Brian,

1. It is actually very common to organize your business using several legal entities. For example, if you run a restaurant that owns the building it occupies you could separate this business using 2 LLCs – one for the restaurant and one as a real estate company that only owns one asset – the building in which the restaurant is located. First LLC will then pay rent to the second LLC.

The reason to do it in this example is to separate the liability of the restaurant business from the actual real estate asset. Since people like to sue restaurants you would want to make sure in case things go bad with the restaurant you at least won’t loose the property.

And yes, both LLC can have same owners and managers. They still are separate entities nevertheless.

2. The question of nexus is a tough one. Every state authorities have their own ideas what created nexus in their state and what doesn’t. Typically nexus is defined as some definite link, or minimum connection, between the state and the entity it seeks to tax. Normally, sufficient nexus for income tax purposes is established when an entity owns, leases property or performs services in the state, employs personnel in the state, or has capital or property in the state.

Address is a tricky item on the nexus list. If you have a physical address in any state from which you conduct business then obviously you create a nexus in that state, but thats too obvious. What happens if you just keep a mail forwarding address in that state? I would say it depends on the state. If its California chances are they would consider it enough for you to establish a nexus, once and if they discover and make the connection. If its Wyoming I don’t think they would. In other words, the worse the state finances are the more desperate they become in finding their prey.

As far as bank accounts go most states don’t count a bank account as automatically creating nexus. “Most states” is a key word here, see my comments above.