Best States for LLC Privacy in 2026

LLC privacy varies dramatically by state. Some states publish your name, home address, and management role in publicly searchable databases. Others keep that information completely off the record. Here is how the top privacy states compare in 2026.

Privacy Rankings

1. New Mexico — The Gold Standard

• No member/manager names on formation documents
• No annual reports required
• No annual fees after formation
• Filing fee: $50
• Only the organizer and registered agent are listed publicly, and the organizer can be your formation service

New Mexico is the clear winner for pure privacy at the lowest cost.

2. Wyoming — Best Overall Package

• No member names on formation or annual reports
• Strong charging order protection (including single-member LLCs)
• Lifetime proxy for estate planning
• Filing fee: $100, annual report: $60

Wyoming combines privacy with the best asset protection laws in the country.

3. Delaware — The Corporate Standard

• No member names on formation documents
• Well-established LLC case law (Court of Chancery)
• Annual tax: $300

Delaware is more expensive but offers the most predictable legal environment for LLC disputes.

4. Nevada — Good Privacy, Higher Cost

• No member names on formation documents (but manager names may be required)
• No IRS information-sharing agreement (though this matters less than marketed)
• Annual fees: $350+ (list of managers $150 + business license $200)

Nevada has decent privacy but costs significantly more than Wyoming or New Mexico.

Worst States for Privacy

States that publish the most LLC owner information publicly include California, New York, Florida, and Arizona. In these states, member and manager names typically appear on formation documents and/or annual reports, all of which are publicly searchable.

The Foreign LLC Privacy Strategy

If you live in a low-privacy state, you can form your LLC in a high-privacy state (New Mexico, Wyoming) and then register as a foreign LLC in your home state. The foreign registration typically lists the LLC name and registered agent, but the underlying ownership remains hidden in the formation state's records.

The trade-off: you pay fees in two states and maintain compliance in both. But for some business owners, the privacy is worth the cost.

Use our free Privacy Score tool to see how your state ranks for LLC privacy, or start your LLC with Sedes and let our AI recommend the best privacy strategy for your situation.