The anonymous-LLC world uses a mix of state-statute language (charging order, disregarded entity), IRS terminology (EIN, ITIN, Form 5472, responsible party), FinCEN/BSA terminology (BOI, FinCEN ID, CIP, beneficial owner), and banking terminology (KYC, CDD, reverification). This Anonymousllc.co reference defines the working terms grouped by category so you can match the right vocabulary to the right rule.
Articles of Organization - the document filed with the state Secretary of State that creates the LLC. Called 'Certificate of Formation' in Delaware. Requires LLC name and registered agent; does NOT require members or managers in WY/NM/DE/NV. Operating Agreement - the LLC's internal governance contract among members. Defines membership interests, distributions, voting, dissolution. Not filed with the state. Required (or strongly recommended) in every state. Anonymousllc.co drafts a custom operating agreement as part of every formation. Registered Agent (RA) - the person or entity designated to receive legal service of process for the LLC. Must have a physical street address in the formation state. Name and address appear on public records. Anonymousllc.co's RA service is bundled year 1 and $100/year afterward. Member vs Manager - Member = owner. Manager = operator. A member-managed LLC has members running operations directly. A manager-managed LLC has appointed managers (who may or may not be members). Anonymity in NV requires manager-managed structure. Foreign Qualification - registering your LLC to do business in a state OTHER than the state of formation. A Wyoming LLC operating in California must foreign-qualify in California. Wyoming is the formation state; California is a foreign state from Wyoming's perspective.
Charging Order - the exclusive remedy of a creditor of a member of an LLC. The creditor receives only the right to distributions (if any) that would have gone to the member-debtor. The creditor does not become a member and cannot vote. Wyoming codifies this as exclusive even for single-member LLCs under Wyo. Stat. § 17-29-503. Charging-Order Exclusivity - statutory rule that the charging order is the ONLY remedy. Some states allow foreclosure on the LLC interest if the charging order is ineffective; Wyoming and Nevada do not. Piercing the Corporate Veil - the doctrine under which a court can disregard the LLC's limited-liability shield and hold members personally liable. Triggered by commingling, undercapitalization, fraud, or treating the LLC as a personal alter ego. DAPT - Domestic Asset Protection Trust. A self-settled spendthrift trust permitted in certain states. Related to but distinct from anonymous LLCs. See /resources/dapt-states/. Series LLC - a single parent LLC with multiple internal 'series,' each with its own assets and liabilities, formed under specific state statutes (DE, TX, NV, etc.). See /resources/series-llc-states/.
EIN - Employer Identification Number. The IRS-issued tax ID for the LLC. Required for federal tax filings, bank accounts, and payment processing. Online for US residents, fax SS-4 for non-residents. ITIN - Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. The IRS-issued tax ID for an INDIVIDUAL who is not eligible for an SSN. Distinct from an EIN. ITIN is used for personal US tax filings, PayPal verification, or US joint accounts. Anonymousllc.co's ITIN service is $299. Responsible Party - the individual identified on Form SS-4 as having control over the LLC's funds and assets. Must be a real human with an SSN, ITIN, or foreign tax ID. Cannot be a nominee. Disregarded Entity - a single-member LLC that the IRS treats as a sole proprietorship for tax purposes (US resident) or as a foreign-owned disregarded entity (non-resident). Income flows to the member's personal return; the LLC files no separate tax return except Form 5472 in the non-resident case. Form 5472 - informational return required for foreign-owned single-member US LLCs (disregarded entities). Reports transactions between the LLC and its foreign owner. $25,000 penalty for non-filing. See /resources/form-5472-walkthrough/. Form 1065 - partnership return filed by multi-member LLCs. Generates K-1s for each member. Franchise Tax - annual tax levied by some states on the LLC itself (not on income). Delaware charges $300/year flat. Wyoming charges a $60 minimum license tax. NM and (modulo Nevada's business license) charges nothing income-independent.
BOI - Beneficial Ownership Information. The disclosure required under the Corporate Transparency Act to FinCEN. Domestic reporting companies are exempt under the March 2025 IFR; foreign reporting companies remain obligated. Beneficial Owner - an individual who (a) owns 25% or more of the reporting company, or (b) exercises substantial control over it. Reportable on the BOIR. Reporting Company - an entity required to file BOI under the CTA. After the March 2025 IFR: domestic reporting companies exempt, foreign reporting companies required. FinCEN - Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The Treasury bureau that administers BOI, BSA, and AML rules. FinCEN ID - a personal identifier issued by FinCEN to a beneficial owner. Lets the owner skip re-uploading identifier documents on multiple BOIRs. CTA - Corporate Transparency Act. The 2020 federal statute that created BOI reporting. Codified at 31 USC § 5336. March 2025 IFR - Interim Final Rule issued by FinCEN on March 21, 2025, exempting domestic reporting companies from BOI. The current rule in effect as of 2026.
BSA - Bank Secrecy Act. The 1970 federal statute requiring banks to collect customer identification and report suspicious activity. Codified at 31 USC § 5311 et seq. KYC - Know Your Customer. Bank policies implementing BSA/CIP rules. Requires identification of customers at account opening. CIP - Customer Identification Program. Specifically required under 31 CFR 1020.220. Banks must collect name, DOB, address, and SSN/ITIN/passport for every business account. CDD - Customer Due Diligence. The broader compliance regime under 31 CFR 1010.230 that includes beneficial-owner identification at the bank level (separate from FinCEN BOI). Beneficial Owner (bank-side) - an individual who owns 25%+ of the LLC OR who exercises significant control. Required for the bank's records, regardless of state-records anonymity. Reverification - periodic recheck of CIP/CDD information at the bank, every 1-3 years. The bank may request updated documentation.
Annual Report - a periodic filing that keeps the LLC in good standing. Wyoming charges a $60 minimum license tax due the first day of the anniversary month; New Mexico requires no annual report and no annual fee; Delaware charges a $300 franchise tax due June 1; Nevada requires an Annual List plus a state business license. Certificate of Good Standing - a state-issued document confirming the LLC is current on filings and fees; banks and lenders request it. Administrative Dissolution - the state's involuntary termination of an LLC that misses reports or fees. Reinstatement - restoring an administratively dissolved LLC to active status by curing the missed filings and paying penalties. BOIR - Beneficial Ownership Information Report, the filing submitted at boiefiling.fincen.gov by companies still in scope.
Wyo. Stat. § 17-29 - Wyoming LLC Act. § 17-29-201 = formation. § 17-29-209 = annual report. § 17-29-503 = charging-order exclusivity. 6 Del. C. Ch. 18 - Delaware LLC Act. § 18-201 = Certificate of Formation. § 18-1107 = $300 annual franchise tax. NRS Ch. 86 - Nevada LLC Act. § 86.161 = Articles. § 86.263 = Annual List. § 86.401 = charging order. NRS § 76.100 = business license. NMSA § 53-19 - New Mexico LLC Act. § 53-19-8 = Articles. No annual-report statute (NM has no annual report). 31 CFR 1010.380 - FinCEN BOI rule. 31 CFR 1020.220 - CIP rule for banks. 31 USC § 5336 - Corporate Transparency Act (BOI authority statute).
Government, regulator, and primary-source documents underpinning this page.
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