What "anonymous LLC" actually means
Anonymous LLC means your name does not appear on the public state filings (Articles of Organization, annual reports). However, "anonymous" does not mean untraceable:
- IRS knows you (EIN application requires your name)
- Your bank knows you (KYC requirements)
- Court orders can pierce the veil during litigation
- FinCEN's CTA (when re-instated) required UBO disclosure
- Tax filings (Form 5472) name you as 25%+ owner
Anonymous LLC privacy is for casual public lookups, not for hiding from regulators or courts. Set expectations accordingly.
Wyoming privacy: what shows publicly
- Articles of Organization: LLC name, registered agent, principal office address. No member or manager names.
- Annual report: LLC name, registered agent, assets in Wyoming. No member or manager names.
- UCC filings: If you take loans, UCC filings may name members. Personal choice.
- Litigation: Court orders can require member disclosure during discovery.
Nevada privacy: what shows publicly
- Articles of Organization: LLC name, registered agent, organizer (can be the formation agent). No member names.
- Initial list of managers: Required within 30 days. Manager names appear publicly.
- Annual report: Updates manager list. So manager names update annually.
- If you list yourself as manager (common for single-member), your name appears.
New Mexico privacy: what shows publicly
- Articles of Organization: LLC name, registered agent, organizer. No member or manager names.
- No annual report required: Saves time and adds privacy.
- Annual fee: $0 (yes, zero, unique among US states).
- Member names are not collected by the state at any point.
Side-by-side: cost and protection
| State | Member name public? | Manager name public? | Year 1 cost | Year 2+ annual cost | Charging order protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | No | No | ~$397 | ~$160 | Strongest (Section 17-29-503) |
| Nevada | No | Yes (annual) | ~$650 | ~$350 | Strong |
| New Mexico | No | No | ~$200 | $0 (no annual report) | Moderate |
The verdict for non-resident founders
Wyoming wins for most non-resident founders because it combines full privacy (no names anywhere) with the strongest US charging-order protection at moderate annual cost (~$160/year). New Mexico is cheaper but weaker on litigation protection. Nevada costs more and exposes manager names. WyomingLLC only forms Wyoming LLCs because the combination wins consistently.