Can someone walk me through forming an anonymous LLC?

New Mexico is probably the easiest state for this. You file articles of organization with the Secretary of State and list a registered agent instead of your own address. The agent's nam and address go on the public filing, so pick one that will actually answer mail and forward it to you.

How do you pay the filing fee if your name can't be on anything? That's the part that trips me up. I've heard you can use a card that doesn't have your name on it, but that sounds sketchy.

Registered agent services usually offer to file the formation paperwork for you for an extra fee. When they do that, their info info is the contact on the filing and they handle the payment to the state. You You're paying the service, not the state directly. That's one way around the card issue.

Right. Or you can pay the state with a money order in the LLC's name. New Mexico's portal is a little clunky but it does accept some non-personal payment methods. The key is not putting your personal name or home address in the applicant fields.

Don't forget the operating agreement. New Mexico doesn't require you to file one, but you should have one internally. It can list the members, and you keep it private. If you're the only member, it's simple. Some banks want to see it when you open an account.

Banks are the real problem. I tried to open a business account for an anonymous LLC and the banker kept asking for personal ID and proof of address. It's not illegal, but they make it hard.

Any bank doing KYC is going to want ID for the signer. The LLC can shield you from public records, but it can't shield you from the bank's compliance department. That's a separate issue from anonymity.

Yes, the agent will have your real info on file for compliance. The anonymity is only about what's visible in public records. Make sure you understand that distinction before you pay anyone.

New Mexico also requires an annual report. It's cheap but don't miss it, or the LLC gets dissolved. The report asks for a principal ofice address, which can be the agent's address or a PO box.

And get an EIN from the IRS. You can apply online and use the LLC's name. That way you don't have to give your SSN to clients or vendors. Just be aware the IRS still knows who's behind it.

Does the EIN application ask for the responsible party's name? I thought I remembered that.

It does. The responsible paarty is usually the owner or a principal officer. That's not public, but the IRS has it. Again, not public records, but not invisible either.

If you're in a state that requires member disclosure on the formation documents, you can sometimes use a nominee or a trust, but that gets complicated and expensive. New Mexico doesn't require member disclosure, so it's simpler to just form there and register as a foreign LLC in your home state if you operate elsewhere. But then you might have to disclose more in your home state.