Why Dutch freelancers pick a Wyoming LLC
As a Dutch freelancer invoicing international clients — via Upwork, Toptal, or direct clients in the US, UK and Asia — you run into frustrating limits: Stripe rejects Dutch sole proprietorships without VAT headaches, PayPal blocks USD payouts, and your ABN AMRO account charges 2–3% FX per transaction. A Wyoming LLC solves these problems.
The benefits at a glance
- 0% federal tax on non-US income (as long as no ETBUS)
- Mercury Bank: free USD account, virtual cards, 100% remote setup
- Stripe & PayPal Business: direct payouts without Dutch VAT issues
- Anonymity: your name is not in public Wyoming registers
- $329/year total compliance cost (agent + report)
- 4 business days total turnaround with EIN
Tax situation for Dutch freelancers
In the US
As a non-resident without US-source income and without ETBUS status: 0% federal US tax. Annual Form 5472 (required for foreign-owned LLCs) and pro-forma Form 1120 still apply. Wyoming charges no state income tax.
In the Netherlands
The Dutch tax authority treats your single-member LLC as fiscally transparent: profit is your personal income (Box 1, profit from enterprise). You benefit from:
- Self-employed deduction (€2,470 in 2026, subject to the 1,225-hour criterion)
- SME profit exemption (13.31%)
- Starter's deduction if applicable
Important: always consult a Dutch tax advisor for CFC analysis and correct filing.
Step-by-step: forming your LLC
- Pick your package — Basic ($529) or Full ($849 incl. EIN + Mercury intro).
- Name & registered agent — we handle the name check and Wyoming agent.
- Articles of Organization — filed with the Wyoming Secretary of State (24 hours).
- EIN application — via IRS SS-4 as a non-resident (24–72 hours with our fast-track).
- Operating Agreement — tailored template covering essential clauses.
- Mercury Bank account — 100% remote, typically approved in 12–24 hours.
- Stripe / PayPal Business — connect EIN and Mercury.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting Form 5472 — $25,000/year penalty. We handle it for you.
- Underestimating ETBUS status — no US employees or office, otherwise you become taxable.
- Mixing personal expenses — keep the LLC bank account strictly separate.
- Skipping the Dutch return — you still owe a Box 1 filing.
Cost comparison: sole proprietorship vs Wyoming LLC
| Item | NL Sole Prop. | Wyoming LLC |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | €75 (KvK) | $529 one-off |
| Annual compliance | €800 (accountant) | $329 |
| Stripe access | Limited (VAT issues) | Full |
| USD account | 2–3% FX | Free (Mercury) |
| Liability | Personal | Limited |
| Anonymity | No (KvK public) | Yes |
Who is it for?
- Software developers and designers with international clients
- Consultants invoicing in USD
- Content creators (YouTube, Substack, Twitch)
- E-commerce sellers (Amazon US, Shopify)
- Crypto traders and DeFi founders
Ready to start?
Our specialists have helped hundreds of Dutch freelancers with their Wyoming LLC setup. Fully remote, in your language, with a 4-business-day turnaround.
About the author
Wyoming Experts
Wyoming Experts writes for Wyoming Experts, a Sheridan, WY-based firm specializing in Wyoming LLC formation for non-US residents. Our team has helped 2,500+ international entrepreneurs from 40+ countries open US companies, secure EINs, set up Mercury/Relay bank accounts, and stay IRS-compliant (Form 5472 & 1120). Content is reviewed by our in-house US tax & compliance specialists.
Sources & further reading
Non-US Residents Wyoming LLC Checklist
The 24-step playbook we use to form LLCs, get EINs in 24–72h and open Mercury Bank accounts for founders in 60+ countries.
- ✓ Formation, EIN, Mercury & Stripe
- ✓ Form 5472 & compliance essentials
- ✓ Zero fluff — printable one-pager