Question 1

US Bank Account Opening Guide

Accepted Answer

Opening a US business bank account is one of the most critical steps after forming your company. For non-US founders, this process can feel complex due to compliance rules, address requirements, and bank verification checks. EasyFiling simplifies this by guiding you through the correct structure, documentation, and bank options to maximize approval success.

Who This Guide Is For

Non-US founders with a US LLC or C-Corp
International startups needing Stripe-compatible banking
Founders without a US SSN
Businesses opening accounts remotely or online

Key Requirements for US Bank Account Opening

Most banks require the following:

1. Company Documents

Articles of Incorporation / Organization
EIN Confirmation Letter (CP 575)

2. Proof of Address

Banks must verify a valid address to meet KYC and AML regulations. Accepted options may include:

US residential address (friend, family, partner)
Business address (not just a Registered Agent)
Foreign proof of address (passport address, utility bill, bank statement)

⚠️ Registered Agent addresses alone are not sufficient for banking purposes

3. Personal Identification

Passport (mandatory)
Proof Of Address ( Bank Statement )

Establishing Business Legitimacy (Very Important)

Banks assess whether your business is real and active.

Professional Website

Your website should clearly show:

What services or products you offer
Target customers (preferably US-based)
Contact information
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Question 2

I want to use a U.S. address instead of my home country’s physical address for bank account. How can I do this?

Accepted Answer

If you want to use a U.S. physical address instead of your home country’s address, there are two main options:

1. Use a friend’s or family member’s U.S. address You may use the residential address of a trusted friend or family member in the United States. This address can be used for banking and official correspondence, provided you have their permission and can receive mail or verification documents there when required.

2. Purchase a premium U.S. physical virtual office address (non-PO Box) You can also buy a premium virtual office that provides a real U.S. street address (not a PO Box or CMRA-labeled address). This option is commonly accepted by banks and financial institutions for compliance purposes and is suitable for business registration, banking, and mail handling.

| Both options should be selected carefully to ensure they meet U.S. banking and compliance requirements.

Proof of Address Documentation Strategy

Friends or Family Address Request a copy of your friend’s or family member’s lease agreement, or have your name added to a utility bill (such as electricity, water, or internet). In some cases, you may also be listed as an authorized or responsible person for address verification purposes.
Business Documentation in Your Company Name Obtain official documents issued in your company’s name—such as an insurance policy, phone bill, or other service bill—showing the U.S. physical address. These documents are commonly accepted as valid

Question 3

U.S. Source vs Non-U.S. Source Income Guide For Foreign-Owned Disregarded Entities

Accepted Answer

1. What Is a Disregarded Entity?

Q: Bank legal and physical address requirements

Bank legal and physical address requirements Mercury legal address You can use your company’s registered agent address as the legal address. For example: <ul> <li>Wyoming: 30 N Gould St Ste R, Sheridan, WY 82801</li> <li>Delaware: 8 The Green Ste A, Dover, DE 19901</li> </ul> <blockquote> In standard practice, individuals do not disclose their personal physical address during state and federal applications in order to protect their privacy. For consistency and privacy protection, it is generally advisable to avoid using your home address. Instead, using a virtual address or a registered agent’s address is entirely acceptable. However, for banking purposes, providing a physical address (US Physical Address ) may enhance trust and credibility. Ultimately, the choice of address depends on your specific situation and needs. </blockquote> Bank physical address <ul> <li>The physical address does not need to match the company’s legal address.</li> <li>You must provide valid proof of address for the physical address you use.</li> <li>The physical address can be a foreign (non‑US) address. Acceptable supporting documents include:</li> <li>Bank statements</li> <li>Utility bills</li> <li>Insurance policies</li> <li>Lease Agreement | These documents must show either the beneficial owner’s name or the company name at the physical address. ||| The information on the document must match the company user profile or the company’s actual physical location.</li> </ul> If you have purchased our mailroom services, we can provide proof‑of‑address documents for that location, su

A foreign-owned Single-Member LLC is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. tax purposes. The LLC does not pay income tax separately. Instead, the foreign owner reports U.S. income directly.

2. U.S. Source Income (Taxable in the U.S.)

Common examples of U.S.-source income include:

Services performed physically in the United States
Business income connected to U.S. offices, employees, or warehouses
Interest and dividends from U.S. companies or banks
Rental income from U.S. property

3. Non-U.S. Source Income (Usually Not Taxable)

Examples of non-U.S.-source income include:

Services performed outside the United States
Foreign clients with foreign operations
Digital services performed abroad
Interest from non-U.S. banks
Income from foreign investments

4. Key Rule: Where the Work Is Done

| The IRS mainly considers where business activities are physically performed. If the work is done in the U.S., income is generally U.S.-source. If done outside the U.S., it is usually non-U.S.-source.

5. Tax Impact for Foreign Owners

If income is U.S.-source:• Filing Form 1040-NR may be required

U.S. income tax may apply
State tax may also apply

If income is non-U.S.-source:

Usually no U.S. income tax
Form 5472 filing may still be required

6. Reporting Requirements

Foreign-owned Single-Member LLCs must file Form 5472 with a Pro Forma Form 1120, even if there is no income. Failure to file can result in penalt

Question 4

CMRA Mailboxes & USPS Form 1583

Accepted Answer

USPS requires every customer who uses a CMRA (like a virtual address / mail receiving service) to complete PS Form 1583, provide two IDs, and have the form witnessed in‑person or notarized before mail can be received or forwarded

For USPS Form 1583, you must provide two valid IDs: one photo ID and one address (residential) ID, and they cannot be the same document.

Acceptable photo ID (identity)

Any one of the following is typically accepted as the primary photo ID:

U.S. or foreign passport / passport card.
U.S. state driver’s license or state non‑driver ID card.
U.S. permanent resident card (Green Card) or other USCIS photo ID.
U.S. military ID card.

Acceptable address ID (proof of address)

Any one of the following is typically accepted as the proof of address

Driver’s license (if not already used as the photo ID).
Current long‑term lease agreement (not month‑to‑month).
Mortgage document or deed of trust.
Home or vehicle insurance policy with your name and address.
Vehicle registration card.
Voter registration card

Document must be:

Current and valid.
In English or translated to English.
Showing the same home address you list in the residential address field of Form 1583.

Documents that are not acceptable

Common documents that cannot be used as either ID:

Social Security card.
Credit or debit cards.
Birth certificates.
Bank statements or utility bills

**If our team has requested this information, you can

Question 5

Form 1099 Explained for Non-Resident Owners of U.S. LLCs

Accepted Answer

If you own a U.S. LLC as a non-resident, it’s important to understand how Form 1099 works and when your business is required to file it. A common misconception is that 1099 forms are related to who receives income. In reality, 1099 obligations depend on who makes the payment, not who owns the company.

Who Files Form 1099?

Form 1099 is filed by the payer, not the recipient. This means:

Your U.S. LLC files Form 1099
Contractors or vendors receive Form 1099
Owners of the LLC do not file 1099s for income they receive

When Your U.S. LLC Must File Form 1099

Your LLC is required to file Form 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC if all of the following apply:

Your LLC paid $600 or more during the calendar year
The payment was made to a U.S. person
The vendor provided Form W-9
The payment was for services (not goods)

Common Examples

Paying a U.S. freelancer or consultant
Paying a U.S.-based marketing agency
Paying a U.S. virtual assistant as an independent contractor

Payments That Do NOT Require a 1099

Foreign Contractors (Outside the U.S.)

If your LLC pays foreign contractors who work outside the U.S., then:

No Form 1099 is required
You should collect:
- Form W-8BEN (individuals)
- Form W-8BEN-E (foreign companies)

Form 1042-S (For Certain Foreign Payments)

Some payments to foreign persons may require Form 1042-S, especially if:

The income is U.S.-sourced
Withholding app

Question 6

Bank legal and physical address requirements

Accepted Answer

Bank legal and physical address requirements Mercury legal address You can use your company’s registered agent address as the legal address. For example:

Wyoming: 30 N Gould St Ste R, Sheridan, WY 82801
Delaware: 8 The Green Ste A, Dover, DE 19901

In standard practice, individuals do not disclose their personal physical address during state and federal applications in order to protect their privacy. For consistency and privacy protection, it is generally advisable to avoid using your home address. Instead, using a virtual address or a registered agent’s address is entirely acceptable. However, for banking purposes, providing a physical address (US Physical Address ) may enhance trust and credibility. Ultimately, the choice of address depends on your specific situation and needs.

Bank physical address

The physical address does not need to match the company’s legal address.
You must provide valid proof of address for the physical address you use.
The physical address can be a foreign (non‑US) address. Acceptable supporting documents include:
Bank statements
Utility bills
Insurance policies
Lease Agreement | These documents must show either the beneficial owner’s name or the company name at the physical address. ||| The information on the document must match the company user profile or the company’s actual physical location.

If you have purchased our mailroom services, we can provide proof‑of‑address documents for that location, su

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