Official Texas LLC Filing Requirements and Fees
| Requirement or Item | Fee or Deadline | Official Source |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation Filing Fee | $300.00 | Texas Secretary of State (Form 205) |
| Credit Card Payment Fee | 2.7% of total fees | Texas Secretary of State |
| Registered Agent Requirement | Mandatory physical address in Texas; entity cannot serve as its own agent | Texas Secretary of State |
| Employer Identification Number (EIN) | $0 (free); form entity before applying | Internal Revenue Service |
| Assumed Name Certificate (DBA) | $25.00 filing fee | Texas Secretary of State (Form 503) |
| General State Business License | None required | Texas Secretary of State |
| Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) | Exempt for US-formed entities | Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) |
| Annual State Compliance Reports | Due May 15 annually | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts |
DIY Filing vs. Service Filing for a Texas LLC
Forming a Texas limited liability company is an administrative procedure governed by state statutes and executed through the Texas Secretary of State. Whether you complete the application yourself or hire a service, the state processes the exact same document, Form 205 (Certificate of Formation). A filing service does not possess a special pipeline to government examiners, nor does it deliver a superior legal entity. What you purchase from a service is the work of completing the paperwork, managing reminders, and providing address privacy.
The Self-Filing Process via SOSDirect
Filing an LLC independently in Texas requires navigating official state and federal web portals:
- Submitting Form 205: You access SOSDirect, the online filing system hosted by the Texas Secretary of State. You complete Form 205, entering the legal name, management structure, and registered agent details. The state charges a $300.00 filing fee, with a 2.7% convenience fee applied to credit card payments.
- Appointing a Registered Agent: State law mandates that every LLC continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Texas open during regular business hours. An entity may not serve as its own registered agent. You can serve as your own registered agent as an individual, appoint a partner, or hire a commercial service. Failure to maintain a registered agent risks involuntary termination of the LLC by the state.
- Getting an EIN: After the Texas Secretary of State approves Form 205, you request an Employer Identification Number (EIN) directly from the Internal Revenue Service. An EIN is $0 (free) on the official IRS website. You must form the entity with the state before applying for an EIN, and you should never pay a third-party vendor for this free government identifier.
- Local Permits and Assumed Names: Texas does not require or issue a general state business license. If your LLC conducts business under a name other than its legal entity name, you file Form 503 (Assumed Name Certificate) along with a $25.00 filing fee.
- Annual Compliance: Texas LLCs must submit an annual Franchise Tax report and Public Information Report to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts by May 15. For 2026, qualifying entities below the revenue threshold file a No Tax Due report alongside their Public Information Report.
Using a Commercial Formation Service
When you use a formation service, you enter your information into their platform, and they file Form 205 on your behalf. DIY is not automatically the smart answer and a service is not automatically the safe one. Which wins depends entirely on your operational needs.
Many owners choose a service to secure a commercial registered agent address. Because registered agent details are public record in Texas, listing a home address exposes personal information. Commercial services allow you to list their street address instead.
Commercial Provider Comparison
The following table compares major commercial filing services (listed alphabetically, not ranked). First-year introductory rates are shown alongside ongoing annual renewals, as an introductory price without the renewal cost beside it does not give a complete picture.
| Provider | Formation Service Pricing | Registered Agent Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Bizee | Standard service tiers (as of 2026) | Annual renewal fee applies (as of 2026) |
| LegalZoom | Standard service tiers (as of 2026) | Annual renewal fee applies (as of 2026) |
| Northwest Registered Agent | Standard service tiers (as of 2026) | Annual renewal fee applies (as of 2026) |
| Rocket Lawyer | Subscription tiers (as of 2026) | Annual renewal fee applies (as of 2026) |
| Tailor Brands | Standard service tiers (as of 2026) | Annual renewal fee applies (as of 2026) |
| ZenBusiness | Starter $0 + state fee; Pro $199/yr; Premium $299/yr | $199/yr ($99 1st yr with formation) |
Where Each Path Wins
When filing yourself is the better call: If you are operating from a commercial office space in Texas, do not mind your business address appearing in public state databases, and want to keep total costs to the mandatory $300.00 state fee (plus 2.7% card fee), filing yourself is the optimal path. Filling out Form 205 on SOSDirect is clear, and securing a free EIN on IRS.gov takes only a few minutes. Paying an external service adds expense without changing the underlying legal entity.
When using a service makes sense: If you run your business from home and want to keep your personal home address off public state records, or if you prefer an external platform to manage ongoing compliance deadlines, using a professional service is worthwhile. For readers who fit this scenario, ZenBusiness is a strong recommendation. Their Starter package begins at $0 plus state fees, while Pro ($199 per year) and Premium ($299 per year) tiers add structured filing assistance. Registered agent representation is a separate $199 per year service across all tiers, discounted to $99 for the first year when bundled with an LLC formation order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Texas LLC certificate of formation filing fee, registered agent, and Form 205 (sos.texas.gov)
Filing Form 205 (Certificate of Formation) with the Texas Secretary of State requires a $300.00 state fee, plus a 2.7% convenience fee when paying by credit card. You must name a registered agent located at a physical street address in Texas. An entity may not serve as its own registered agent. Applications can be submitted online using SOSDirect.
LLC public information report due May 15 Texas annual report official (comptroller.texas.gov)
Every Texas LLC is required to submit an official Public Information Report to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts annually by May 15. This filing updates the state on current officers, directors, managers, or members to keep the LLC in active good standing.
Texas LLC franchise tax annual report no tax due 2026 (comptroller.texas.gov)
Texas LLCs must file an annual Franchise Tax report with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts by May 15. For 2026, LLCs with total annualized revenue below the statutory threshold file a No Tax Due report along with their Public Information Report. Submitting this annual report is mandatory even when no tax is owed.
Do I need to pay for an EIN or BOI report?
No. Obtaining an Employer Identification Number (EIN) is free ($0) directly on the IRS website after your LLC formation is approved. Never pay a third party for an EIN. Furthermore, under federal regulations effective in 2026, US-formed companies are exempt from beneficial ownership information (BOI) reporting.
Sources
- Internal Revenue Service, “Get an employer identification number”
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, “Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Form 205 - Instructions for Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Registered Agent FAQs”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Form 503 - Instructions for Assumed Name Certificate”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Formation of Texas Entities FAQs”
- Texas Secretary of State, “Foreign or Out-of-State Entities”
- This article provides general factual information regarding Texas LLC filings and is not legal or tax advice; requirements vary by state and change over time.