Stripe with a US LLC: Requirements for International Founders

Short answer: yes. An LLC registered in the United States can apply for a US Stripe account even if you live and work from Latin America or Spain. What Stripe needs is to be able to verify three things: who the company is, who controls it, and what it sells. To achieve this, everything has to tell the same story: the entity's legal name, the EIN, the representative's identity, the address, the website, and the bank account.

In our day-to-day work, we see that almost no account blocks happen because someone is "not American." Most stem from small inconsistencies: a name written differently at the bank, an address that does not match the actual operation, or a website without policies. That is why this guide focuses on properly preparing your documentation before opening the account.

What you need before you start

1. An active LLC in the United States

Stripe US is designed for US entities, so your LLC is the starting point. If you formed it in Wyoming, have the following on hand:

• Articles of Organization with the exact legal name and the Filing ID assigned by the state.
• Operating Agreement, which shows who the members are and how ownership is divided.
• A current registered agent. If the service has expired, the company may no longer be in good standing with the state.
• Proof of good standing, if Stripe or the bank requests it.

A practical example: if your company is called "Andes Studio LLC," do not enter "Andes Studio" in Stripe and "Andes Studio, LLC" at the bank. The name must match exactly in Stripe, on the EIN letter, and on the bank account.

2. A verifiable EIN

Stripe checks the legal name and EIN against IRS records. When the EIN is very recent, that automatic check sometimes fails. That is why it is a good idea to have the CP 575 letter (the one the IRS issues when assigning the number) or the 147C letter (a later confirmation). Keep in mind that the EIN identifies the company, but it does not replace the representative's personal verification.

3. An actual representative

Stripe needs a person who acts on behalf of the company. Prepare their full name, date of birth, home address, phone number and email address, passport or identification document, ownership percentage, title or role, and tax identification number.

There is an important nuance here. According to Stripe's guide on tax identification numbers for representatives and owners, if the representative is American, Stripe expects an SSN or an ITIN. If the representative is not American and does not have those numbers, the guide states that they may provide their country's tax identification number (for example, RFC in Mexico, NIT or cédula in Colombia, CUIT or CUIL in Argentina, or NIF in Spain), along with any requested documentation. In other words, not every foreign founder needs an ITIN to open Stripe with their LLC; it will depend on what Stripe requests in your specific case.

4. A real operating address

Stripe asks for the physical location where most of the business activity takes place and does not accept post office boxes (PO Box). Your registered agent's office is used to receive official notices, but it is not automatically your office, warehouse, or workplace.

If you design from Medellín, provide consulting from Madrid, or sell courses from Ciudad de México, report that location truthfully and keep supporting documents, such as a utility bill or lease agreement. Do not make up a physical presence in the United States or use a virtual address as if you worked there.

5. A compatible bank account

For an LLC or corporation, the account must be under the company's legal name or its registered trade name (DBA). For a single-member LLC, Stripe states that, depending on the case, it may also accept an account under the representative's name. To verify ownership, Stripe may request a bank statement, a voided check, or a bank letter showing the account holder and the account's last four digits, as explained in its guide to verifying bank account ownership.

Be careful with a common mistake: an account that receives dollars is not always a compatible US account. Before connecting it, confirm the account's country, routing number, account holder, and whether Stripe supports it for transfers.

6. A website ready to sell

According to Stripe's guide on websites for account activation, your website must clearly display:

• The business name and what you sell, with descriptions and prices.
• Real contact details.
• Refund and dispute policies.
• A return policy if you sell physical products.
• Cancellation terms if you offer subscriptions.
• Terms for promotions or restrictions, if any.

The website must load without a password. Stripe may also ask you to prove that you control the domain.

Step-by-step process for applying for Stripe with your LLC

1. Complete your corporate documentation. Gather the formation documents, Operating Agreement, and EIN letter, and confirm that the LLC and registered agent are current.
2. Open the company's bank account using exactly the same legal name and keep proof of ownership.
3. Prepare the website and its policies: offer, delivery method, support, and refunds.
4. Create the Stripe account with consistent information. Choose the United States as the country only because the entity is American, report your real operating address, and include the actual owners and controllers.
5. Review the Dashboard tasks. The fact that the account has been created does not mean it is fully enabled. Stripe may display pending verifications, as explained in what you need to do to verify your account.
6. Test a legitimate low-value transaction flow. Check the descriptor the customer will see on their statement, the receipt, a refund, and the transfer to your bank. Do not make artificial charges or split transactions to avoid controls.

Common mistakes we see

• Using the registered agent's address as your office. If no business activity takes place there, the information is not truthful and may trigger a review.
• Opening the account before the EIN can be verified. If verification fails, do not change numbers or open duplicate accounts. Follow the Dashboard task and provide the IRS letter.
• Mixing personal and business names without a DBA to justify it.
• Publishing a generic website that is empty or lacks policies and contact information.
• Hiding owners or describing the activity incorrectly. Stripe requests ownership and control information precisely to know who is behind the business, as detailed in its business information requirements.
• Believing approval is permanent. Stripe conducts ongoing reviews and may request new information when your volume, activity, ownership, website, bank account, or risk level changes.

Final checklist

• Active LLC in good standing with the state.
• EIN letter (CP 575 or 147C).
• Operating Agreement and formation documents.
• Current identification document for the representative.
• Representative's tax number (SSN, ITIN, or local tax number, as applicable).
• Verifiable personal and operating addresses.
• List of owners and controllers.
• Compatible bank account under the correct name.
• Website with visible policies.
• Recognizable billing descriptor.
• Honest description of your activity, prices, delivery, and the countries where you sell.

You can review the general overview in Stripe's requirements for having a US Stripe account.

How we can help

If you still need to form your LLC or keep it in good standing, with a registered agent and annual compliance, you can view our plans. For other procedures, such as the EIN letter or document preparation, see our services. We help you with the documentation, but the decision about your account is always Stripe's.

Notice: this content is for informational purposes. Stripe determines the eligibility, verification, and terms of each account. Maera provides administrative services, does not guarantee Stripe approval, and is not a substitute for legal, tax, or financial advice.