the filings were received. After the state approves your filing, corporate existence begins for your company, the paperwork is returned and the completed documents will be sent to you via courier.

The general procedures after you receive filed Articles of Organisation is as follows:

Create an LLC operating agreement, which sets out the rights and responsibilities of the LLC members.
Issue membership certificates to members.
Apply for EIN – Tax ID number.
Establish a LLC bank account.
File initial list of Managers or Members. This has to be done within 30 days after incorporation date.

After your Articles are filed, your LLC should have an organisational meeting where an operating agreement is adopted. We will provide you with the proper operating agreement template. Member certificates can be distributed to members and these transactions should be recorded in the LLC ledger. All of this information can be maintained in a limited liability company record book, which is included in our provided standard corporate kit.

It only takes seven days to incorporate your company.

Formacompany has over 20 years’ experience forming companies in the USA and across the world, and our staff will be available to offer advice and support through the entire incorporation process, from initially selecting a suitable company name through to finally commencing taxable activities.

What you need to set up a Limited Company in Wyoming

To begin incorporation of your exempted company we will require the following:

Your company name
The full name, date of birth, address and nationality of all directors
The full name and address of all shareholders
Intended business activities

Documents you are required to provide:

Proof of identity (passport, national identity card, photographic driving licence)
Proof of residential address (gas/electricity bill or credit/debit card bank statement dated within the last three months)

Registered Office

All exempt companies must have a registered agent and a registered office. The registered office must be a physical address in Wyoming as it is where documents may be legally served on the company and it serves as a local contact for the Secretary of State and other government agencies. The registered office receives notice of any suits, tax notices, etc. and then forwards them to you.

If your registered address is in Wyoming you can act as your own registered agent, if you will be based outside Wyoming, Formacompany can provide you with a registered address as part of our Corporate Administration services.

Share Capital requirements

There is no minimum capital requirement.
Only one shareholder, of any nationality, is required.

Ready Made Companies

We have shelf companies in Wyoming, with standard Memorandum and Articles designed to permit most general activities, currently available; making it possible to commence business at very short notice. Our ready made companies are in good standing, are not the subject of any insolvency proceedings and have not entered into any contracts or engaged in any business activities.

What it costs to set up a Limited Company in Wyoming

A Wyoming limited company will cost £760; this includes all duties, taxes and professional fees.

What you receive after setting up your new business

Minutes of the first inaugural meetings
Copies of the Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association
Original Certificate of Incorporation
Share Certificates for each shareholder specified, plus two blank certificates

Advantages to Setting up a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Wyoming

It is not a requirement to be a US citizen or US resident to incorporate in Wyoming. Many US non-residents are incorporating in Wyoming as there is no citizenship or residency requirement for shareholders or directors.
Incorporating in Wyoming requires minimal physical involvement. You can operate your Wyoming Corporation and live anywhere in the world
Incorporating your LLC within Wyoming allows you to benefit from a host of tax incentives. There are no state taxes in Wyoming on corporations.
There is no need to go to Wyoming. A Corporation or an LLC can be incorporated by email, fax or telephone and the person incorporating never has to visit the state, even to conduct annual meetings. Meetings can be held anywhere in the world at the option of the Director(s) or Managers.
Limited Companies in Wyoming provide extensive confidentiality for the directors and shareholders. There is complete privacy regarding who owns or runs the corporation and the State does not share taxpayer information with the Internal Revenue Service.

Important Information about incorporating a Limited Liability Company in Wyoming

Wyoming LLCs are required to hold neither annual board of director meetings nor annual shareholder meetings
There is no business licence required to do business in Wyoming
There are no restrictions on the ownership of LLCs and C Corporations but, with S Corporations the shareholders must be US citizens/ residents.
As LLCs are effectively partnerships without share capital, the equivalent to the “Shareholder” is the “Member” who has a participation or share in the LLC. The names of members) are declared to the State authorities. We have to file a list of initial members, and have to file any change of members.
It is not a requirement to appoint a local resident member.
There is no requirement for a company secretary; all officers are called Managers, but one of these could be a designated as a company secretary.
The company does not have to keep records in Wyoming. If the company chooses to keep records they can be kept anywhere in the world.