A US company, from the Philippines.
Filipino freelancers and agency owners already move a lot of USD through Payoneer and Wise. A US LLC is the next step for anyone billing seriously: a real entity, an EIN, and a bank account that does not need a workaround.
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 or ITIN 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 to sort out on the Philippine side
BSP is more relaxed than most people expect
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas does not block outbound personal transfers the way some neighbouring regulators do, which is part of why Payoneer and Wise are already so widely used here. Larger, regular commercial transfers are still worth structuring properly rather than assuming anything goes.
Your BIR obligations continue in parallel
Registering a US LLC does not replace registering as self-employed or as a professional with the Bureau of Internal Revenue if you are working and billing from the Philippines. Resident citizens are taxed on worldwide income, and freelancers below the relevant threshold may qualify for the 8% flat optional rate on gross receipts instead of the graduated table. Confirm your specific position with a Philippine tax adviser.
The LLC formalises what many freelancers already do informally
If clients already ask for a US-facing invoice or a Delaware entity before signing, the LLC solves that directly rather than working around it project by project.
Can you actually open a US bank account?
The honest answer, which is more than most providers will give you.
What works for Philippine founders
- Mercury accepts Philippine founders and is the usual first choice.
- Payoneer and Wise Business are already familiar to most Filipino freelancers.
- Stripe works once the LLC has its EIN.
What to know before you rely on it
- Relay opens an account but blocks international wires for Philippine founders, so money cannot come home through it.
- Nobody can guarantee an account, including Mercury. Its partner bank sets the rules and can tighten them without notice.
- A registered agent address is not a business address and most banking partners will reject it as one.
- The EIN takes 4-6 weeks for non-US founders, and banking is generally blocked until it is issued.
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.
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.
Why Stripe is invite-only, Mercury's ban, and the DHE repatriation rules.
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.