DIRECT ANSWER

A registered agent receives legal process in the formation state. A business or trading address describes where work happens, while a mailing address receives correspondence. Banks frequently reject registered-agent and mailbox addresses as operating addresses.

01

Why this matters

Founders routinely conflate these three addresses, then get rejected: banks frequently refuse registered-agent and mailbox addresses as an operating address, so know which one each application actually wants.

02

Go deeper in the full guide

This quick answer is a starting point. For the complete decision - including the checks to run before you pay to form - read the related guide.

Can a Non-US Resident Form a US LLC? The 2026 Guide - read guide →

Evidence

Primary sources

  1. Limited liability company (LLC)Internal Revenue Service ↗
  2. Instructions for Form SS-4 (EIN)Internal Revenue Service ↗
  3. Register your businessU.S. Small Business Administration ↗

Source facts and provider policies were checked on 21 July 2026. Always confirm the linked page before acting.

Important: This answer is general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting, banking or immigration advice. Your residence, ownership and operating facts can change the result.