Wyoming or Nevada for your LLC?
Both states market themselves on privacy and no state income tax. The gap is cost: Wyoming is $100 to file and $60 a year, Nevada is $425 to file and $350 a year in combined list and business licence fees.
Side by side
Verified July 28, 2026
| Wyoming | Nevada | |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee | $100 one-time | $425 one-time |
| Annual cost | $60 annual report | $350 annual list and business licence |
| Three-year total (state only) | $280 | $1,475 |
| State income tax | None | None |
| Processing time | 1–3 business days | 1–3 business days |
| Privacy positioning | Strong statutory privacy | Strong statutory privacy |
| Non-resident ownership | Permitted | Permitted |
Which one fits you
Choose Wyoming if
Cost matters and you do not have a specific Nevada reason. Over three years the state-level difference is roughly $1,195, and the two states offer broadly similar privacy and identical treatment of non-resident owners. For most founders forming a first US company, Wyoming is the straightforward answer.
Choose Nevada if
You have an actual operational connection to Nevada — customers, staff, physical presence — or specific legal advice pointing you there. Nevada is not a bad state; it is an expensive one, and paying the premium makes sense when something concrete ties you to it.
Both states sell the same story at different prices
Nevada and Wyoming both market no state income tax and strong owner privacy, and both deliver. The practical difference for a founder with no US operations is the annual bill: $60 against $350. Over five years that is $300 against $1,750 in state fees alone.
Where the Nevada premium can be justified
If you have employees, property or a real operating presence in Nevada, forming there avoids having to register as a foreign entity in the state where you actually operate — which carries its own fees. The premium is hard to justify for a founder abroad with no US footprint, and easy to justify for a business physically in Las Vegas.
What this page does not cover
State fee comparisons are the easy part of this decision. If you operate from another US state, forming in a low-fee state does not exempt you from registering where you actually do business — and that foreign qualification carries its own cost. This page compares formation states, not your overall obligations.
Common questions
Is Nevada more private than Wyoming?
Both have strong statutory privacy protections and neither lists members in a way that meaningfully differs for a typical single-member LLC. Privacy is not usually the deciding factor between these two — cost is, and Wyoming is substantially cheaper.
Why do so many sites recommend Nevada?
Nevada has marketed itself aggressively to business formation for decades and the reputation persists. We would rather point at the fee schedule: $425 to file and $350 a year against Wyoming's $100 and $60. Unless something ties you to Nevada, that difference buys very little.
Ready to form your LLC?
Wyoming filing, Registered Agent and EIN guidance from $249 plus the state fee. Filed in one to three business days.
RazorFile files companies. We are not a law firm or tax advisor, and nothing on this page is legal or tax advice.