Wyoming or United Kingdom: where should you start a business?
Wyoming ranks higher in the index, 15 against 16. Which suits you depends on where the owners live, what the company is for and how it will be run.
Pillar by pillar
Doing business, side by side
Tax
Companies taxed as corporations pay the 21% federal rate, as in any other state. Wyoming has no state corporate income tax, and sales tax is 4%.
Profits of £50,000 or less are taxed at 19%, with marginal relief up to £250,000 and 25% above that. VAT is charged at 20%.
Set-up
Online filings take effect immediately, and formation costs US$100. The annual report licence tax starts at US$60 and rises with Wyoming assets.
Online registration costs £100, and Companies House usually registers a company within 24 hours. The annual confirmation statement costs £50.
On the ground
Every company needs a registered agent with a physical Wyoming address. Directors need not be Wyoming residents unless the articles require it.
No director or secretary needs to live in the UK, but the registered office must be at an appropriate UK address. There is no minimum capital.
Ownership
There is no beneficial ownership register for US-formed companies, and a FinCEN rule effective 14 August 2026 exempts them from reporting.
The register of people with significant control is public and free to search. Home addresses and full dates of birth are withheld.
Residence
Owning a company gives no residence. Treaty nationals can use the E-2 visa, and EB-5 starts at US$800,000 in a targeted employment area.
Owning a company gives no right to live in the UK. An owner from abroad needs a visa such as the Innovator Founder visa, which requires an endorsement.
Living and working
Currency
US dollar.
Pound sterling.
Time zone
UTC-7, or UTC-6 in summer.
UTC+0, and UTC+1 in summer.
Personal tax
No state income tax. Federal top rate 37% above US$640,600 (single, 2026); long-term capital gains taxed at 0%, 15% or 20%.
Income over £125,140 is taxed at 45% (2026/27, outside Scotland); inheritance tax is 40% above £325,000, and capital gains tax applies.
Flights
Cheyenne Regional Airport links to United and American; Denver International serves 236 nonstop destinations.
From London, British Airways reaches New York in 8 hrs 10 mins, Dubai in 6 hrs 50 mins and Singapore in about 12 hrs 45 mins.
Language
English is the official language of the United States under an Executive Order of 1 March 2025.
English is used in practice, and Welsh can be spoken in legal proceedings in Wales.
Wyoming vs United Kingdom: common questions
Wyoming: Companies taxed as corporations pay the 21% federal rate, as in any other state. Wyoming has no state corporate income tax, and sales tax is 4%. The United Kingdom: Profits of £50,000 or less are taxed at 19%, with marginal relief up to £250,000 and 25% above that. VAT is charged at 20%.
Wyoming: Online filings take effect immediately, and formation costs US$100. The annual report licence tax starts at US$60 and rises with Wyoming assets. The United Kingdom: Online registration costs £100, and Companies House usually registers a company within 24 hours. The annual confirmation statement costs £50.
Wyoming: Every company needs a registered agent with a physical Wyoming address. Directors need not be Wyoming residents unless the articles require it. The United Kingdom: No director or secretary needs to live in the UK, but the registered office must be at an appropriate UK address. There is no minimum capital.
Wyoming: There is no beneficial ownership register for US-formed companies, and a FinCEN rule effective 14 August 2026 exempts them from reporting. The United Kingdom: The register of people with significant control is public and free to search. Home addresses and full dates of birth are withheld.
Wyoming: Owning a company gives no residence. Treaty nationals can use the E-2 visa, and EB-5 starts at US$800,000 in a targeted employment area. The United Kingdom: Owning a company gives no right to live in the UK. An owner from abroad needs a visa such as the Innovator Founder visa, which requires an endorsement.
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