Filipino SaaS / fintech founder
U.S. LLC billing Stripe; funds opex from Philippines.
What you do: Form 5472 required. guided wizard at /filer.
Kumusta β Filipino founders
Form 5472 compliance for your U.S. LLC
Form 5472 compliance for Filipino founders of U.S. LLCs
Filipino freelancers, BPO operators, and SaaS founders increasingly choose U.S. LLCs for payment access. Here's the practical Form 5472 + pro forma 1120 walkthrough β including the U.S.-Philippines treaty essentials and OBBBA considerations.
You file. We never touch your IRS submission. Read in your language β
Why founders in Philippines form U.S. LLCs
- Stripe access β the dominant driver for Filipino SaaS / digital service founders.
- Cleaner U.S. enterprise contracting and B2B billing.
- USD bank account as a peso hedge.
- App Store / Google Play developer payouts to a U.S. entity.
U.S.-Philippines tax treaty essentials
The U.S.-Philippines Income Tax Convention (1976, with later protocols) reduces certain withholding rates. It does NOT eliminate Form 5472.
| Payment type | Withholding | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dividends to Filipino resident | 20-25% | Article 11 β 20% if recipient owns β₯10%, 25% otherwise. |
| Interest to Filipino-resident lender | 10-15% | Article 12 β 10% for certain bank loans, 15% otherwise. |
| Royalties | 15-25% | Article 13 β 15% on most royalties, 25% on certain film/television. W-8BEN required. |
| Permanent establishment threshold | β | Article 5 β important for ECI determinations. |
Read the full treaty on IRS.gov: Philippines tax treaty documents.
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 BIR
9-12 digit number issued by the Philippines Bureau of Internal Revenue.
For Form 5472 line 1c, BIR TIN is the FTIN. Most Filipino founders already have one.
Banking realities for Philippines founders
Filipino founders generally get Mercury or Wise approval. Mercury is selective in 2025-26 but feasible with revenue evidence; Wise is the reliable fallback.
- MercurySelective
Approves Filipino SaaS / digital founders with clear ICP and revenue. Requires U.S. address (no registered-agent addresses).
- Wise BusinessGenerally approves
Most reliable for Filipino founders. EMI, not a bank.
- RelaySelective
Approves with traction; $3M FDIC sweep is attractive for higher balances.
- BrexGenerally declines
Generally requires 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
Filipino freelance agency consolidating clients
Billing U.S. enterprise clients through a U.S. LLC for cleaner contracting.
What you do: Form 5472 required. Watch ECI threshold.
Filipino YouTube / content creator
AdSense + sponsorship routed through U.S. LLC.
What you do: Form 5472 + W-8BEN to apply treaty rates.
Common pitfalls
- BIR vs LGU registrations β these are Philippines obligations, not relevant to Form 5472. Don't confuse them.
- BSP (Bangko Sentral) reporting on outbound remittances may apply when funding your LLC.
- Treaty W-8BEN required to claim reduced withholding from U.S. payors.
- 2026 U.S. remittance excise tax: the 1% rule is limited to cash-funded consumer transfers, not ordinary LLC bank-account wires. See the linked remittance excise tax guide for the statutory scope.
2026 U.S. remittance excise tax:The enacted 1% tax is limited to certain cash-, money-order-, and cashier's-check-funded consumer transfers. It does not apply merely because an LLC sends an ordinary bank-account-funded wire abroad. Read the scope and exceptions before choosing a transfer method.
What this page is NOT
- Philippine taxes (income tax, VAT, percentage tax) and BSP/AMLC compliance.
- Personalized analysis of your specific situation.
Ready to file from Philippines?
The Form 5472 wizard takes about 15 minutes. You sign and submit yourself.