Wyoming vs Nevada

Wyoming vs Nevada LLC: which is better for founders outside the US?

For founders outside the US, Wyoming is usually the better choice: it costs $103 to form and $60 a year, against $436 and $350 a year in Nevada, and it doesn't put your managers' names on the public record. Neither state has an income tax, so Nevada makes sense mainly when your business will actually be based there.

StatesUpdated 7 min read

Choose Wyoming if…

  • You run the business from outside the US, or from a state other than Nevada
  • You want the lower yearly state cost ($60 minimum vs $350)
  • You don't want managers' names and addresses on the state record
  • You'd rather file one short report a year than a list plus a license renewal

Choose Nevada if…

  • You live in Nevada or will have an office, staff or inventory there
  • Your operations would need a Nevada state business license anyway
  • A landlord, lender or partner in Nevada asks for a Nevada company
  • Having your managers listed publicly isn't a concern

Wyoming vs Nevada LLC at a glance

WY
Wyoming
Standard · online
Formation fee$103
Documents backAbout 2 days
Each year after$60
First year with Starter$452
Wyoming LLC guide
NV
Nevada
Standard · online
Formation fee$436
Documents backAbout 2 days
Each year afterSee guide
First year with Starter$785
Nevada LLC guide
CriteriaWyomingNevada
State filing fee$436 (standard · online)
Documents back inabout 2 days
Yearly state cost$350 (annual list + business license)
Yearly due dateLast day of your anniversary month
If you file late$75 list penalty + $100 license penalty
Managers named on public filingsNevada's articles and every annual list include each manager or managing member's name and address.
State income tax
Tax on gross revenueCommerce tax above $4M of Nevada revenue
First year with our Starter plan$785

Cost: Nevada charges more up front and every year

Nevada's formation fee is $436, against $103 in Wyoming, because three filings are due at the start: the Articles of Organization ($75), the initial list of managers or managing members ($150) and the state business license ($200). Wyoming only needs its Articles of Organization.

Every year after, Nevada charges $150 for the annual list and $200 to renew the state business license, both due by the last day of your anniversary month. Wyoming's annual report comes with a license tax of $60, or $0.0002 per dollar of assets located and employed in Wyoming if that's higher.

State fees only, before registered agent and service fees
WyomingNevada
Year 1 (formation)$103$436
Each year after$60$350
Formation + 4 yearly payments$343$1,836
The same in rupees (indicative)₹32,800₹1,75,400
State fees only, before registered agent and service fees

Late filings cost more in Nevada. A late annual list adds a $75 penalty and a late business license renewal adds $100, and a company that stays in default has its charter revoked. In Wyoming, a report that's more than 60 days late gets the LLC administratively dissolved. See LLC annual fees by state for every state side by side.

Taxes: no income tax in either state

Neither Wyoming nor Nevada has a corporate or personal income tax, and neither has a franchise tax. For an LLC run from outside the US, choosing one over the other won't change your state income tax, because there isn't one.

Nevada has one business tax to know about: the commerce tax. It applies only to businesses with more than $4 million of Nevada gross revenue in a fiscal year running July 1 to June 30, at rates that vary by industry, with returns due in mid-August. Since the 2018–2019 tax year, businesses at or below $4 million of Nevada gross revenue don't file a commerce tax return at all.

Your federal obligations are the same in both states. A single-member LLC owned by a non-US person files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 in any year it has reportable transactions with its owner, and whether you owe US income tax depends on how and where you do business, not on the state. Read US taxes for non-resident LLC owners for the details.

Privacy: Nevada lists your managers, Wyoming doesn't

This is the biggest practical difference after cost. Nevada's Articles of Organization must include the name and address of each organizer and of each initial manager, or of each initial member if the members run the company. The initial list and every annual list then give the name, title and address of each manager or managing member.

Nevada lets you give a business address instead of a home address, which keeps where you live off the record, but not your name. Wyoming's Articles of Organization don't ask for members or managers at all. They show the registered agent, a mailing address and a principal office address, signed by an organizer, and the organizer can be your formation service.

Neither state makes you anonymous to the IRS or your bank. US-formed LLCs no longer file federal beneficial ownership reports since FinCEN's final rule took effect on August 14, 2026, as explained in BOI reporting in 2026.

When forming in Nevada makes sense

Where a company is formed and where it does business are separate questions. Nevada law says a business can't operate in Nevada without a state business license, and Nevada charges out-of-state LLCs a fee to register there. So a Wyoming LLC with an office or staff in Nevada ends up paying Nevada's yearly fees on top of Wyoming's.

  • You live in Nevada or will work from there: a Nevada LLC is usually simpler than a Wyoming LLC registered in Nevada.
  • You'll lease space, hire staff or store inventory in Nevada: the same applies.
  • You're abroad and your customers are spread across the US: Wyoming is cheaper and keeps managers off the public record.

Selling to customers in a state isn't always the same as doing business there, and the rules differ by state and by tax. If you're unsure, ask a US CPA or lawyer before registering anywhere, and look up each state's rules in our state guides.

Which should you choose?

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Nevada LLC cost per year?
About $350 in state fees for a typical LLC: $150 for the annual list of managers or managing members and $200 to renew the state business license, both due by the last day of your anniversary month. Filing late adds $75 for the list and $100 for the license. Wyoming's yearly minimum is $60.
Does Nevada have a state income tax?
No. Nevada has no personal income tax, no corporate income tax and no franchise tax, and neither does Wyoming. Nevada's commerce tax is based on gross revenue, but it only applies to businesses with more than $4 million of Nevada gross revenue in a July-to-June fiscal year, so it rarely affects a small LLC.
Is a Nevada LLC anonymous?
Not at the state level. Nevada's articles and its initial and annual lists include the name and address of each manager or managing member, and those filings are part of the state's records. You can give a business address instead of your home address, but your name still appears. Wyoming's articles don't name members or managers at all.
Can a non-US resident form a Nevada or Wyoming LLC?
Yes. Neither state's formation filing asks about citizenship or residency. You need a registered agent with an address in the state, and you'll want an EIN to open a bank account. The IRS online EIN application needs an SSN or ITIN, so founders without one apply by phone, fax or mail with Form SS-4.
Do I need a Nevada business license if my LLC is formed in Wyoming?
Only if you conduct business in Nevada. Nevada requires a state business license before anyone operates a business there, and it charges out-of-state LLCs a fee to register. If you'll have an office, staff or inventory in Nevada, forming there avoids paying two states. If you only have customers in Nevada, ask a US CPA or lawyer.
What happens if I file Nevada's annual list late?
The LLC goes into default and owes a $75 penalty on top of the $150 list fee, plus a $100 penalty if the business license renewal is also late. If the company stays in default, Nevada revokes its charter and its right to transact business. Filing by the last day of your anniversary month is much cheaper.

Sources

  1. Nevada Revised Statutes chapter 86 (NRS 86.161 articles, 86.263 lists, 86.272 and 86.274 default, 86.561 fees)
  2. Nevada Revised Statutes chapter 76 (NRS 76.100 and 76.130, state business license)
  3. Nevada Department of Taxation, commerce tax FAQs
  4. Nevada Department of Taxation, commerce tax overview
  5. Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development, doing business in Nevada
  6. Wyoming Secretary of State, business FAQs (annual report and dissolution)
  7. Wyoming Secretary of State, LLC Articles of Organization form
  8. Wyoming Secretary of State, business filing fees
  9. Wyoming Business Council, tax climate (no income or franchise tax)
  10. FinCEN, beneficial ownership information reporting
  11. IRS, Instructions for Form 5472

Facts checked on September 17, 2026 against the sources above. Rules and fees change, so confirm anything important with the official source. Register Quick LLC is not a law firm or CPA firm, and this page is general information, not legal or tax advice.

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