A US company, from Indonesia.
Stripe still runs an invite-only waitlist for Indonesian accounts, and most individual freelancers never get in. Mercury refuses Indonesia outright. A US LLC with its own EIN gets you a real Stripe account and a bank that will actually take you, instead of waiting on an invitation that may never come.
What's included
- LLC or C-Corp filed in the state you choose, in 1-2 business days
- EIN from the IRS with no SSN required
- Registered agent and a US business address
- Operating agreement and your stamped formation certificate
- The domain, if you still need one, at the price you keep renewing at
- Bookkeeping and US tax filing when the company starts trading
What it costs
Plus the state filing fee, paid straight through to the Secretary of State. Wyoming $100, New Mexico $50, Delaware $110 with a $300 annual franchise tax on top.
What Indonesian guides skip
Stripe is invite-only for Indonesia, not simply slow to launch
Indonesia is not on Stripe's self-service supported-country list, and Stripe's own Indonesian services agreement suggests a rollout is still being prepared. Most individual freelancers and small businesses cannot sign up at all, invitation or not. A US LLC gets you a normal Stripe account through the front door instead.
Bank Indonesia's 2026 forex tightening is real, but it targets goods exporters, not you
From June 2026, Government Regulation No. 21 of 2026 and Bank Indonesia's implementing rule require 100% repatriation of natural-resource export proceeds, with conversion to rupiah capped at 50%. This specifically covers mining, oil and gas, and agricultural exporters, not freelancers or service-sector income. It signals the direction of policy, but it does not restrict you from operating a US LLC.
A US LLC does not reduce what you owe the DJP
Indonesian tax residents are taxed on worldwide income under the Income Tax Law, and foreign income earned through a US LLC is still reportable. Non-professional freelancers under IDR 4.8 billion turnover may qualify for the 0.5% PPh Final UMKM rate, but professional services such as consulting and development are excluded and face standard progressive rates. Treat the LLC as a payment fix, not a tax strategy, and confirm your position with a registered tax consultant.
Can you actually open a US bank account?
The honest answer, which is more than most providers will give you.
What actually works for Indonesian founders
- Payoneer is the standard fallback for Upwork and Fiverr payouts already.
- Wise works for receiving foreign income into local account details.
- Relay is not on Indonesia's prohibited list, and accepts domestic ACH and wires once the LLC has its EIN.
- Stripe becomes usable once the LLC has its EIN, the whole reason to form one from Indonesia.
What to know before you rely on it
- Mercury does not accept Indonesia. It is explicitly named on Mercury's own published prohibited-countries list, a hard stop.
- Relay blocks international wires for Indonesian citizen founders specifically, even though the account itself can open. Domestic transfers work, cross-border wires do not.
- PayPal balances cannot be spent or withdrawn locally without first moving to a bank, adding a conversion step and fee PayPal does not advertise.
- The EIN takes 4-6 weeks for non-US founders, and most payment tools need it before they fully activate.
Why we say this out loud. Every competitor advertises a US bank account as though it were part of the package. It is not, for anyone, and pretending otherwise just moves the disappointment to after you have paid. Form the company for the entity, the EIN and the ability to take Stripe payments. Treat the bank account as a separate application with a real chance of rejection.
Real platforms this comes up against
Everything else your US company needs
EIN without an SSN
The step that stalls most non-US founders. We run the SS-4 process end to end.
Form 5472 and US filings
Foreign-owned LLCs file every year even at zero income. The penalty for missing it is $25,000.
Form the company
LLC or C-Corp in any of the 50 states, with the EIN and registered agent included.
Founders from other countries
Exchange control, your SARS position, and the honest answer on US banking.
CBN currency rules, Stripe access, and which banks actually work.
BoG licensing rules, GRA filing, and the Stripe-Paystack workaround.
PayPal's 2026 freeze wave, CBK's no exchange controls, and the KRA position.
PayPal's 8% conversion tax, CBE forex rules, and the zero-rated VAT on exports.
BIR registration, remittance limits, and Mercury vs Relay.
SBP rules, why PayPal is not the answer, and what is.
PayPal's announced-but-not-live access, CBSL's 2026 repatriation rules, and IRD's new freelancer tax.
Bangladesh Bank's 2026 forex overhaul, the IT tax exemption, and Mercury's ban.
SBV forex rules, Decree 117's platform withholding, and why Stripe needs a US LLC.
The 100% tax deduction that still needs a foreign bank, and why Stripe still says no.
The cepo cambiario after 2025, why Stripe still won't onboard you, and the LEC.
The 9x IOF shock, why Stripe needs a CNPJ, and the Carne-Leao filing.
The ATO LLC classification trap, CFC rules, and the DTA.
IRD's foreign investment fund rules and the US-NZ DTA.
How this works. NameMarshal is not a law firm or an accountancy practice, and nothing on this page is legal or tax advice. Company formation, EIN and registered agent services here are fulfilled by our formation partner doola. Foreign-owned US LLCs generally have to file Form 5472 with a pro-forma Form 1120 every year, even with no income, and the penalty for missing it is steep. Ask us and we will point you at someone licensed to handle it.