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US LLC (Delaware) · via doola·🌐Founder profile

Delaware LLC Incorporation for Chinese Founders

VerifiedJul 2026
EligibilityEligible
Setup timeline21–45days
Year-1 total$297.00

Chinese founders can incorporate a Delaware LLC to access US payment gateways and international markets. The structure requires adherence to both US tax reporting and Chinese foreign exchange regulations.

Formation involves filing a Certificate of Formation in Delaware and obtaining an EIN from the IRS. Founders must maintain accurate records for annual US tax filings and local PRC tax declarations.

§ 01Cost of ownership

Model the full outlay, not just the setup fee

Renewal costs sneak up on non-resident founders. Compare year-1 filing against a 3-year total to see the real bill.
Currency · USD (live FX)
2-year cost of ownership
$594.00
$24.75/month amortized·USD @ live FX
Time horizon
Line items
Amount
  • Setupdoola setup
    $297.00
  • AnnualYear 2 renewal
    $297.00
Total$594.00
§ 02Tax residency · Chinese Cross-Border Founders

What the tax authority sees

US federal / local status

US LLCs are pass-through entities for federal tax purposes, subject to US-source income taxation under IRC Section 871 or 882 if ETBUS.

Home-country rule

PRC individual foreign income tax (Bulletin 3, 2020) applies to worldwide income for tax residents; SAFE Circular 37 must be filed for outbound investment structures.

Editorial verdict

Use doola to manage formation and EIN acquisition; ensure compliance with PRC SAFE Circular 37 registration for outbound investment to avoid capital account restrictions.

Key compliance risks
  • 01Form 5472 and 5476 filing penalties of $25,000 for non-compliance
  • 02PRC individual foreign income tax reporting requirements
  • 03SAFE Circular 37 registration necessity for Chinese residents
  • 04Potential US-source income tax withholding requirements
§ 03Setup timeline

From filing to funded bank account

Setup timeline
21–45days total, 3 phases
Milestone check
Filing · Tax ID · Banking
d0
d11
d23
d34
d45
01Filingdoola submits formation docs
d0–d16
02Tax ID / EINIRS EIN issuance
d14–d34
03BankingBusiness account approved & funded
d27–d45
§ 04Head-to-head

US LLC (Delaware) vs Estonia OÜ (e-Residency)

US LLC (Delaware)
LLC
Estonia OÜ (e-Residency)
Entity
LLC
Setup cost
$140.00
$205.20
Annual
$300.00
$129.60
Local director
Remote OK
Remote OK
Physical presence
Remote OK
Remote OK
Tax regime
Franchise tax $300/yr; federal only on US-source income
20% only on distributed profit; 0% on retained earnings
§ 05Questions founders actually ask

FAQ

No. You do not need a US visa or physical presence in the United States to incorporate a Delaware LLC. The process can be completed entirely remotely.
Next step

Start filing with doola

Formation typically completes in 2–3 weeks. Use the promo below, then click through to begin the checklist directly on the platform.