Lagos SaaS / fintech founder
U.S. LLC billing Stripe to U.S./EU customers; funds the LLC from Nigerian operations.
What you do: Form 5472 required annually. Use /filer.
Nigerian founders of U.S. LLCs
Form 5472 compliance and U.S. tax planning
Form 5472 compliance for Nigerian founders of U.S. LLCs
Nigerian founders are a fast-growing cohort on Stripe Atlas. Here's the practical Form 5472 + pro forma 1120 guide β including the no-treaty reality, banking strategy, and OBBBA considerations.
You file. We never touch your IRS submission. Read in your language β
Why founders in Nigeria form U.S. LLCs
- Access to Stripe and other U.S. payment rails.
- Naira stability hedge via USD-denominated bank account.
- Easier upmarket B2B contracting with U.S. and European customers.
- Cleaner remote work / freelance pipeline.
U.S.-Nigeria tax treaty essentials
There is no U.S.-Nigeria income tax treaty. Statutory U.S. withholding rates apply on U.S.-source FDAP income (generally 30%). This affects how you structure distributions and royalty arrangements.
| Payment type | Withholding | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dividends to Nigerian resident | 30% | No treaty reduction. |
| Interest to Nigerian-resident lender | 30% | No treaty reduction. |
| Royalties | 30% | No treaty reduction. |
| Fees for services (non-ETBUS) | 0% | Foreign-source services performed entirely outside the U.S. are not U.S.-taxed. |
Withholding-rate planning is separate from Form 5472. Form 5472 is an information return on the LLC; withholding is on payments from U.S. payors. Both can apply.
Your FTIN: TIN (Tax Identification Number) issued by FIRS
10-13 digits; format varies by issuer.
For Form 5472 line 1c, your FIRS TIN is the FTIN. If you don't have one, you'll be asked for one in many cross-border banking and tax contexts β apply via FIRS.
Banking realities for Nigeria founders
Nigerian founders face stricter scrutiny than most cohorts. Wise is usually the realistic answer. Mercury approvals exist but are inconsistent.
- Wise BusinessGenerally approves
Most reliable for Nigerian founders. EMI, not a bank.
- MercurySelective
Inconsistent β some Nigerian founders approve, many don't. Bring strong ICP and revenue evidence.
- RelaySelective
Selective; depends on traction.
- BrexGenerally declines
Generally not available for new Nigerian founders without prior U.S. funding.
We do not have a paid partnership with any U.S. business banking provider listed here; status reflects approval patterns reported by founders we've interacted with, current as of May 2026. Verify before relying.
Common scenarios
Nigerian remote freelancer / agency
Billing U.S. enterprise clients through a U.S. LLC for cleaner contracting.
What you do: Form 5472 required. Watch ECI on any physical U.S. presence.
Nigeria β U.S. ecommerce (Shopify, Amazon)
Selling to U.S. customers from a U.S. LLC, sourcing globally.
What you do: Form 5472 + sales-tax nexus tracking.
Common pitfalls
- No treaty = 30% statutory withholding on most U.S.-source FDAP. Avoid characterizing distributions as 'royalties'.
- CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) reporting on outbound remittances β funding your LLC may require Form A/Form M depending on amounts. Consult locally.
- Naira volatility means rebooking FX gains/losses matters β keep clean LLC bookkeeping.
- OBBBA 2026 1% remittance tax may apply on LLC-to-personal transfers.
What this page is NOT
- Nigerian taxes (CIT, VAT, PAYE) and CBN compliance.
- Tax planning that requires personalized advice.
Ready to file from Nigeria?
The Form 5472 wizard takes about 15 minutes. You sign and submit yourself.