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US LLC (Delaware) · via Stripe Atlas·🇮🇳Founder profile

Delaware LLC Incorporation for Indian Freelance Developers

VerifiedJul 2026
EligibilityEligible
Setup timeline21–45days
Year-1 total$500.00

Indian freelance developers can incorporate a Delaware LLC via Stripe Atlas to access global payment gateways and international clients. This structure provides a US legal entity while maintaining pass-through tax status for non-US source income.

Founders must manage annual Delaware franchise tax obligations and mandatory IRS information reporting. Proper classification under Indian presumptive taxation rules is required to ensure compliant reporting of foreign-sourced professional income.

§ 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
$750.00
$31.25/month amortized·USD @ live FX
Time horizon
Line items
Amount
  • SetupStripe Atlas setup
    $500.00
  • AnnualYear 2 renewal
    $250.00
Total$750.00
§ 02Tax residency · Indian Freelance Developers

What the tax authority sees

US federal / local status

US LLCs are pass-through entities for federal tax purposes, meaning non-US source income is generally not subject to US federal income tax provided the entity is not Engaged in Trade or Business in the US (ETBUS).

Home-country rule

Section 44ADA presumptive taxation; foreign-source income rules

Editorial verdict

Utilize Section 44ADA for your Indian tax filings; ensure your LLC remains a 'disregarded entity' to avoid double taxation and simplify compliance.

Key compliance risks
  • 01IRS Form 5472/1120 penalty of $25,000 for late or missing filings
  • 02Potential for permanent establishment risk if managed from India
  • 03Requirement to maintain US federal tax compliance despite zero US-source income
§ 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
01FilingStripe Atlas 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. Ownership of a US LLC does not require a US visa, residency, or citizenship. You can manage the company remotely from India.
Next step

Start filing with Stripe Atlas

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