Short answer: Yes, you can form a US LLC from Pakistan without travelling to the US. The path has five steps: form the LLC in a US state through a registered agent, get an EIN from the IRS using Form SS-4, get bank- and payout-ready, open your marketplace seller account, and complete the tax interview.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. State rules, IRS procedures and marketplace requirements change, and the right structure depends on your situation. Speak to a qualified US tax professional or attorney, and a tax adviser in Pakistan, before you act. The requirements below were checked against official sources as of October 2026.
Who needs a US LLC (and who doesn't)
Selling on Amazon.com, Walmart or Temu US as a Pakistan-based founder
Many Pakistan-based founders form a US LLC because the sales channels they want are built around US businesses. Walmart Marketplace is the clearest example. It publishes the list of countries whose businesses can apply directly, and as of October 2026 Pakistan is not on that list. A Pakistan-based founder therefore usually applies through a US-registered business instead. Other US marketplace programs, including Temu's, set their own rules, so check each one's current requirements before you form an entity for it.
When selling as an individual is enough
If Amazon.com is your only channel, you may not need a US entity at all. Amazon's registration guide asks for a government-issued ID, proof of residential address from the last 180 days, a bank account, an internationally chargeable credit card, a business license or registration, and tax information. Check Seller Central's current list of accepted countries before you decide. Our guide to US LLCs for non-US Amazon sellers covers this decision in more depth.
Step 1: Choose a state
An LLC is created under the law of one state. You do not have to live there, but you do have to keep a registered agent there and meet that state's ongoing filing rules.
Wyoming vs Delaware vs other states
Wyoming and Delaware come up most often in guides written for non-resident founders (for example, US Global Startup's comparison). The table below sticks to what each state's own website says. Fees change, so check the current amounts on the state sites rather than relying on any article, including this one.
| Factor | Wyoming | Delaware | Other states |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation document | Articles of Organization | Certificate of Formation | Varies by state |
| Registered agent | Required, with a physical address in Wyoming | Required, with a physical street address in Delaware | Check the state's rules |
| Ongoing state filing | Annual report due on the first day of the anniversary month, with a license tax based on assets in Wyoming (a minimum applies) | No annual report for LLCs; a flat annual tax due on or before June 1 | Varies by state |
Where you actually operate also matters. If you will have staff, a warehouse or an office in a particular state, ask your adviser whether that changes your choice.
Step 2: Prepare your documents
Most delays start with paperwork, so get this right before anything is filed.
What ECOMHUTSY collects
When we handle an LLC formation, we ask for:
- your full legal name, exactly as it appears on your passport;
- your full residential address;
- a passport scan with all four corners visible;
- a CNIC scan with all four corners visible.
Send identity documents only through the secure channel our team gives you, never through a public form or open chat. Use one spelling of your name everywhere. If your passport says "Muhammad" and your bank statement says "Mohammad", fix that now, not after the EIN is issued.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization and appoint a registered agent
The formation filing gives the LLC its legal existence. It normally includes the LLC's name, the registered agent's name and address in the state, and the organizer's details. In Delaware the document is called a Certificate of Formation, and the state asks whoever submits it to confirm first that the registered agent has agreed to act for the entity.
The registered agent receives legal and state mail for the LLC, so choose one you can reach easily. Once the state approves the filing, keep a PDF of the stamped document. You will need it for the EIN, the bank and every marketplace application. Many banks also ask for an operating agreement that records who owns the LLC, so prepare one at this stage.
Step 4: Get an EIN without an SSN
The EIN (Employer Identification Number) is the business's US tax ID. You will need it for banking, marketplace registration and US suppliers.
The IRS online EIN application only works if the business's principal place of business is in the US and the responsible party has an SSN or ITIN. If not, the IRS says international applicants can apply by phone, fax or mail using Form SS-4. The Form SS-4 instructions say a responsible party who doesn't have, and isn't eligible for, an SSN or ITIN enters "foreign" or N/A on line 7b. A foreign-owned single-member LLC checks "Other" on line 9a and writes "Foreign-owned U.S. disregarded entity-Form 5472".
On timing, the Form SS-4 instructions say fax applicants generally receive their EIN within about 4 business days, and mail applicants in about 4 weeks. The IRS also states that you never have to pay a fee for an EIN. Anyone who charges you is charging for their time, not for the number.
Keep the IRS confirmation notice (CP 575) safe. It is one of the documents banks and marketplaces ask for. A foreign-owned single-member LLC also has an annual IRS filing, Form 5472 attached to a pro forma Form 1120. The IRS states a $25,000 penalty for failing to file it, so diarise it now.
Step 5: Get bank- and payout-ready
With the formation document, EIN letter, operating agreement and passport in hand, you can approach US banks and payment providers. The account must be in the LLC's exact legal name, and those details must match what you later give the marketplace. Each provider sets its own rules for non-resident owners, and approval is never guaranteed, whoever helps you prepare. Our US business banking readiness service focuses on getting your documents and application consistent before you apply.
Step 6: Open your marketplace seller account and complete the tax interview
Register on the marketplace with the same legal name, address, EIN and bank details used everywhere else. Amazon verifies identity either through a photo of your face and government ID or through a video call with an Amazon associate.
Amazon then asks every seller to complete a tax identity interview. Based on your answers, it produces either a Form W-9 (US persons) or a Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (non-US individuals and entities). How a foreign-owned single-member LLC should answer depends on its tax classification. Amazon's own guidance warns against entering a disregarded entity's EIN in some cases, so complete this step with your tax adviser.
If you'd rather not navigate this alone, our Amazon and Walmart seller account setup team prepares the application with you. If you will also sell outside marketplaces or buy wholesale, you may need a state permit too. Our sales tax license registration service can map that.
What you receive when the LLC is done
When ECOMHUTSY completes a formation, you receive:
- a Certificate of Good Standing;
- the Articles of Organization (or the state's equivalent);
- the EIN letter from the IRS.
Optional add-ons include a US phone number, a virtual address, a domain, hosting and a website. Pricing is scoped after a consultation, because US state filing fees differ and so does the work each founder needs.
Common mistakes
- Name mismatches. The passport, LLC filing, EIN letter, bank account and seller account must match exactly. A missing "LLC" or a different spelling invites verification questions.
- The wrong kind of address. Using a residential address where a business address is required, or an address you cannot document, causes rework later.
- Forgetting annual filings. The state's annual report or tax and the IRS Form 5472 both apply even if the LLC makes no sales.
- Starting in the wrong order. You need the LLC before the EIN, and the EIN before the bank and marketplace.
Where ECOMHUTSY fits
ECOMHUTSY was founded in 2016 by Muhammad Zain Shoukat. Our head office is in Multan, with offices in Multan, Lahore, Karachi and other cities across Pakistan, plus Dubai and Westland, MI. Our 100+ e-commerce professionals serve 100+ active clients across 50+ countries.
Our US LLC formation support covers the state filing, registered agent coordination, the EIN application and the records banks and marketplaces ask for. If you later need a personal US tax ID, our ITIN application support can help. If you are still choosing a business model, read Amazon FBA vs dropshipping first. Where a question needs a licensed US tax professional or attorney, we will say so.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Pakistani citizen own a US LLC without visiting the US?
In most cases, yes. Third-party guides note that Wyoming and Delaware both allow full foreign ownership, the state filing is handled with your registered agent, and the IRS accepts EIN applications from international applicants by phone, fax or mail. Some banks may ask for an in-person visit, so check each provider's rules.
Do I need an SSN or ITIN to get an EIN?
No. The IRS online tool needs an SSN or ITIN, but international applicants can apply by phone, fax or mail with Form SS-4. On line 7b you enter "foreign" or N/A.
Which state should I choose for Amazon selling?
Wyoming and Delaware are popular with non-resident founders, but the right choice depends on ongoing costs, filings and where you operate. Decide with your adviser.
How long does each step take?
State processing times vary, so check the state's website. The IRS says fax EIN applications are generally processed within about 4 business days and mailed ones in about 4 weeks. Bank and marketplace reviews depend on each provider.
What does ECOMHUTSY handle, and what do I do myself?
We handle the filing, EIN application and document preparation. You provide accurate documents, sign where required, complete identity verification and make your own tax decisions with a qualified adviser.
Plan your US setup with us
Planning to sell in the US from Pakistan? Send us your documents and goals. Our team reviews them, then confirms the scope and pricing with you before anything is filed.
Not legal or tax advice. Information reflects publicly available IRS, state and marketplace guidance as of October 2026 and may change.
Sources
- IRS, Get an Employer Identification Number (online eligibility, international applicants, no fee): https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number
- IRS, Employer Identification Number (international applicants: phone, fax, mail): https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/employer-identification-number
- IRS, Instructions for Form SS-4 (line 7b, line 9a, fax and mail timing): https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iss4
- IRS, Instructions for Form 5472 (pro forma Form 1120, penalties): https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i5472
- Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Entities FAQ (annual report due date and license tax): https://sos.wyo.gov/faqs.aspx?root=BUS
- Wyoming Secretary of State, LLC Articles of Organization instructions: https://sos.wyo.gov/Forms/Business/LLC/LLC-ArticlesOrganization.pdf
- Delaware Division of Corporations, Annual Report and Tax Information (LLC annual tax, no annual report): https://corp.delaware.gov/frtax/
- Delaware Division of Corporations, FAQs Regarding Registered Agents: https://corp.delaware.gov/faqs-regarding-registered-agents/
- Delaware Division of Corporations, How to Form a New Business Entity: https://corp.delaware.gov/howtoform/
- Walmart Marketplace Learn, Tax classifications and documentation (eligible countries): https://marketplacelearn.walmart.com/guides/Getting%20started/Onboarding/Tax-classifications-and-documentation
- Amazon, How to register as an Amazon seller: https://sell.amazon.com/sell/registration-guide
- Amazon, U.S. tax identity and income reporting FAQs: https://pay.amazon.com/help/202096060
- US Global Startup, Wyoming vs Delaware LLC for non-residents (third-party): https://www.usglobalstartup.com/wyoming-vs-delaware-llc-for-non-residents/
