Business

Forming an LLC in Tennessee — Hispanic entrepreneur guide

How to form an LLC in Tennessee: formation fee ($300), annual fee ($300 annual report (minimum)), step-by-step process.

Flag: -xfi- · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

The Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville.

Image: w_lemay · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Forming an LLC in Tennessee

Why Tennessee

No state income tax — only taxes dividends/interest (Hall Tax repealed) Home to Nashville (music + healthcare), Memphis (logistics) Hispanic community ~6% (growing) High cost ($300 + $300/year = $600 first year) Accepts ITIN

Key facts

Item	Information
Formation fee	$300
Annual fee	$300 annual report (minimum)
Deadline	Annual Report due 1st day of 4th month after anniversary ($300 minimum)
Accepts ITIN	✅ Yes

Process

Unique name ending in “LLC”
Registered Agent in Tennessee
Articles of Organization ($300)
Operating Agreement (internal)
EIN from IRS (free)
Business bank account

Platform: Tennessee Secretary of State

Professional licenses: new citizenship/status requirement (since May 7, 2026)

If your Tennessee business activity needs a professional or commercial license (trade boards under Title 62, cosmetology, health professions, insurance, alcoholic-beverage permits…), note that Public Chapter 955 (in effect since May 7, 2026) requires the license holder to be a US citizen or “qualified alien” (Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-58-102) at application AND renewal — a work permit (EAD) alone no longer qualifies. Public Chapter 955 does not amend Tennessee’s LLC-formation statutes — forming the LLC is a separate Secretary of State filing — but check every license your activity requires. Details: Tennessee worker rights and licensing · Public Chapter 955 (PDF). Tennessee is one of the states classified restrictive in our state-by-state map of professional licenses regardless of immigration status.

Last verified: 2026-07-11.

State services and resources in Tennessee

Where to register your LLC in Tennessee

The Secretary of State office (or equivalent) of Tennessee handles LLC registrations. Generally accepts filings:

Online (fastest, 1-3 days)
By mail (4-8 weeks)
In person (varies by state capital)

Post-formation requirements

EIN from IRS (free, online, ~15 minutes)
Business bank account — most require LLC docs + EIN
State/local licenses depending on business type
Annual Report yearly (keeps LLC active)
Quarterly tax estimates if income > $1,000/quarter

LLC for immigrants with ITIN

Permitted: ITIN holders can be LLC members
Banking: business accounts with ITIN available (BlueVine, Mercury, Lili — verify policies)
Tax filing: Schedule C on your 1040 with ITIN; Form 1065 for multi-member LLC

Common errors

Forgetting annual report (can dissolve LLC)
Mixing personal and LLC finances (loses limited liability protection)
No Operating Agreement (even single-member)
Operating in another state without registering as foreign LLC

Tennessee-specific resources

Tennessee Secretary of State — LLC search + filings
Tennessee Department of Revenue — state business taxes
SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) — free small business mentoring
SBA (Small Business Administration) — free counseling via SCORE and SBDC, open to everyone. ⚠️ SBA loans (7(a), 504, microloans) are closed to non-citizen owners since March/April 2026 — including green-card holders. See who can still use each SBA program and the CDFI lenders that do accept an ITIN.

Last verified: 2026-07-11.

General procedural information for educational purposes. Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Laws and fees change — verify with the issuing agency before taking action. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration attorney or other appropriate professional.

ITIN — file business taxes without SSN — ITIN holders can form and operate LLCs
ITIN-friendly business banking — checking accounts that open without an SSN
USCIS forms — H-1B, L-1, E-2 investor visas — when LLC ownership supports a visa case
State income tax obligations — business taxes vary by state
Find an immigration attorney — for complex investor or work-visa cases tied to your LLC

Frequently asked questions

Do I need SSN to form an LLC in Tennessee?

NO. You can form an LLC in Tennessee using ITIN or just passport number. After, to open a bank account for the LLC, you’ll need EIN (free Federal Tax ID from IRS, NO SSN required) and possibly the holder’s ITIN.

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Tennessee?

Costs vary: state filing fee $50-$500, registered agent $0-$300/year (self-RA if you have Tennessee address), LLC operating agreement $0-$200, EIN FREE via IRS, annual report fees $20-$300/year depending on state.

Better to form LLC in Tennessee or in Wyoming/Delaware?

If your business operates in Tennessee, cheapest is forming LLC in Tennessee. If you operate in another state but register the LLC in Wyoming/Delaware, you must register as ‘foreign LLC’ in your operating state — paying both fees. Wyoming/Delaware only makes sense for passive LLCs (rentals, investments, holding companies).

Does my Tennessee LLC pay taxes?

By default, single-member LLC is ‘disregarded entity’ (taxes flow through to owner via Schedule C). Multi-member LLC treated as ‘partnership’ (Form 1065). You can elect S-Corp or C-Corp taxation via Form 2553/8832. Consult CPA with ITIN experience.

The rules change. Hear about it first.

Monthly digest of USCIS, IRS, and consulate fee, form, and deadline changes — no spam.

General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.