Real anonymity in company formation is dead. Starting from the truth makes every decision after it better.
- Beneficial ownership registries have spread worldwide. What still differs is who gets to see the information: authorities-only versus public. The degrees matter. - Nominee directors and shareholders are legal in several places, though the compliance burden has grown. Bearer shares are nearly extinct. - Privacy rules are the detail most likely to be outdated in whatever you are reading. Verify current disclosure requirements. - The line: legitimate privacy reasons exist, competitive concerns, personal safety. Tax evasion is not one, and no jurisdiction protects you from your home country's tax authority. - Document your reasoning. Good paperwork is the difference between privacy planning and looking evasive.
Treat any structure as temporary; set a yearly review of what is still private where. And for a straightforward US formation with real privacy protections, Wyoming via IncorpTrack costs $49 plus the state fee, with registered agent help included.