Turkish founders often form a US company to bill international clients, use Stripe and other US payment rails, sell on US marketplaces, or meet investor expectations. This guide walks through the state choice, the EIN process without a Social Security number, banking, and the yearly filings you need to keep the company in good standing.
Why Turkish founders form a US LLC or C-Corp
A US entity makes it easier to invoice clients in dollars, connect to Stripe without friction, and list on marketplaces that prefer or require a US seller of record. It also signals stability to US customers and investors who are used to dealing with Delaware or Wyoming companies. None of this requires you to live in the US or hold a US passport.
An LLC works well if you want a simple structure that passes income through to you as the owner. A C-Corporation is the usual choice if you plan to raise venture funding, since most US investors expect a Delaware C-Corp with standard stock structures.
You do not need a visa or a US visit
You can form a US LLC or C-Corporation, get an EIN, and open a business bank account, all without traveling to the US or holding any type of visa. The formation is a paperwork process handled by your registered agent and formation service. Banking is done remotely through providers built for this. You do not need a US address of your own, since your registered agent and virtual mailing address cover that requirement.
Choosing a state: Wyoming or Delaware
Most Turkish founders selling services, running e-commerce, or invoicing clients directly choose Wyoming for its low fees and simple annual report. If you are raising venture capital, Delaware is the standard choice because investors and their lawyers know the Delaware corporate statute well.
| Factor | Wyoming LLC | Delaware C-Corp |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Freelancers, agencies, e-commerce, SaaS without VC plans | Startups raising venture funding |
| Formation speed | 1 to 3 business days | Varies, check the state's site |
| Ongoing filing | Simple annual report | Annual report and franchise tax |
| Investor familiarity | Lower | Highest |
| Tax treatment | Pass-through by default | Corporate tax, then dividends |
If you are not sure which one fits, a free consultation before you file is the cheapest way to avoid switching later.
Getting an EIN without a Social Security number
You do not need an SSN or an ITIN to get an EIN for your LLC or corporation. The IRS issues EINs to foreign owners through a different application path than the online system used by US residents. Without expedited processing, this typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. With expedited handling, it can be reduced to a matter of days. This is the step that most often slows down non-resident founders, so plan your launch timeline around it if you are on a deadline for a client contract or a marketplace application.
Opening a US business bank account
Once your EIN is issued, you can apply for a US business bank account with providers built for remote founders, such as Mercury, Wise Business, or Relay. These introductions happen after your EIN is in hand, not before. Approval is always the bank's decision and is not guaranteed by any formation service, including PowerLaunch. Having a clean formation package, a real business description, and a matching website or storefront usually helps your application move faster.
The US filings you owe every year
Once your company exists, the IRS and your state expect ongoing filings, even if the company had little or no activity.
| Filing | Who it applies to | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Form 5472 with a pro forma 1120 | Foreign-owned single-member LLCs | April 15 |
| Corporate income tax return | C-Corporations | Check the IRS and your state's site |
| State annual report | All LLCs and corporations | Varies by state |
| BOI report | Currently not required for US-formed companies under the 2026 interim FinCEN rule | Not applicable for now, rules can change |
Form 5472 is easy to miss because it applies even to a dormant LLC with a single foreign owner, and the penalties for skipping it are steep. This is one of the main reasons founders move from a bare formation plan to one that includes a licensed tax professional handling the actual filing.
Turkish tax and reporting rules to check at home
Owning a US LLC or corporation as a Turkish resident can trigger reporting or tax obligations in Turkey as well, depending on how the company is structured, how income flows to you personally, and current Turkish tax rules for foreign company ownership. These rules are specific to your situation and can change, so this guide will not guess at rates or forms. Talk to a Turkish accountant or tax adviser who handles foreign company ownership before you finalize your structure, and again each year when your Turkish tax return is due.
How PowerLaunch fits in
PowerLaunch forms your LLC or C-Corporation, files for your EIN, drafts your operating agreement or bylaws, and gives you a registered agent and a virtual business address, all included in the Launch plan at $295 per year plus the state filing fee at cost. If you want expedited EIN processing, that is a $295 add-on on top of Launch or Run.
Once your company is running, the Run plan at $1,995 per year adds your annual state report, a licensed tax professional consultation, the actual IRS filings including Form 5472 and the pro forma 1120, transaction tracking with AI categorization, Stripe invoicing, and live financial reports. The Scale plan at $2,995 per year or $329 per month adds expedited EIN as standard, free dissolution if you ever close the company, live call scheduling, and a dedicated bookkeeper.
Every plan runs on the MyCG.AI platform, so your bookkeeping, filings, and AI assistant live in one place instead of scattered across email threads and spreadsheets.
What to do next
If you want a second opinion on Wyoming versus Delaware, or want to walk through the EIN timeline against your own launch date, book a free 20-minute consultation at powerlaunch.solutions/book. When you are ready to file, start at powerlaunch.solutions/signup and pick the plan that matches how much of the ongoing tax and bookkeeping work you want handled for you.
