Comparison

Wyoming vs Delaware vs New Mexico LLC (2026)

Research dated Sep 8, 2026 (Pacific/Honolulu). Figures copied from the matching state hubs on this site — each links to official SOS / Division / statute sources. New Mexico re-verified tonight: still $50 Articles, still $0 LLC SOS annual report.

These three states show up in every “anonymous LLC / holding company” pitch. The privacy story (member names usually not required on the public formation filing) is similar. The cash story is not: New Mexico is a one-time SOS fee, Wyoming adds a modest annual license tax, and Delaware’s flat annual tax dominates by year two.

Charter cost ≠ operating cost. Forming here does not erase nexus where you actually sell, hire, or hold inventory — you may still need to foreign-qualify and pay that state’s fees/taxes. Full 51-state ranking: cheapest states (3-year).

At a glance — SOS / revenue only

State	Articles	Typical recurring	~3-yr state	Rank / 51
New Mexico	$50	$0 (no LLC SOS report)	$50	#5
Wyoming	$100	$60 (license tax floor)	$280	#27
Delaware	$110	$400 (annual LLC tax)	$1,310	#46

Same three + professional RA (Northwest path)

State fees are identical whichever formation company you use. Adding the national provider table’s Northwest path ($289 over 3 years: $39 formation with RA year 1, then $125 RA years 2–3) shows how RA spend swamps New Mexico’s SOS bill and still leaves Delaware far ahead.

State	State 3-yr	+ Northwest path
New Mexico	$50	$339
Wyoming	$280	$569
Delaware	$1,310	$1,599

Provider math from the 3-year provider comparison. DIY RA is possible only with an in-state physical street address — most remote founders pay for commercial RA.

New Mexico — cheapest SOS of the three

NMSA 1978 § 53-19-63(A) sets Articles of Organization at $50. 12.3.4.11 NMAC’s domestic LLC document list has no annual or biennial report — so a plain domestic LLC’s recurring SOS fee is $0 if the registered agent stays current. Filings are online-only through the Business Portal. Member/manager names are not required on the Articles (§ 53-19-8).

~3-year state fees: $50
Watch: Gross receipts tax if you engage in business in NM (TRD) — outside SOS math. Foreign qualification where you actually operate.
Sources: § 53-19-63 · 12.3.4 NMAC · Full New Mexico hub

Wyoming — low and predictable, not free

Articles are $100 (plus ~2.4% card processing online). The annual report license tax is typically $60 when assets located and employed in Wyoming are ≤ $300k (greater of $60 or $.0002 × those assets). Three anniversary cycles → ~$280 state over three years. Member names are not required on the Articles.

~3-year state fees: $280
Watch: Large Wyoming-located asset bases push the license tax above $60. DIY RA requires a Wyoming resident with a physical street address.
Sources: SOS fee schedule PDF · Business FAQs · Full Wyoming hub

Delaware — Court of Chancery prestige, annual tax bill

Certificate of Formation collects $110 on the Division schedule (statutory filing fee $70 under 6 Del. C. § 18-1105(a)(3) plus municipality). LLCs pay a flat $400 annual tax by June 1 — tax payment only, no LLC annual report. Some Division overview pages still say $300; dedicated tax instructions and § 18-1107(b) say $400. Three years of tax + formation → $1,310.

~3-year state fees: $1,310
Watch: Late tax = $200 + 1.5%/mo. Registered series add $100/yr each. Prestige / Chancery access is the product — not cheap SOS math.
Sources: LLC/LP/GP tax instructions · § 18-1105 / § 18-1107 · Full Delaware hub

Who each state is for (orientation only)

New Mexico — founders optimizing SOS cash and privacy on the Articles, who will keep a commercial NM RA and do not need Delaware case-law packaging.
Wyoming — same privacy pitch with a slightly higher but still predictable SOS calendar; popular in online formation marketing.
Delaware — entities that specifically want Delaware LLC Act / Court of Chancery familiarity and will budget ~$400 every June regardless of revenue.

None of these are a nexus shield for operating in California, New York, or anywhere else you actually do business.

How this page is built

Source of truth: New Mexico, Wyoming, and Delaware hubs — same numbers as those pages.
New Mexico re-check (2026-09-08): § 53-19-63(A) still $50; 12.3.4.11 NMAC still lists no LLC annual report; SOS Business Services still online-only — no fee drift.
Delaware: alt-entity tax instructions + § 18-1107(b) still $400 (overview/frtax snippets can still show stale $300).
Excludes: professional RA (except the optional Northwest add-on table), convenience fees, foreign qualification, and operating taxes.

Form lean, then pick the charter on purpose

Form with Northwest Registered Agent — Northwest

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