Forming a US company from abroad: EIN, banking, cross-border e-commerce and the yearly compliance calendar.
29 articles
A foreign subsidiary more than 50% owned by U.S. shareholders is a CFC: file Form 5471 every year or face penalties from $10,000. Subpart F and NCTI (formerly GILTI) can be taxed without a dividend; from 2026 QBAI is gone, the C corporation deduction is 40% and the foreign tax credit 90%.
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Services performed outside the U.S. are foreign-source: generally no withholding and no 1099. U.S.-source interest, dividends and royalties paid to foreign persons are withheld at 30%, or 10% under the U.S.-China treaty with a valid W-8BEN-E. Forms 1042 and 1042-S are due March 15.
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From 2026-07-01 the EU dropped duty-free treatment for parcels under €150; on 2026-10-15 Google launched Universal Cart in the U.S. What U.S.-based cross-border sellers should check now: sales tax nexus, 1099-K reconciliation and import entries.
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Amazon peak fees started October 15, 2026; the EU €2 handling fee is expected from November 1, 2026; 178 Section 301 exclusions expire November 9, 2026 (no extension seen as of October 20, 2026); and CBP moved the postal Entry Type 13 date to January 20, 2027.
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FinCEN's final rule (Federal Register 2026-16576, effective August 14, 2026) permanently exempts U.S. companies and U.S. persons from BOI reporting. Foreign companies registered to do business in the U.S. still report foreign beneficial owners, but no longer U.S. person company applicants, and FinCEN will delete information it reasonably believes belongs to U.S. persons.
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For Form 8802 applications postmarked on or after October 1, 2026, the IRS user fee for a Form 6166 U.S. residency certification rises to $105 for individuals (from $85) and $230 for non-individuals (from $185), and the October 2026 revision of Form 8802 is now current. Because fees are generally non-refundable and a Pay.gov upload does not process the application, combine all requests on one Form 8802, mail or fax it, and file at least about 45 days before you need the letter.
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From November 2, 2026, Amazon requires sellers in enhanced-safety categories to carry $1 million commercial liability insurance regardless of sales, and Mainland China-based sellers must buy new policies through AIA. Checklist, timeline and how premiums are deducted.
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Xingyu Automotive Lighting picked Landis, Rowan County, NC for its first U.S. plant—Phase 1 up to $50 million and up to 300–500 jobs, per the company. A tax checklist for Chinese manufacturers: entity choice, Form 5472, transfer pricing, payroll and state taxes.
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Amazon FBA tax basics for China brands: entity/EIN, sales-tax nexus, Form 1120 vs 5472, settlement bookkeeping, and 1099-K tie-out. YCL Cary/RTP + Shanghai seller compliance—Free Consultation.
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Before a US company goes dormant or closes: final returns, 5472 if FDE, EIN/state accounts, sales-tax closeout, bank/RA wind-down—state steps to be verified. YCL Cary/RTP + Shanghai dissolution assist—Free Consultation.
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Selling into the US: plan FBA/3PL inventory, fulfillment, and sales vs income tax together—physical nexus, channel splits, customs as a parallel lane. YCL Cary/RTP + Shanghai compliance—Free Consultation.
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From entity readiness and EIN to books, 5472, and payroll—Cary CPAs Chenchen Liu & Gloria with Shanghai coordination. Free Consultation.
Read articleCalendar Form 5472, federal returns, state franchise/annual reports, payroll, and sales tax—mark BOI/CTA status as to be verified. YCL builds outbound calendars—Free Consultation.
Read articleChinaUS intercompany payments need contracts, invoices, and ledgers—often tied to Form 5472 and clean books. YCL Cary/RTP + Shanghai intercompany complianceFree Consultation.
Read articleForeign-owned US companies on Stripe/PayPal: KYC, beneficial owners, US business-bank payouts, and books. YCL Cary/RTP + Shanghai banking + bookkeepingFree Consultation.
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After Amazon and other platforms collect sales tax, sellers still need to assess registration, returns, DTC and wholesale gaps, and FBA nexus. YCL Cary/RTP + Shanghai nexus reviewFree Consultation.
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For US ops, 1099 vs W-2 turns on control and relationship facts—not the invoice title. Misclassification creates employment-tax risk. YCL payroll advisory—Free Consultation.
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Running a US company does not auto-issue an SSN. ITIN is a taxpayer ID; SSN ties to work authorization—both differ from the company EIN. YCL ITIN readiness + ID path review—Free Consultation.
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Delaware, Wyoming, or North Carolina for China founders: VC norms, ops landing, foreign qualification, and annual reports. If you hire or office in Cary/RTP, formation state alone is not enough. YCL state + filing calendar—Free Consultation.
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Foreign-owned disregarded single-member LLCs often must file Form 5472 with a pro forma 1120 for related-party reporting—late penalties are severe. YCL Cary/RTP + Shanghai 5472 filing help—Free Consultation.
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Running a Shopify DTC site into the US? Separate sales tax from income tax, map economic nexus, tax apps, and Stripe/Shopify Payments KYC—plus entity filings. YCL Cary/RTP + Shanghai DTC compliance planning—Free Consultation.
Read articleWhen must cross-border sellers register for US sales tax? Physical vs economic nexus, FBA inventory, and marketplace facilitator gaps. YCL Cary/RTP + Shanghai sales-tax compliance—Free Consultation.
Read articleConnect US books to Form 1120 or 1120-S: C vs S, monthly close, related-party support, and due dates—why nonresidents rarely use S-Corp. YCL Cary/RTP + Shanghai bookkeeping and corporate returns—Free Consultation.
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Your first US W-2 hire triggers federal and state payroll tax setup—not just a salary offer. Use this compliance-planning checklist before the first payday.
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US banks apply KYC/AML rules to foreign-owned companies. Prepare formation docs, EIN, ownership chart, and a clear US contact story—compliance readiness, not a guaranteed account.
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Every US company needs a registered agent in its formation state. Non-resident founders also need a practical mailing address for banks and tax notices—without confusing RA service with a full office.
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A U.S. entity owned from China usually needs an EIN before banking, payroll, or filing. This guide covers Form SS-4 basics and the responsible-party path when no SSN/ITIN is available—compliance planning only.
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Choosing a US LLC or C-Corp shapes tax classification, investor readiness, and first-year compliance for China founders. This guide frames a compliance-planning checklist—not a one-size path—before you file formation papers.
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EO 14324 suspended the $800 de minimis for all countries effective Aug 29, 2025—ACE rejects 321/Type 86; low-value goods need ACE entry and duties. SCOTUS held Feb 20, 2026 that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs—CAPE refunds (Phase 3 ~Oct 6) still matter, but 301/232 and ordinary HTS remain. Cary/RTP ecommerce & importers: compliance planning checklist.
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Articles are general information, not tax or legal advice for your specific situation.
