Starting an LLC in Texas
What it costs, what you file and what you owe afterwards. Every figure below came from the state's own pages.
Forming an LLC in Texas costs $300 to file the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company (Form 205) with the Texas Secretary of State, Business and Public Filings Division. After that, Public Information Report (Form 05-102), filed with the franchise tax report is due may 15 each year, filed with the Texas Comptroller rather than the Secretary of State. There is no Secretary of State annual report for LLCs. An LLC whose annualized total revenue is at or under the no-tax-due threshold ($2,650,000 for the 2026 report year) owes no franchise tax but must still file the Public Information Report.
What it costs
| What | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company (Form 205) | $300 | Once, when the LLC is formed |
| Public Information Report (Form 05-102), filed with the franchise tax report | $0 | May 15 each year, filed with the Texas Comptroller rather than the Secretary of State. There is no Secretary of State annual report for LLCs. An LLC whose annualized total revenue is at or under the no-tax-due threshold ($2,650,000 for the 2026 report year) owes no franchise tax but must still file the Public Information Report. |
Registered agent
Texas requires one. The agent has to consent in writing or electronically before being named (the consent is kept, not filed), must have a Texas street address where process can be served in person rather than a mailbox or answering service, and the LLC cannot name itself.
What you owe after year one
May 15 each year, filed with the Texas Comptroller rather than the Secretary of State. There is no Secretary of State annual report for LLCs. An LLC whose annualized total revenue is at or under the no-tax-due threshold ($2,650,000 for the 2026 report year) owes no franchise tax but must still file the Public Information Report.
Missing it is the most common way a good standing lapses, and restoring one costs more than filing on time.
Worth knowing
Name availability searching runs through SOSDirect, which requires a funded account and charges $1 per search. The Secretary of State says SOSDirect and SOSUpload are being folded into a replacement called SOSPortal.
The official pages
- Texas Secretary of State, Business and Public Filings Division
- Search the register for your name
- File the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company (Form 205)
- Report filing and due dates
Read from the source, 2, 3, 4 on 2026-09-05. Fees change, so check the state page before filing. SideKix has no relationship with any state agency and takes nothing for sending you there.
Before you file
- Sole proprietor, LLC or S corp, what actually differs, with no recommendation
- What it will cost to start, because the filing fee is the small part
- Whether the name is still free, checked against the registries themselves
- What to do first if the idea is still an idea
Another state
SideKix, “How much does an LLC cost in Texas?”, checked 2026-09-05. https://sidekixhq.com/start-an-llc-in-texas.html
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Texas?
The state filing fee for the Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company (Form 205) is $300.
What form do I file to start an LLC in Texas?
The Certificate of Formation - Limited Liability Company (Form 205), filed with the Texas Secretary of State, Business and Public Filings Division.
Does Texas require an annual report for an LLC?
May 15 each year, filed with the Texas Comptroller rather than the Secretary of State. There is no Secretary of State annual report for LLCs. An LLC whose annualized total revenue is at or under the no-tax-due threshold ($2,650,000 for the 2026 report year) owes no franchise tax but must still file the Public Information Report.
Do I need a registered agent in Texas?
Yes. The agent has to consent in writing or electronically before being named (the consent is kept, not filed), must have a Texas street address where process can be served in person rather than a mailbox or answering service, and the LLC cannot name itself.