Texas LLC Fees
The main state fee to form a Texas LLC is the $300 filing fee for Form 205, the Certificate of Formation. That filing creates the LLC with the Texas Secretary of State.
The formation fee is only the first cost to plan for. A Texas LLC may also have optional Secretary of State filings, registered agent costs, foreign registration fees, certified copy fees, sales tax permit steps, and recurring franchise tax reporting through the Texas Comptroller.
How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC in Texas?
At minimum, the Texas Secretary of State filing fee for a domestic LLC is $300. The filing is Form 205, Certificate of Formation for a Limited Liability Company.
That fee is separate from any service package, registered agent service, operating agreement work, tax support, permit application, or post-formation filing. Treat the state filing fee as the floor, not the full budget.
If the company is not ready to form immediately, Texas allows a name reservation through Form 501. The filing fee is $40, and the reservation period is 120 days.
Texas LLC Registration Fees
The Certificate of Formation is the core Texas LLC registration filing. It gives the state the company's name, registered agent, registered office, management structure, and organizer information.
The state filing fee for Form 205 is $300. Texas accepts the filing online through SOSDirect or by mail.
If you need certified records after filing, Texas Secretary of State certified copies cost $1 per page plus $15 per certificate. A Certificate of Fact - Status costs $15, and a long-form Certificate of Existence costs $25.
Foreign LLC Registration Fees
An LLC formed in another state must register before transacting business in Texas. The Texas filing is Form 304, Limited Liability Company Application for Registration.
The filing fee for Form 304 is $750. If the entity transacted business in Texas for more than 90 days without registering, a late filing fee can apply, equal to the registration fee for each year of late registration.
Foreign registration is not the same filing as forming a new Texas LLC. It is the filing that gives an out-of-state LLC authority to transact business in Texas.
Optional State Filing Fees
Some Texas LLC costs arise after formation because the company changes something or needs an additional public record.
If the LLC amends its Certificate of Formation, the Texas filing is Form 424, Certificate of Amendment. The filing fee for a non-nonprofit entity is $150.
If the LLC changes its registered agent or registered office, the Texas filing is Form 401. The filing fee for a non-nonprofit entity is $15.
If the LLC uses an assumed name, corporations and LLCs file Form 503 with the Texas Secretary of State. The filing fee is $25.
Registered Agent Costs
Every Texas LLC must maintain a registered agent and a registered office in Texas. The registered office must be a physical Texas address where service of process and official notices can be received during business hours.
The state filing fee for changing a registered agent or registered office is separate from any private registered agent service fee. Some owners serve as their own registered agent. Others use a third-party registered agent so state notices and service of process go to a consistent Texas office.
Registered agent information should be settled before filing the Certificate of Formation. If the company changes it later, expect a separate state filing.
Annual Fees, Franchise Tax, and Public Information Report
Texas LLCs do not file a separate annual report with the Texas Secretary of State. The recurring state compliance obligation is the franchise tax report and Public Information Report filed with the Texas Comptroller.
The annual franchise tax report is due May 15 each year. The Public Information Report uses Form 05-102 and is due on the same date.
The Public Information Report is required even when the LLC's revenue is at or below the no-tax-due threshold. For 2026 and 2027, that threshold is $2,650,000 in annualized total revenue.
Franchise Tax Rates and Late Fees
If the LLC is above the applicable no-tax-due threshold, Texas franchise tax can apply. The listed rate is 0.375% of taxable margin for retail or wholesale businesses and 0.75% of taxable margin for other businesses. Texas also lists an EZ Computation rate of 0.331% for entities with $20 million or less in total revenue.
Late franchise tax reports carry a $50 late filing penalty. If tax is paid 1 to 30 days late, the penalty is 5% of the tax due. If tax is paid more than 30 days late, the penalty is 10% of the tax due, and interest begins accruing 61 days after the due date.
Failure to handle the franchise tax report or Public Information Report can also create entity-forfeiture consequences, including loss of the right to sue or defend in Texas court and personal liability for certain entity debts.
Sales Tax Permit and Other Operating Costs
Some Texas LLCs also need a sales tax permit. Businesses engaged in business in Texas that sell or lease tangible personal property, or sell taxable services in Texas, must register with the Texas Comptroller.
The sales tax permit application is handled online through the Comptroller's eSystems, and there is no state filing fee for the permit. The permit is separate from LLC formation and separate from the franchise tax report.
Other operating costs depend on the company. A local business, online seller, professional practice, and foreign LLC may have different permit, tax, registered agent, and recordkeeping costs after formation.
Fees Vary by Filing Path
The cost of a Texas LLC depends on the filing path. A simple domestic LLC starts with the $300 Certificate of Formation filing. A foreign LLC registration starts with the $750 Form 304 filing. Amendments, assumed names, certified copies, certificates, and registered agent changes add separate state fees when they are needed.
The practical approach is to separate one-time formation costs from recurring compliance costs. Formation creates the company. Recurring compliance keeps the company current with the Texas Comptroller and the company's own records.