US Company & Tax Services
Formation is only the beginning. Depending on its structure and activity, a company may need federal, state and owner-related tax and administrative steps. We work out which apply to you and keep them running in order.
01Identification numbers
Both are issued by the IRS, but an EIN identifies a business while an ITIN identifies an individual in specific circumstances. Needing one doesn't mean you need the other.
Business / entity identification
The federal tax identification number the IRS issues to businesses and other organisations. The IRS does not charge for it.
Used for
What it isn't
Individual tax processing number
A 9-digit number the IRS issues to individuals who need a US taxpayer identification number but aren't eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN).
When it becomes relevant
What it isn't
02Federal & state
The federal side is owed to the IRS; the state side follows the rules of the states where the company is formed and operates. Forming in one state doesn't mean every obligation stays within that state.
This is a map, not a universal list; which obligations apply depends on the company's structure, state and activity.
Our Accounting & Tax serviceFederal tax administration
State authorities
Foreign-owned companies
In certain foreign-owned US companies, transactions with the owner and related parties are reported to the IRS. A single-member LLC owned by a foreign person, for example, is treated as a corporation for this purpose and files a pro forma Form 1120 with Form 5472 attached. Formation and capital transactions can count as reportable transactions, and late filing can lead to significant penalties.
What determines the assessment
Records
Returns and information reports rely on orderly records; assuming “there was no tax” doesn't remove the need to keep them.
What to keep
Sales tax
Sales tax is a state-level tax on sales; federal income tax and state income or franchise obligations are separate layers. In many states the marketplace collects sales tax on the sales it facilitates, but the seller's registration, filing and off-marketplace obligations can remain.
Separate layers
A marketplace collecting sales tax doesn't mean every tax obligation is resolved.
Amazon & e-commerce data
Amazon and other marketplace data show sales, refunds, fees and payouts. Classifying that data correctly and reconciling it with bank movements is the foundation for US returns and reports.
Data that gets converted
A marketplace report
A finished accounting record or tax return
Marketplace accounting is covered in detail on our Accounting & Tax page.
Who it's for
Not every service applies to every company — an ITIN, for example, is only relevant in specific individual circumstances.
Scope of service
The scope of service is agreed to your needs; not every module applies to every company.
Define the Scope TogetherIdentification & setup
Ongoing obligations
Transparency
We carry out the preparation and follow-up we agree on. Decisions by the IRS, state authorities, banks and marketplaces remain subject to their own rules and review.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's the federal tax identification number the IRS issues to businesses and other organisations. It's used for banking, payments, payroll and federal filings. It isn't a company registration and doesn't, on its own, mean tax registration is complete.
An ITIN is a 9-digit tax processing number the IRS issues to people who need a US taxpayer identification number but aren't eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN). It doesn't authorise work or change immigration status.
It depends. An EIN belongs to the business; an ITIN belongs to an individual. A company needing an EIN doesn't mean its owner needs an ITIN — an ITIN becomes relevant when the individual has their own federal tax or reporting requirement.
No. Whether an ITIN is needed depends on the individual's US tax and reporting situation. Applications are made on Form W-7, generally together with a federal tax return.
No. An LLC is a legal structure; its federal tax classification depends on ownership and elections. The tax outcome is assessed separately, based on the nature of the activity and the income's connection to the US.
Depending on the company's classification: federal returns, information returns such as Form 5472 for certain foreign-owned companies, and state annual reports and fees. The list varies by company.
Federal obligations are owed to the IRS: tax returns and information returns. State obligations — annual reports, franchise-type taxes, fees and sales tax — follow state rules and depend on where the company operates.
Yes. Even if you expect no tax, returns and reports rely on records of revenue, expenses, bank transactions, owner contributions and distributions.
Not entirely. In many states the marketplace collects sales tax on the sales it facilitates, but income tax returns, information returns and some state registrations and filings can remain the seller's responsibility.
No activity doesn't remove every obligation. For example, in a foreign-owned single-member LLC, formation and capital transactions can count as reportable transactions, and state annual reports may still apply.
Usually, yes. Annual reports, fees and the registered agent can continue for as long as the company remains active; details vary by state.
Yes, depending on the agreed scope. We support tracking federal and state obligations, record-keeping and coordinating filing preparation.
US Company & Tax
Share your company structure, ownership and sales channels, and we'll work out which obligations apply together.
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