Can someone in Brazil own a US LLC?

Yes. There is no citizenship, residency or visa requirement to own a US LLC, and you do not need a Social Security Number. You will need an EIN, which is obtained on Form SS-4 by fax or mail rather than through the IRS online application.

Is Stripe available in Brazil?

Yes. Stripe lists Brazil as a supported country on its global availability page, so you can accept card payments through a local entity without needing a US company.

Does Brazil have a tax treaty with the United States?

Not according to the IRS in-force treaty table. That does not create a US tax liability by itself, but the reduced withholding rates and treaty thresholds available to founders elsewhere do not apply.

Do I need an ITIN first?

No. This is the most common misconception in this category. Form SS-4 provides for a responsible party with no US tax identification number — you enter “Foreign” on line 7b. An ITIN takes considerably longer and is only needed if you personally have a US filing obligation.

All countries

Country guide

Starting a US company from Brazil

Stripe already works in Brazil, so a US company is a choice rather than a necessity. Here is what it actually buys you, and what it costs to keep.

The short answer

Yes — a resident of Brazil can own a US LLC. There is no citizenship, residency or visa requirement, and you do not need a Social Security Number. Stripe operates locally, so a US entity is a choice rather than a necessity.

Founders here typically incorporate in the US for reach: US customers, US platforms, or payout arrangements that assume a US entity. Local payment options exist, so it is worth being specific about what the US entity is actually solving.

The facts specific to Brazil


Stripe availability	Available locally
US income tax treaty	No treaty listed as in force
Local currency	Brazilian real (BRL)
Closest local equivalent to an LLC	Sociedade Limitada (Ltda)
Can own a US LLC	Yes — no citizenship, residency or visa requirement
Needs an SSN	No — Form SS-4 is filed with “Foreign” on line 7b

Stripe status from stripe.com/global and treaty status from the IRS treaty table, both retrieved 23 August 2026. Both change — verify before relying on either.

Taking payments

Stripe operates locally in Brazil, so you can take card payments without a US company. That makes a US entity a choice rather than a necessity — and changes what it has to be worth to you.

Whatever the route, payouts land in a US business account first. Moving that money onward is its own decision — see getting money out.

Tax

The IRS treaty table does not list an in-force income tax treaty between the United States and Brazil. That does not create a US tax liability by itself, but it removes the reduced withholding rates and the treaty threshold that founders elsewhere can rely on — so the analysis rests on domestic US rules alone.

Whether you owe US income tax turns on whether your income is effectively connected with a US trade or business — see US tax for non-residents. Your position in Brazil is a separate question, and usually the larger one.

US LLC or a Sociedade Limitada?

The local equivalent in Brazil is the Sociedade Limitada (Ltda). It is generally simpler to run where your customers, bank and accountant are all local, and it does not add a second country's filing obligations to your year.

Because Stripe works locally, the local entity handles payments perfectly well. Choose the US entity when you have a specific US-facing reason — customers, platforms or investors — rather than by default.

The sequence

Form the entity. One to three business days in a fast state. Wyoming and New Mexico are the cheapest credible options with no US presence.
Apply for the EIN immediately on Form SS-4, with “Foreign” on line 7b. This gates everything after it.
Sign an operating agreement while the EIN processes — banks ask for it.
Assemble the banking pack: formation certificate, EIN letter, operating agreement, passport, and proof of your address in Brazil.
Open a US business account, then apply for payment processing.
Put Form 5472 and the state annual report in a calendar before you do anything else.

Run this as one job

Formation, the EIN for foreign owners, banking introductions and a compliance calendar that already knows the Form 5472 date.

See what's included

Frequently asked questions

Can someone in Brazil own a US LLC?: Yes. There is no citizenship, residency or visa requirement to own a US LLC, and you do not need a Social Security Number. You will need an EIN, which is obtained on Form SS-4 by fax or mail rather than through the IRS online application.
Is Stripe available in Brazil?: Yes. Stripe lists Brazil as a supported country on its global availability page, so you can accept card payments through a local entity without needing a US company.
Does Brazil have a tax treaty with the United States?: Not according to the IRS in-force treaty table. That does not create a US tax liability by itself, but the reduced withholding rates and treaty thresholds available to founders elsewhere do not apply.
Do I need an ITIN first?: No. This is the most common misconception in this category. Form SS-4 provides for a responsible party with no US tax identification number — you enter “Foreign” on line 7b. An ITIN takes considerably longer and is only needed if you personally have a US filing obligation.

Sources

Stripe availability and US tax treaty status were retrieved from the primary sources above on 23 August 2026. Both change without notice — verify before relying on either. PayPal availability is deliberately not stated here because it could not be verified from a primary source.

Founders 8 does not provide tax advice. Tax residency depends on facts and rules specific to each jurisdiction — review your position with a qualified adviser.