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Texas Corporation Filing Fees and Requirements

Depending on the specifics of your business, you’ll be required to pay certain fees and fulfill various filing requirements.

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How Much Does It Cost to Form a Corporation in Texas?

Legal business registration — and keeping your business in good standing — involves necessary expenses and investment. Some of these costs are payable to the Secretary of State, while others are due to additional state entities or the federal government. Here are some common requirements and fees.


Please note that fees for a permit or business license in Texas may be due when you first form your business, on an ongoing schedule or on an ad hoc basis. Find more details below.

Initial Texas Corporation Filing Fee

When setting up a corporation in Texas, you’ll need to file a form and pay a filing fee. Here are the current Texas corporation fees and filing times:

State Fee

$300

State Filling Time

4 Weeks

Expedited Filing Time

3 Business Days

When you use Bizee to form a corporation in Texas, we charge you the state filing fee and forward it to the Secretary of State when we file your incorporation paperwork.

Bizee can file your incorporation paperwork for you for free.

Just pay the required Texas corporation filing fee.

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Operating Agreement

Employer Identification Number

Every corporation in the country should have a unique EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the Internal Revenue Service. You'll use it when you open a business bank account, file taxes and pay employees. You can get one directly from the IRS, or Bizee can get one for you.

Foreign Corporations

If you want to do business in a state other than the one where your business is based, you must create a Foreign Corporation.

Texas Foreign Corporation Registration

Before you can bring an arm of your business from another state into Texas, you must request Foreign Qualification in Texas. This means the state gives you permission to conduct business there.


To request registration of a Texas Foreign Corporation, you must complete an Application for Registration of a Foreign For-Profit Corporation and pay a processing fee of $750. The state may have additional registration requirements, so contact the Secretary of State directly for more information and to ensure you're in compliance with state law.

Foreign Qualification to Operate in Another State

If you plan to expand your Texas corporation into another state, you’ll first need Foreign Qualification or a Certificate of Authority from that state. This is necessary before you can create a physical presence, hire employees or bank in that state.


You'll likely have to complete at least one application and pay a filing fee, but each state has its own requirements. Before you start the process, compare state filing times and state filing fees so you can plan accordingly.


Above all, contact the state government entity that administers business (usually the Secretary of State) to confirm their requirements and for specific instructions. If you need assistance, Bizee provides a complete Foreign Qualification service for all states.

Texas Annual Report Requirements

Most states require business entities to file an annual (or other periodic) report. Texas is a little different in that it has two annual report requirements:

  1. Franchise Tax Report
  2. Public Information Report

The Public Information Report is actually part of your franchise tax reporting. You'll find more information about the necessary Texas Secretary of State forms and reporting requirements in the TX franchise tax section on the business taxes page of this guide.

Bizee can complete and file your Public Information Report on your behalf

Bizee’s Annual Report Filing Service
Annual Report

Texas Business Licenses and Permits

Before you start doing business, you must secure the necessary state, federal or local business licenses and permits to operate your corporation. Some of the fees will only need to be paid once, while others may be ongoing charges.

Permits and licenses vary based on:

  1. The type of business you run (e.g., attorneys must pass the state bar exam)
  2. The industry your corporation operates in (e.g., restaurants will need health permits)
  3. The location of your corporation (state, county or city) (e.g., a license to conduct business in Dallas)

Operating your corporation without the required business license in Texas can leave you vulnerable to risks, such as fines from local, state and federal governments.

You can research these permits and licenses yourself, or use Bizee’s Business License Research Package, which includes:

  • A complete report on all the licenses, permits and tax registrations your corporation will need
  • The applications you'll need to file with the local, state and federal licensing authorities

Corporate Bylaws

You're not legally required to have Texas corporation bylaws.

This document outlines rules for carrying out tasks related to managing your corporation including, but not limited to:

  • The number of directors the corporation has
  • How they'll be elected, their qualifications and the lengths of their terms
  • When, where, and how your board of directors can call and conduct meetings

The bylaws must then be adopted (and amended, if necessary) by the board of directors and shareholders.


Despite their not being legally required, a set of bylaws can be extremely helpful in making sure you’re organized and can help protect your business from any future changes and events that may affect your business.

Other Texas Corporation Filing Requirements and Fees

The State of Texas requires you to complete a few more tasks before you can begin conducting business.

Appoint a Director

Some states require corporations to appoint a full board of directors. Texas corporation law requires all corporations to have at least one director, as well as one president and one secretary. A single person can be the president, secretary, sole director and sole shareholder.

Appoint Officers

In Texas, the board of directors (or the single director) elects officers, such as the president, CEO, etc. Texas corporation law requires corporations to have at least a president and one secretary. A single person can be the president, secretary, sole director and sole shareholder.

Issue Stock to Shareholders

To raise business capital and keep it separate from company owners' money, every corporation in the state must sell stock to its shareholders. The Certificate of Formation must authorize the sale of at least one share, and the corporation cannot sell more shares than are authorized.

Hold Annual General Meetings

This is one area where Texas differs from other states. You may hold annual meetings, and it's generally a good idea to do so. But if you decide not to, Texas BOC Title 2, Chapter 21, Subchapter H, § 21.351 states, "The failure to hold an annual meeting at the designated time does not result in the winding up or termination of the corporation."

Get an Assumed Name or DBA

If you want to register a DBA in Texas (assumed name), you must file a form with the Secretary of State and pay a filing fee of $25.

Bizee can file your Assumed Name or DBA forms on your behalf

Bizee’s DBA Service
DBA

Change the Registered Agent

If your corporation is based in Texas, then you must have a Registered Agent in Texas. You'll need to appoint one when you file your Certificate of Formation. You can also change to a new Registered Agent later by filing a form and paying a fee of $15.

Let Bizee serve as your Registered Agent.

It’s free for the first year if you form your corporation with us and $119 a year after.

Bizee’s Annual Report Filing Service
Registered Agent

Reserving a Name for Your Corporation

If you're not quite ready to start your business, you can reserve a name for 120 days with the Secretary of State by filing a form and paying a fee of $40. First, conduct a Texas corporation search and learn the state's business naming rules to ensure you choose a name that meets legal requirements.

Amending Facts About Your Corporation

When you incorporate, the Texas Secretary of State forms you fill out include certain facts about your business at that time. Through the years, some or all of this information may change. If it does, you'll need to file a Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State along with a filing fee of $150. You can do this yourself or Bizee can do it for you.

You'll need to file a Certificate of Amendment when you:

  • Change the company's name
  • Add, remove or change a director
  • Change the Registered Agent
  • Change the number of shares your corporation is authorized to issue
  • Change any other facet of your business that was listed on the original Certificate of Formation

Get a Certificate of Good Standing

Some organizations may request that you prove your corporation's compliance with laws and tax requirements. In most states, this proof is provided with a Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Existence. In Texas, it's called a Certificate of Fact - Status.


If you need to prove you have met your commitments, you’ll need to request a Texas Certificate of Fact - Status from the Secretary of State. You can do this via the state's online portal for a fee of $15.


Note: The state no longer uses the term "Certificate of Good Standing." They now refer to that document as a "Certificate of Account Status," which is issued by the state Comptroller, not the Secretary of State, and provides information about an entity's franchise tax account status. However, "Certificate of Good Standing" is still sometimes used by the state's Comptroller of Public Accounts in reference to an entity's Texas franchise tax status.

Bizee can obtain a Texas Certificate of Fact - Status on your behalf

Bizee’s Certificate of Existence Service
Certificate of Good Standing

The information listed above details many of the fees a standard corporation will be required to pay in Texas. In some circumstances, there may be other one-off, periodic or ad hoc fees not listed above. Of course, your corporation will also probably need to pay federal, state, self-employment (if it's an S Corp) and other taxes. You'll find more information on the Texas taxes page.

FAQs About Texas Incorporation Fees

01

What Happens to the State Fees I'm Charged When I Incorporate?

We charge you this fee at cost and then pay it to the Secretary of State on your behalf when forming your Texas business.

02

Where Do I Get a Permit or Business License in Texas?

It depends on various factors, including:


  • governing organizations in your industry
  • federal, state and local regulations
  • where you're located
  • the type of business you run

Many new businesses need a business license, and you may be required to obtain additional licenses and permits. Our Business License Research Package can take the guesswork out of it for you and help you learn what your corporation needs to be compliant.

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