Anonymous LLC
An anonymous LLC keeps your name off the public state record. Compare Wyoming, New Mexico, Delaware, and Nevada — what is public vs private — and form with a commercial registered agent so the filing stays clean.
What is an anonymous LLC?
An anonymous LLC is a normal limited liability company whose owners are not published on the Secretary of State's public formation record. Searchers still see the LLC name, formation date, status, and registered agent — just not the members. Privacy comes from where you form and how you file, not from a separate entity type.
Benefits when you maintain formalities:
- Keep your home address off the public formation record
- Reduce casual doxxing risk for high-profile or controversial projects
- Separate personal identity from landlord or investment holdings
- Retain full LLC liability protection when books and agreements are real
Anonymous LLC states — what's public vs private
States with anonymous LLC (or strong privacy) formation. Fees and forms change — verify on the official SOS portal before you file.
| State | Members on formation | Managers on formation | Annual public roster | Form / annual | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming (WY) | Private | Private | Authorized person / agent only (nominee OK) | $100 / $60 min. report | Default pick — strong charging-order caselaw + bank recognition. |
| New Mexico (NM) | Private | Private | No annual report | $50 / $0 | Cheapest anonymous LLC to maintain; thinner asset-protection caselaw. |
| Delaware (DE) | Private | Private on Certificate | Franchise tax filer — not a member roster | $110 / $300 franchise tax | Best when raising capital or multi-state ops; investors know DE. |
| Nevada (NV) | Private | Managers may appear | List of managers / officers on annual list | $425 / High (list + business license) | Some privacy on formation, but annual filings often expose managers. |
Not legal advice. Privacy rules and fee schedules change — confirm on each state's Secretary of State (or equivalent) website.
Which states show LLC member names?
If you form where you live, assume member or manager names are public unless you have checked the forms. Common high-volume states that typically expose owners or managers:
| State | What usually appears publicly |
|---|---|
| California (CA) | Managers or members typically appear on public filings / statements |
| Florida (FL) | Managers or managing members listed on Sunbiz annual report |
| New York (NY) | Articles and biennial statements can expose organizers / managers |
| Texas (TX) | Governing persons often appear on public SOS / franchise records |
| Georgia (GA) | Organizer and often managers appear on public formation / annual filings |
Wyoming anonymous LLC
A Wyoming anonymous LLC is the most searched privacy setup for a reason. Articles of Organization list the registered agent and organizer — not members. Typical costs: about $100 to form and $60 for the annual report. The annual report asks for a person authorized to provide information; that can be a nominee or manager rather than a full member roster.
- Why founders pick it: privacy + strongest charging-order reputation among the three core privacy states + solid bank recognition.
- vs New Mexico: NM is cheaper ($50, no annual report) but has thinner caselaw and slightly less name recognition with some banks.
- vs Delaware: DE Certificate of Formation also omits members, but the $300/year franchise tax only pays off for fundraising or multi-state sophistication. Compare Wyoming vs Delaware and Wyoming vs New Mexico.
Official filings run through the Wyoming Secretary of State business portal.
How to form an anonymous LLC
- 1
Pick an anonymous LLC state.
Wyoming, New Mexico, and Delaware are the serious options. Nevada offers partial privacy but higher annual cost and manager exposure on annual lists.
- 2
Use a commercial registered agent.
The agent's address — not your home — appears on the public filing. Listing yourself defeats the entire point.
- 3
File Articles of Organization with no members listed.
Only the organizer (ClearFormation can sign as organizer) and the registered agent appear on the public document.
- 4
Keep ownership in your operating agreement.
Membership interests live in a private document that is not filed with the state.
- 5
Skip the FinCEN BOI report (US-formed entities).
Domestic US LLCs are exempt from BOI reporting after FinCEN's March 21, 2025 interim final rule. Only foreign-formed entities registered to do business in the US still file.
What "anonymous" actually means
Public-record privacy is real and useful. It does not extend to:
- Banks. The Bank Secrecy Act requires US banks to collect beneficial-ownership information. You identify yourself when you open the account — that is between you and the bank, not the public SOS search.
- The IRS. Your EIN application names a responsible party. Your tax return identifies owners.
- FinCEN. US-formed entities are exempt from BOI after the March 2025 interim final rule. Only foreign reporting companies still file. See our BOI report guide.
- Court orders and subpoenas. A judge can compel the registered agent or the LLC to identify members.
Operational privacy hygiene
Forming in a privacy state is step one. The rest matters as much:
- Commercial registered agent — agent address appears publicly, not yours. ClearFormation includes RA in every base plan.
- Virtual business address — for EIN, banking, and customer-facing ops. Do not reuse the RA address for everything; some banks reject it.
- Domain WHOIS privacy — use the company name, not your personal name.
- Separate email and phone for the LLC.
- No personal social posts naming the LLC — the easiest way owners doxx themselves.
Common mistakes
- Listing yourself as the registered agent
Your name and address become public the moment you do. Always use a commercial agent.
- Forming in a non-privacy state
California, Florida, New York, and most others publish member or manager names. Forming there and trying to obscure ownership is a losing battle.
- Following outdated BOI advice
Older guides warn about FinCEN BOI penalties. Domestic US LLCs are exempt as of the March 2025 interim final rule.
- Putting the same person on Articles, EIN, and bank as organizer
Privacy erodes when one name shows everywhere. Use ClearFormation as organizer; keep membership on internal documents.
- Ignoring foreign-qualification disclosure
A private Wyoming formation plus a public Florida foreign registration can still put managers on Sunbiz.