Can someone in Colombia 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 Colombia?

No. Colombia does not appear on Stripe's list of supported countries, which is the most common reason founders there form a US company with a US bank account.

Does Colombia 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 Colombia

Stripe does not operate in Colombia, which is usually why founders here form a US company. Here is the whole sequence, and the filing that catches people.

The short answer

Yes — a resident of Colombia can own a US LLC. There is no citizenship, residency or visa requirement, and you do not need a Social Security Number. Because Stripe does not operate locally, a US entity is often the practical route to accepting card payments.

The usual reason founders here incorporate in the US is access to payment rails — not tax. That distinction matters, because a US company does not change where you are tax resident.

The facts specific to Colombia


Stripe availability	Not listed as supported
US income tax treaty	No treaty listed as in force
Local currency	Colombian peso (COP)
Closest local equivalent to an LLC	Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada (SAS)
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 does not list Colombia as a supported country. For most founders here that is the whole reason a US company gets formed: it is the practical route to accepting card payments from international customers.

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 Colombia. 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 Colombia is a separate question, and usually the larger one.

US LLC or a Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada?

The local equivalent in Colombia is the Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada (SAS). 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 card payments are the constraint, founders here frequently run both: a local entity for local operations and a US entity for international revenue. That works, but it means transfer pricing between them and two sets of filings — do it deliberately.

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 Colombia.
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 Colombia 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 Colombia?: No. Colombia does not appear on Stripe's list of supported countries, which is the most common reason founders there form a US company with a US bank account.
Does Colombia 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.