The Best States for LLC Privacy (2026 Guide)
In most states, forming an LLC means your name and home address are plastered across public government websites, where data brokers scrape them and sell them to spammers. But a few states still allow "Anonymous LLCs."
Quick Answer
The four best states for forming an Anonymous LLC are Wyoming, New Mexico, Delaware, and Nevada. Among these, Wyoming and New Mexico are the top choices for small business owners because they have the lowest fees and do not require member names on their annual reports.
Key Points for 2026
- No True Secrecy: You cannot hide from the IRS or FinCEN. Anonymous LLCs only hide your name from the public internet.
- The Registered Agent: To maintain anonymity, you MUST hire a commercial Registered Agent to list their address on the state forms instead of yours.
- The Double LLC: If you live in a public state (like CA, NY, or FL), forming an anonymous LLC out-of-state won't work by itself due to foreign qualification laws.
The Big Four Privacy States
1. Wyoming (The Overall Winner)
Wyoming is the undisputed champion of the Anonymous LLC. It costs $100 to form and $60 minimum a year to maintain. Wyoming does not ask for the names of the members or managers on the Articles of Organization, nor does it ask for them on the Annual Report. The only name on the public record is your Registered Agent.
2. New Mexico (The Budget Winner)
New Mexico is the only state that rivals Wyoming. It costs $50 to form and has no annual report requirement, meaning the ongoing maintenance cost is $0. Like Wyoming, New Mexico does not ask for member names. However, New Mexico has less robust corporate asset protection laws than Wyoming.
3. Delaware
Delaware does not require member names on the Certificate of Formation. However, it is much more expensive ($300 annual tax) and is primarily designed for VC-backed startups, not solo entrepreneurs seeking privacy.
4. Nevada
Nevada markets itself as a privacy state, but it actually requires an "Initial List of Officers" and an "Annual List." While you can use nominee services to keep your name off this list, it is incredibly expensive and complex compared to Wyoming's simple setup.
If you live in Florida and form a Wyoming LLC for privacy, you must register that Wyoming LLC as a "foreign entity" in Florida because you are working from Florida. When you register in Florida, Florida will force you to list your name on their public database anyway! To fix this, you have to use a complex "Double LLC" strategy.
3 Steps to Stay Anonymous
- Hire a Commercial Registered Agent: You cannot be your own registered agent, or your name will be on the public record. Hire a pro.
- Use a Business Address Service: Do not use your home address anywhere on the state filings. Use the registered agent's address or a virtual mailbox.
- Don't Use Your Name on the EIN Application: When applying for your EIN with the IRS, use your business name and address, not your personal ones (the IRS knows who you are via your SSN, but the EIN confirmation letter should list the business info).
What to Do Next
- If you run an online business: Form an Anonymous Wyoming or New Mexico LLC.
- If you run a local business: Consult a business lawyer about setting up a Double LLC (a Wyoming holding company that owns your local operating company).