Hello all,

I have several question, but i will tell my story first.

I live in Indonesia, have a passport and never come to usa. I have business in distribute branded apparel to indonesia and make own design of cloth. I have a plan to make LLC at usa because this serveral reason:

1. I will more trusted when i use US LLC when deal with branded apparel since indonesia got blacklisted at several apparel.
2. I am deal in USD, so better i register llc and bank account and merchant at US so for easier in accounting and Indonesia TAX. I mean, if base in indonesia, when i apply a merchant here, all charge must in IDR, and its take cost again of currency converter.

And i hear that foreigner can easily established LLC in US and i want to ask about tax system at US so i don’t fall in another of tax trap.

My question is:

1. Its true that only at DELAWARE that allow Foreigner form LLC and just pay FIXED TAX or called franchise tax? no tax count by % of net profit?
2. Any other suggestion of state for me? And should i have address at that state to established LLC at that state?
3. I have a address at Callifornia (just like PO BOX not real home). What is better, registered LLC with CA address or Indonesia Address?
4. What is registered agent function?
5. I am know think to use legalzoom.com services. do u have another suggestion of formation services? (include registered agent too)

Your help really need. Thanks before for all member that willing to answer my question.

Regards,

Agham H.

I would strongly suggest that you retain both a US attorney and a US tax expert, a CPA or EA, before proceeding. Just a few pitfalls to consider:

A non-resident alien operating outside of the US and selling goods to US buyers incurs no US tax liabilities. However if you create a legal entity in the US such as an LLC or corporation then any profits become effectively connected to the US and you will have to pay US income taxes on the profits.

Any goods that are blacklisted or banned in the US will be banned regardless of your creation of a US legal entity.

Don’t even think of using some service such as Legalzoom.com without consulting with an attorney first. They are not attorneys and cannot give you legal advice. They deliver a lot of promises of what an LLC or corporation can do for you but a lot of their sales pitch isn’t factual. If you screw up and get it wrong, they will have no liability to you whatsoever.