ICAP Certified in Accounting and Finance — IRS / USPTO / State Incorporation / Compliance, USA

An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is the most flexible US entity — it gives liability protection with pass-through taxation by default, but can also elect to be taxed as an S-Corp or C-Corp. An S-Corp is a tax election (made via Form 2553), not a separate entity type — it allows pass-through taxation while letting owner-employees split income between salary and distributions, saving on self-employment tax. A C-Corp is a separate taxable entity, paying corporate tax on its profits and then dividends being taxed again at the shareholder level (double taxation) — but it is the right choice for venture-backed startups, businesses planning an IPO, and any business needing to retain earnings for growth. We pick the right entity based on your tax profile, growth plans, investor expectations and exit strategy.

Delaware is favoured by venture-backed startups and any business planning to raise institutional capital — its Court of Chancery has unmatched corporate case law and most investors expect Delaware C-Corps. Wyoming offers the lowest annual franchise fees, no state income tax, strong privacy protections and is popular for asset-holding LLCs. Nevada is similar to Wyoming with stronger asset-protection statutes but higher fees. For a business that operates primarily in one home state, incorporating in that home state is often simplest — you still owe franchise tax and registration to your home state if you do business there, regardless of where you incorporate. We assess each client's structure, residency and operations before recommending the state.

The Employer Identification Number (EIN) is the IRS tax identifier for a US business — required to open a US bank account, file federal returns, hire employees and run payroll. US residents and entities with a US-resident responsible party can apply online for instant issuance. Non-US residents without an SSN or ITIN must apply by fax (Form SS-4) — turnaround is typically 4 to 6 weeks. We routinely obtain EINs for non-resident-owned LLCs (Pakistani, Canadian, UK and Saudi-based owners) without the owner needing to travel to the US.

The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is for individuals who are required to file or be reported on a US tax return but cannot get a Social Security Number — typically non-resident aliens with US-source income, dependents of US taxpayers, and beneficiaries of US estates or trusts. ITIN applications use Form W-7 and must be supported by identity documents — typically a certified passport copy. Processing takes 7 to 11 weeks. We handle ITIN applications as part of US tax filings for our overseas clients.

FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) is filed when a US person — citizen, green card holder, or US resident for tax purposes — has signature authority or financial interest in foreign accounts whose aggregate value exceeded USD 10,000 at any point during the year. It is filed separately from your tax return through the BSA E-Filing System, due April 15 with an automatic extension to October 15. Form 5471 is required when a US person owns 10% or more of a foreign corporation — multiple categories of filer with different reporting depths. Penalties for non-filing are severe (USD 10,000+ per form per year). We routinely handle FBAR and 5471 for dual-residents, US persons with Pakistani business interests, and US owners of foreign subsidiaries.

Form 1040 is the personal income tax return filed by individuals. Form 1120 is the C-Corporation return — the corporation itself pays tax at the corporate rate. Form 1120-S is the S-Corporation return — the S-Corp itself does not pay federal income tax; income, losses, deductions and credits flow through to shareholders via Schedule K-1. Form 1065 is the partnership return (including most multi-member LLCs taxed as partnerships) — again, no entity-level federal tax, with K-1s flowing to partners. Each has its own deadlines and information return requirements. We prepare all four entity types.

Every US business deals with two parallel tax systems: federal (IRS) and state. Most states (except a few like Texas, Florida, Nevada, Wyoming and Washington for individuals) levy their own income tax on residents and on businesses with sufficient connection to the state. "Nexus" is the legal threshold that triggers state tax obligations — historically physical presence, but post-Wayfair (2018) economic nexus applies for sales tax (typically USD 100,000 or 200 transactions) and increasingly for income tax. Multi-state businesses can have filing obligations in many states even without an office there. We map a client's nexus footprint before quoting compliance work.

Section 199A allows owners of pass-through businesses (sole proprietors, S-Corps, partnerships, LLCs) to deduct up to 20% of their qualified business income from their personal tax return. The deduction phases out at higher income levels and is limited for certain "specified service trades or businesses" (SSTBs) like law, health, consulting and financial services. It has been one of the most significant deductions for small US businesses since the 2017 tax act. We model 199A optimisation as part of year-end planning — sometimes the right entity classification, salary level (for S-Corps) or retirement contribution shifts a client below the phase-out threshold.

US employers face a split payroll system. FICA is the federal Social Security and Medicare combination — 6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare withheld from the employee, matched by the employer (employer pays 7.65% on top). FUTA is the federal unemployment tax — 6% on the first USD 7,000 of each employee's wages, usually reduced to 0.6% if state unemployment taxes are paid on time. SUTA is state unemployment, with rates varying widely by state and by employer experience rating. Federal: Form 941 quarterly, Form 940 annually, W-2 to SSA at year-end. State: separate state withholding return and SUTA filings. We handle the full federal stack and coordinate state filings.

A W-2 employee is on payroll — the employer withholds taxes, pays FICA match, FUTA and state unemployment, may provide benefits, and issues a W-2 at year-end. A 1099 contractor is independent — no withholding, no employer payroll taxes, no benefits, and the contractor handles their own self-employment tax. The IRS uses a behavioural, financial and relationship test to determine the correct classification — misclassifying an employee as a 1099 contractor is one of the most common IRS audit triggers and can result in back taxes, penalties and interest. We help clients classify correctly from the start.

A US trademark application filed via TEAS typically takes 12 to 18 months from filing to registration where no office action is issued and no opposition is filed. Stages include: filing and formalities check, substantive examination by a USPTO examining attorney, publication in the Official Gazette, a 30-day opposition window, and (for Intent-to-Use applications) the Statement of Use before registration. Post-registration, the trademark requires a Section 8 declaration between years 5-6 and Section 9 renewal every 10 years. We handle filing, examination response, opposition and renewal end to end via TEAS.

Yes. We routinely handle US tax filings end-to-end for overseas owners of US LLCs and corporations — including EIN issuance, annual state filings, federal return preparation, ITIN applications, and FBAR. We work entirely over email, WhatsApp and secure document upload. Where engagements require a US-licensed CPA or attorney for signature or representation, we coordinate with vetted US-based counsel. Our overseas client base spans Pakistan, Canada, the UK, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and beyond — all served without anyone needing to travel to the US.