Can someone in Ukraine 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 Ukraine?

No. Ukraine 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 Ukraine have a tax treaty with the United States?

Yes — Ukraine appears on the IRS list of countries with an income tax treaty in force with the United States. Treaty benefits are claimed rather than automatic, usually by providing Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E to the payer.

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 Ukraine

Stripe does not operate in Ukraine, 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 Ukraine 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 Ukraine


Stripe availability	Not listed as supported
US income tax treaty	Yes — in force per the IRS treaty table
Local currency	Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH)
Closest local equivalent to an LLC	Limited Liability Company (TOV)
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 Ukraine 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

Ukraine has an income tax treaty in force with the United States. A treaty can reduce withholding on certain payment types and sets the threshold at which business profits become taxable in the other country. Benefits are not automatic — you generally claim them by providing Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E.

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

US LLC or a Limited Liability Company?

The local equivalent in Ukraine is the Limited Liability Company (TOV). 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 Ukraine.
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 Ukraine 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 Ukraine?: No. Ukraine 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 Ukraine have a tax treaty with the United States?: Yes — Ukraine appears on the IRS list of countries with an income tax treaty in force with the United States. Treaty benefits are claimed rather than automatic, usually by providing Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E to the payer.
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.