Wall 01Shopify Payments
An EIN, a US checking account and ID
It asks for the EIN, a US checking account in dollars, and the representative's SSN or ITIN, or a passport photo if you live abroad.
Built for · Shopify
A US LLC for a Shopify store run from outside the United States
You can run a Shopify store from anywhere. The payments account behind it is the part that depends on where you are, and that's why most Shopify merchants abroad form a US company.
- Usually
- Structure
- Wyoming LLC
- Plan
- Standard
- On the day
- $601.40
- Every year
- $309
01Why a US company
What it does for Shopify stores.
Shopify doesn't mind where you live, but Shopify Payments only works in a set list of countries, and Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt and Vietnam aren't on it. A US LLC with an EIN and a US bank account is a US merchant, so it can apply for Shopify Payments, Stripe and PayPal on their US terms.
The same company gives suppliers, print partners and ad platforms a business to invoice, and keeps the store's money out of your personal account.
02What stands in the way
Three things in the way, and one way through.
Wall 02Ad platforms
One legal name on the store and the bank
Ad platforms bill the company and pay it out, and a store name that doesn't match the bank account's name is a common reason payouts are held.
Wall 03Your own checkout
Sales tax with no marketplace in between
On your own checkout, no marketplace collects sales tax for you, so that's yours once you pass a state's threshold.
The door
A US LLC, with its EIN and a US bank account.
One set of documents that Shopify Payments, the ad platforms and the banks all accept.
03The honest part
What to know before you order.
01
Sales tax is yours to watch
On a marketplace, the marketplace collects sales tax. On your own store, you do, once you have economic nexus in a state, which usually means $100,000 of sales into that state in a year. Below that, you owe nothing there and register nowhere. Above it, you register, collect and file in that state. Shopify can calculate the tax, but it can't register you. Premium includes registration in one state.
02
Where the goods ship from matters
Shipping from a supplier abroad straight to US buyers keeps your stock out of the United States, which keeps the US tax question simple. Holding stock with a US fulfilment company raises the same question FBA sellers face, so read the Amazon sellers page and ask an accountant first.
03
Form 5472, every year
A foreign-owned single-member LLC files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even a year with no income. It reports what moved between you and the company, and missing it carries a $25,000 penalty. It's on every plan's calendar, and Premium prepares it for you.
The plan that fits
Standard, usually.
Standard categorises the store's transactions for your accountant, and you can add the expedited EIN so the payments account opens sooner. Move to Premium once you're trading and want Form 5472 and sales tax registration handled.
StandardFits a Shopify store
For founders who need a bank account, invoices and payments this month.
To start
$601.40 once
Includes the $102.40 Wyoming fee · then $309 a year
04Questions
Questions from Shopify stores.
If yours is not here, email us at [email protected] before you order.
It can. Shopify Payments asks for the company's EIN, a US checking account in dollars that takes ACH transfers, and the representative's SSN or ITIN, which someone living abroad can replace with a photo of a valid passport. It doesn't accept multi-currency accounts, and approval still depends on Shopify's review.
Only in states where you've crossed the economic nexus threshold, usually $100,000 of sales into that state in a year. Until then, no. Shopify calculates the tax once you tell it where you're registered.
For the company's state filings, yes. For Shopify and the bank, use a real address where you get post, which can be your home address abroad.
Ready when you are
Answer the questions. We do the filing.
It takes about four minutes. You see the whole order, state fee included, before anything is charged.
Compare the plansCompany name
LLC · WYName checked first · Same business day
Start a companyStandard$499 + $102.40 WyomingSame day