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US LLC (Delaware) · via Mercury (banking-only)·🇵🇭Founder profile

Incorporating a Delaware LLC for Filipino Remote Workers

VerifiedJul 2026
EligibilityEligible
Setup timeline21–45days
Year-1 total$0.00

Filipino remote workers can form a Delaware LLC to provide services to international clients while maintaining a separate legal entity. This structure requires compliance with both Delaware state regulations and Philippine Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reporting standards.

The process involves state formation, obtaining an EIN for tax identification, and opening a Mercury banking account. You must manage your tax obligations locally under RR 8-2018 to remain compliant as a freelancer.

§ 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
$0.00
$0.00/month amortized·USD @ live FX
Time horizon
Line items
Amount
  • SetupMercury (banking-only) setup
    $0.00
  • AnnualYear 2 renewal
    $0.00
Total$0.00
§ 02Tax residency · Filipino Remote Workers

What the tax authority sees

US federal / local status

US LLCs are treated as pass-through entities for federal tax purposes, meaning income is taxed at the member level rather than the entity level if there is no US-source income or ETBUS status.

Home-country rule

BIR Revenue Regulation 8-2018; freelance registration

Editorial verdict

Register as a sole proprietor with the BIR under RR 8-2018 to ensure your LLC income is properly declared and to avoid double taxation issues.

Key compliance risks
  • 01Form 5472 and 1120 filing requirements carry a $25,000 penalty for non-compliance.
  • 02Potential double taxation if BIR does not recognize the LLC pass-through structure correctly.
  • 03Failure to maintain US-source income documentation may lead to IRS scrutiny.
§ 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
01FilingMercury (banking-only) 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

If your LLC has no US-based employees, office, or physical presence (ETBUS), you generally do not owe US federal income tax on non-US source income. However, you must file informational returns like Form 5472 to report your activity to the IRS.
Next step

Start filing with Mercury (banking-only)

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