Tax & CompliancePublished Feb 5, 20278 min read

What is ETBUS? How Non-US Founders Pay 0% US Federal Income Tax Legally

A deep dive into IRS Section 864, Effectively Connected Income (ECI), and why selling digital services to US clients does NOT trigger US taxes.

Understanding the Legal Framework

Many foreign entrepreneurs fear getting double-taxed by the IRS when invoicing American clients. Under US tax law, you are only subject to US income tax if you have physical operations (dependent agents or fixed offices) on US soil.

Key Takeaway

Operating your SaaS or agency remotely from your home country qualifies for complete 0% US federal tax pass-through status.

Free Company Name Verification

Check Your US LLC Name Across State Registries

Preliminary Name Availability Screening

Check Your US LLC Name Availability in Real Time

LLC

Ready to Form Your US Entity?

Get your Wyoming or New Mexico LLC, Registered Agent, IRS EIN, and US Banking introduction 100% remotely.

Get Started in 5 Minutes