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Anonymous LLC: Keep Your Name Off Public Records (2026)
An anonymous LLC lets you run a business without your name and home address showing up on public state websites. Here is which states allow it, how to set one up and what stays private and what does not.
An anonymous LLC is an LLC whose owners are not listed in the public state record. The best states for one are New Mexico, Wyoming and Delaware, because they do not ask for member names in the public formation filing. Your registered agent’s address appears instead of yours. It is legal, but it is private, not secret: the IRS, your bank and payment platforms still know who owns the LLC.
What Is an Anonymous LLC?
Every LLC files formation papers with a state, and those papers become public. In many states they list the owners (members) or managers by name and address. An anonymous LLC is simply an LLC formed in a state that does not require those names, with a registered agent and organizer standing in, so anyone searching the state database sees the company and the agent, not you.
Best States for an Anonymous LLC
| State | Member names in public filing? | Yearly state cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | No | $0, no annual report | The most private and cheapest to keep |
| Wyoming | No | $60 annual report for most small LLCs | Privacy plus a well-known state |
| Delaware | No | $400 annual LLC tax | Companies with US investors |
| Texas | Yes, governing persons are listed | $0 franchise tax for most small LLCs | Not anonymous |
| Florida | Yes, in the annual report | $138.75 annual report | Not anonymous |
New Mexico stands out: it has no annual report at all, so there is no yearly filing that could add your name later. Wyoming is the most common choice for founders who want privacy in a state banks and platforms already know. See Wyoming vs New Mexico.
How to Form an Anonymous LLC
- Pick a privacy-friendly state such as New Mexico or Wyoming.
- Use a registered agent so the agent’s address, not your home, is on the public record.
- Have your formation service act as organizer, where the state allows it, so your name is not on the Articles of Organization.
- Keep your operating agreement private. It lists the owners, but it is an internal document and is not filed with the state.
- Use a business mailing address for invoices, websites and platforms instead of your home address.
Every LLCPronto package includes a registered agent and a US mailing address, so your home address stays off the state record from day one. Ask us on WhatsApp if you also want us to act as organizer.
What an Anonymous LLC Does Not Hide
- The IRS: your EIN application names the responsible party, and a foreign-owned single-member LLC reports its owner on Form 5472.
- Banks and payment platforms: Mercury, Stripe, PayPal, Amazon and others verify the real owner with ID before approving the account.
- Courts and law enforcement: owners can be identified through legal process.
- Your home country: your own tax rules still apply to income from the LLC.
So an anonymous LLC protects your privacy from the public, competitors and spam. It is not a way to hide income or avoid taxes, and using it that way can get bank and payment accounts closed.
Is an Anonymous LLC Legal?
Yes. States such as New Mexico, Wyoming and Delaware choose not to publish owner names, and forming an LLC there is fully legal. You still have to answer truthfully when the IRS, a bank or a platform asks who owns the company.
Anonymous LLC for Founders Outside the US
For founders abroad, an anonymous LLC in New Mexico or Wyoming keeps your home address and name off a public US database while you sell to US customers, use Stripe and open a US business account. It is the most common setup we file for clients in Pakistan, India, the UAE and the UK.
Anonymous LLC: FAQs
What is the best state for an anonymous LLC?
New Mexico, because it does not list members in the formation filing and has no annual report. Wyoming and Delaware also keep member names off the public formation filing.
Is an anonymous LLC legal?
Yes. Some states simply do not publish owner names. You must still disclose ownership to the IRS, banks and payment platforms when asked.
Can the IRS see who owns an anonymous LLC?
Yes. The EIN application names a responsible party, and foreign-owned single-member LLCs report their owner on Form 5472 every year.
Does an anonymous LLC hide me from Stripe or my bank?
No. Banks and payment platforms verify the real owner with ID. The privacy is from the public record, not from them.
How much does an anonymous LLC cost?
The same as a normal LLC in that state. In New Mexico the yearly state cost is $0. Our first-year package starts at $190 with the registered agent and US mailing address included.
Related Guides
Keep Your Name Off the Public Record
Registered agent and US mailing address included in every package.
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