Hanoi / HCMC SaaS founder
U.S. LLC billing Stripe for SaaS subscriptions; you fund opex from Vietnam and take distributions periodically.
What you do: Form 5472 required. Self-service filing via /filer.
Xin chà o — Vietnamese founders
Hướng dẫn Form 5472 cho LLC của bạn ở Hoa Kỳ
Form 5472 compliance for Vietnamese founders of U.S. LLCs
Vietnamese SaaS, app, and ecommerce founders are a fast-growing cohort on Stripe Atlas and doola. Here's the practical Form 5472 + pro forma 1120 guide — including the U.S.-Vietnam treaty essentials, banking strategy, and OBBBA considerations.
You file. We never touch your IRS submission. Read in your language →
Why founders in Vietnam form U.S. LLCs
- Stripe and U.S. payment-processor access — the #1 driver for Vietnamese SaaS / app founders.
- Cleaner B2B contracting with U.S. customers.
- Easier App Store / Google Play payouts via a U.S. entity in some categories.
- USD hedge against VND volatility.
U.S.-Vietnam tax treaty essentials
The U.S.-Vietnam Income Tax Treaty (2015, effective 2016) reduces certain withholding rates and provides residency rules. It does NOT eliminate Form 5472 — the treaty governs withholding on payments, not the LLC's information return.
| Payment type | Withholding | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Dividends to Vietnamese resident | 5-15% | Article 10 — 5% if recipient owns ≥25%, 10% otherwise. |
| Interest to Vietnamese-resident lender | 10% | Article 11 — reduced from 30% statutory. |
| Royalties | 5-10% | Article 12 — 5% for patent/know-how, 10% for trademark/copyright. |
| Permanent establishment threshold | — | Article 5 — important for ECI determinations. |
Read the full treaty on IRS.gov: Vietnam 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: MST (Mã số thuế / Tax Code)
10-13 digits issued by Vietnam General Department of Taxation.
For Form 5472 line 1c, your individual MST is the FTIN. If you don't have one, apply at the local tax office or via the eTax portal before filing.
Banking realities for Vietnam founders
Vietnamese founders typically get Mercury or Wise approval. Mercury is more selective in 2025-26 but still feasible with a clear ICP and revenue evidence.
- MercurySelective
Approves many Vietnamese SaaS / app founders. Bring a clean ICP description and revenue evidence. Mercury wants a U.S. address — registered-agent addresses no longer accepted.
- Wise BusinessGenerally approves
Most reliable fallback for Vietnamese founders. EMI, not a bank — no FDIC, don't park large balances.
- RelaySelective
Selective; depends on traction. The $3M FDIC sweep is attractive if you'll hold meaningful 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
Vietnamese app / mobile game studio
App Store / Google Play revenue routed through U.S. LLC for cleaner U.S. payouts.
What you do: Form 5472 required. Treaty caps royalty withholding at 5-10% — file W-8BEN with each platform.
Vietnam → U.S. ecommerce
Selling to U.S. customers via Amazon FBA or Shopify, sourcing from Vietnamese manufacturers.
What you do: Form 5472 + state sales tax nexus. Use /tools/sales-tax-nexus.
Common pitfalls
- MST vs personal ID — the IRS wants MST as FTIN, not your CCCD (citizen ID). Apply for MST if you don't have one.
- Outbound remittance scrutiny — moving funds from Vietnam to fund your U.S. LLC may trigger SBV reporting requirements; consult a Vietnamese CA.
- Treaty W-8BEN — Stripe, Apple, Google all need W-8BEN to apply treaty withholding rates; without it, statutory 30% applies.
- 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
- Vietnamese taxes (PIT, CIT, VAT) and SBV remittance compliance.
- Personalized advice on your specific structure.
- Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures — see /services/streamlined-filing.
Ready to file from Vietnam?
The Form 5472 wizard takes about 15 minutes. You sign and submit yourself.