Getting paid from Indonesia
Stripe lists Indonesia as a preview market. Its support pages say an Indonesian account accepts payments only in rupiah, pays out in rupiah, supports bank transfer by virtual account, and cannot process cross-border or international transactions. Stripe itself suggests an account in another country for international payments. Shopify Payments is not available in Indonesia.
PayPal works in Indonesia: you can receive payments and withdraw to a local bank. Withdrawals under 1,500,000 rupiah carry a small fee, and converting dollars to rupiah costs 3% above the base rate.
A US LLC with an EIN and a US business bank account can apply for a US Stripe account, which accepts cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay from most countries and pays out in dollars. Stripe reviews every business and decides itself; no one can promise approval.
At home
Indonesian tax
Indonesian tax residents are generally taxed on their worldwide income. Indonesia also has controlled foreign company rules for foreign entities at least 50% owned by Indonesian taxpayers, which can tax certain passive income of the foreign company before it is paid out. Indonesian law also has an exemption for some foreign dividends and business income that are reinvested in Indonesia within a set period, with conditions.
How your US LLC is treated under these rules depends on how it is owned, what it earns and how it is run. That is a question for a konsultan pajak, ideally before the LLC starts trading.
Reporting on your SPT
Your annual tax return (SPT) lists the assets you hold at year-end. Your share in the US LLC and any foreign bank account belong on it from the first year.
Sending money to the US company
Indonesia has a free foreign exchange system: residents may own and use foreign currency, and there is no approval step for sending money abroad. Bank Indonesia does limit how much foreign currency a person can buy against rupiah each month without an underlying document, and it lowered that limit in 2026. Above the limit your bank will ask for documents showing what the money is for, such as the LLC's formation document. Residents also fall under Bank Indonesia's reporting rules for foreign exchange activity.
Bringing money home
Distributions from the LLC arrive in Indonesia as a normal international transfer to your rupiah or dollar account. Keep the LLC's statements and label transfers clearly, so the money can be explained to your bank and on your SPT.
The US side is the same for everyone
Where you live does not change the US part. It is done online, without travelling, without a US address and without an SSN.
- Choose a state: Wyoming or New Mexico for low running costs, Delaware if you plan to raise money from investors.
- The formation document is filed with a registered agent in that state, within 48 hours.
- The EIN is requested from the IRS as soon as the state approves. No SSN or ITIN is needed.
- You get the operating agreement that banks and payment providers ask for.
- With those documents you apply for a US business bank account, for example at Mercury.
- Every year: the registered agent, the state's annual report where there is one, and Form 5472 for a single-member LLC owned by a foreign person.
Which state?
With no people or premises in the US you can choose any state. Most founders abroad choose on yearly cost and speed.
Sources checked on November 2, 2026
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change; check your own situation with a konsultan pajak in Indonesia before you form the LLC.
