Montana LLC vs Wyoming LLC (2026)
Compare Montana LLC vs Wyoming LLC — filing fees, taxes, privacy laws, and annual costs. Find out which state is actually better for your business.
| Factor | Montana | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $35 | $100 |
| Processing Time | 3 day(s) | 1 day(s) |
| Annual Report Fee | $15 | $62 |
| Annual Report Due | April 15 | Anniversary month |
| State Income Tax | Yes | No |
| Anonymous LLC | No | Yes |
| Publication Requirement | No | No |
| Foreign LLC Cost (if forming out-of-state) | N/A — you're in your home state | ~$70 + registered agent ~$100-150/yr |
Verdict: Montana wins for most businesses
For most Montana-based small businesses, forming locally in Montana is significantly cheaper and simpler than Wyoming. Wyoming only makes sense if you need anonymous ownership or have specific investor requirements that demand Delaware-alternative incorporation.
Filing Fees & Formation Costs
Montana charges just $35 to form an LLC compared to Wyoming's $100 filing fee. However, if you form in Wyoming but operate in Montana, you'll also need to register as a foreign LLC in Montana for approximately $70, plus hire a Wyoming registered agent for $100-150 annually. This means Wyoming formation actually costs $270+ in the first year versus Montana's simple $35 fee.
Taxes: Montana vs Wyoming
Wyoming has no state income tax, which sounds appealing, but Montana-based businesses still owe Montana income tax regardless of where they incorporate. Montana has a 6.75% corporate income tax rate that applies to LLCs taxed as corporations. Wyoming's tax advantage only matters if you're genuinely relocating your business operations to Wyoming, not just incorporating there.
Privacy & Asset Protection
Wyoming allows anonymous LLC ownership by not requiring member names on public filings, while Montana requires disclosure of at least one member or manager. Both states offer strong charging order protections for single-member and multi-member LLCs. Wyoming's privacy advantage is its main selling point, but comes at the cost of complexity and higher fees for Montana-based businesses.
Annual Maintenance Costs
Montana's annual report costs just $15 and is due April 15th each year, while Wyoming charges $62 with reports due in the LLC's anniversary month. A Wyoming LLC operating in Montana faces both the $62 Wyoming fee plus ongoing registered agent costs ($100-150/year), making total annual maintenance roughly $162-212 versus Montana's $15.
When Wyoming Actually Makes Sense
Wyoming formation makes sense for Montana business owners who need anonymous ownership for privacy reasons, have investors requiring Wyoming incorporation, or plan to genuinely relocate operations to Wyoming. It's also worth considering for businesses with significant out-of-state income that want to minimize state tax exposure, though professional tax advice is essential for this strategy.