Country guide · Canada
Form a US LLC as a Canadian citizen
Last updated: August 2026
Bottom line
Form a US LLC as a Canadian citizen is straightforward once the Canada paperwork is in order. As a Hague Convention member, Canada issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization. Tax treaty: US-Canada treaty (1980, multiple protocols), 0·15% dividend withholding; deep coverage of personal services and business profits.
CRA scrutiny on US LLCs is real, single-member LLC is treated as a foreign corporation, not a flow-through, for Canadian tax. Talk to a cross-border CPA before structuring. This is the country-specific guide for Canadian citizens to form a us llc, apostille, banking, and treaty notes that change by jurisdiction. For the canonical procedural sequence (the steps everyone follows regardless of citizenship), see the main US LLC formation page.
A Wyoming or Delaware LLC is the cleanest holding entity for a non-resident founder. No state income tax, no minimum capital, no resident director requirement. The whole setup runs remote: file Articles online, fax Form SS-4 for the EIN, open Mercury for banking. The catch is the annual Form 5472 filing, miss it and the penalty is USD 25,000.
What Canadian citizens need to form a US LLC
Apostille
Global Affairs Canada (apostille since Jan 2024)
~2·3 weeks, ~USD 30. As a Hague Convention member, Canada issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
Banking flow
Canadian residents open Mercury remotely. USD outbound to RBC/TD/BMO USD accounts is same-day. Wealthsimple Cash accepts Mercury inflows.
Timezone
UTC-5 to UTC-8 depending on province. IRS Austin is on UTC-6 / Asunción Migración on UTC-3.
Country-specific note
Common: Canadian SaaS founders and creators with US customers who need an ITIN to file Form 1040-NR + claim treaty-rate withholding.
Tax treaty: US-Canada treaty (1980, multiple protocols), 0·15% dividend withholding; deep coverage of personal services and business profits.
Questions Canadian citizens ask about us llc formation
How long does the apostille take for Canadian citizens? +
2·3 weeks through Global Affairs Canada (apostille since Jan 2024), at roughly USD 30. As a Hague Convention member, Canada issues a single apostille that the US recognizes without further legalization.
How do Canadian-resident clients usually handle banking with their US LLC? +
Canadian residents open Mercury remotely. USD outbound to RBC/TD/BMO USD accounts is same-day. Wealthsimple Cash accepts Mercury inflows.
Do Canadian citizens get US tax treaty benefits on an LLC? +
US-Canada treaty (1980, multiple protocols), 0·15% dividend withholding; deep coverage of personal services and business profits.
Form your LLC, Canadian citizen
See the full procedural sequence on the canonical US LLC formation page, or jump straight to the apply form.
Form your LLCKeep going
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Residency
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Stay Compliant
Stay compliant with Form 5472, BOI, and annual filings
The annual cadence that keeps your non-resident LLC out of USD 25,000 IRS penalties and in good standing.
Banking
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Official SOLO (Bank of Georgia) and Towerbank partner. Passport to start, video call to activate, tax ID added later, no flights required.