Register a company in Washington State

Yes. The Certificate of Formation is filed online in CCFS, and the registered agent in our package gives the company the physical Washington address the law asks for. The IRS issues EINs to applicants abroad by phone, fax or mail, and no SSN or ITIN is needed for it. Banking is where approval is least certain: each platform makes its own KYC decision, and we prepare the file it asks for.

Formation starts from $2,400 all-in, including the Washington filing fee ($180), the registered agent for the first year, the EIN and the operating agreement. With a fintech or bank account set up, from $4,400. After that, Washington's yearly charges are the $70 annual report ($95 if late) and, where the company holds a business licence, a $5 renewal processing fee plus any endorsement fees; opening the licence costs $50.

An LLC usually suits a trading or service company that pays its profit out to the owner. By default the IRS disregards a one-member LLC and treats one with several members as a partnership, and Washington levies no income tax on either. A C-Corp pays 21% federal tax but has shares to issue, which is what investors buy; in Washington it files Articles of Incorporation for the same $180 and must create bylaws. Non-resident alien shareholders cannot hold S-corporation shares, so a non-US founder picks between these two.

Federally, a C-Corp pays a flat 21%. An LLC's profit passes to its owners unless it elects corporate treatment on Form 8832, and income connected with a US business is then taxed on an individual owner's federal return at graduated rates. Washington has no corporate income tax and no personal income tax today, though individuals can owe its capital gains tax (7%, and 9.9% on gains above $1 million), including through a pass-through LLC. The state charges B&O tax on gross receipts at 0.471% for retailing, 0.484% for wholesaling and manufacturing and 1.5% to 2.1% for services, and retail sales tax of 6.5% plus the local rate; which receipts count as Washington's follows its sourcing rules, and we confirm that for your case. Dividends to non-resident shareholders carry 30% withholding unless a treaty lowers it.

Online filings are worked in the order received, and Washington publishes no standard processing time for them. With the $100 expedite the filing is completed within three working days, and same-day service costs $150. Paper filings sent by mail are processed within 15 business days. From abroad, an EIN by fax generally arrives within 4 business days, by mail in about 4 weeks. A state business licence takes about 10 business days online, and 2-3 weeks more with endorsements.

That is what the second package covers. The choice between a fintech platform and a traditional bank is made on your file: we prepare Mercury or Relay-class applications, and take the traditional-bank route where you already have a US footprint. Once the account opens, ACH, wires and Stripe are connected. Approval is the platform's decision after its own KYC; our part is a file that is complete and consistent.

If you manage the company, assume yes. The certificate names each person who executes it, and the initial report and every annual report list the company's governors; the annual report also covers any transfer of a controlling interest. Operating agreements, minutes and ownership information are not recorded by the Secretary of State. No BOI report goes to FinCEN either: a final rule in force since 14 August 2026 exempts US companies.

It applies when one non-US person owns the whole LLC. For this filing the IRS treats such an LLC as a corporation, so every year it sends a pro forma Form 1120 with Form 5472 attached, reporting its dealings with you, money you put in or take out included. Electronic filing is not allowed - fax or mail only - and it is due with the Form 1120, generally the 15th day of the fourth month after the tax year ends. The penalty for missing it is $25,000. Our accounting and 5472 add-on starts from $800 a year.

If the business will operate in Washington, with staff or an office here, form it here. A Wyoming or Nevada LLC working in Washington registers as a foreign LLC, which in US law means an LLC formed in another state, whoever owns it. That takes a Foreign Registration Statement ($180) with a good-standing certificate issued no more than 60 days earlier, plus a Washington registered agent, and B&O is owed on the Washington business either way, so you pay for two states. Our state qualification add-on starts from $700. If nothing happens in Washington, compare the three on our Wyoming and Nevada pages.

B&O tax. It is charged on gross receipts and businesses cannot deduct labour, materials or other costs, so the bill arrives in loss-making years too. At the 1.5% services rate, $200,000 of Washington billings means $3,000 of B&O whatever the profit, and a retailer pays 0.471% of sales however thin the margin. A Small Business B&O Tax Credit may reduce it, and we confirm whether it applies to you. If your margins are thin, run the numbers before choosing Washington.