Texas LLC Filing Fee: $300 for the Certificate of Formation
Filing a Certificate of Formation (Form 205) with the Texas Secretary of State costs $300. The fee is the same online or by mail. Online filing now goes through SOSPortal, which launched September 29, 2026; paying by credit card adds a convenience fee of $0.25 plus 2.25% of the total, so $300 by card comes to $307.00.
Texas has no annual report with the Secretary of State for an LLC. The yearly obligation is with the Comptroller: a franchise tax report and Public Information Report, due May 15, with no state filing fee.
Texas LLC fees at a glance
| Filing | State fee | When |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation (Form 205) | $300 ($307.00 online by card) | Once, to form the LLC |
| Standard expedited (Texas Express) | Add $50 | Typically 2 to 3 business days |
| Next-day (Texas Express) | Add $500 | Requested when you file |
| Same-day (Texas Express) | Add $750 | Received by 12:00 p.m. |
| Annual report with the Secretary of State | None required | Not applicable to a for-profit LLC |
| Franchise tax report and Public Information Report (Comptroller, Form 05-102) | No filing fee; tax may be due | May 15, starting the year after you become subject to the tax |
| Late fee (Comptroller) | $50 per late report, plus penalties on tax | After May 15 |
| Change of registered agent or office (Form 401) | $15 | When the agent or address changes |
| Name reservation (optional) (Form 501) | $40 | Holds a name for 120 days |
| Reinstatement after forfeiture (Form 801) | $75, plus taxes, penalties and a tax clearance letter | If the right to transact business was forfeited |
Where these figures come from
- Form 205 and its instructions state the $300 fee.
- Form 806, the fee schedule, lists the $300 formation fee, $15 agent change, $40 name reservation, $75 reinstatement and the expedite tiers.
- The Secretary of State's SOSPortal page and launch notice describe the new portal and the card fee. The Texas Express page lists the expedite tiers.
- The Comptroller's franchise tax page covers the May 15 due date, the Public Information Report and the $50 late penalty.
How to file a Texas Certificate of Formation
Ready to get started?
$199 + $357 Texas state fees (filing $307 + required expedite $50) = $556 due today
Get Started- Pick a name that includes "limited liability company," "limited company," or an abbreviation. It must be distinguishable from existing entities, registrations and reservations. Availability can be checked by phone at 512-463-5555, though the final decision comes when the document is processed.
- Name a registered agent at a Texas street address where service can be made during normal business hours: either an entity registered in Texas or an individual resident. The LLC cannot be its own agent, and a mailbox or answering service address does not qualify. The agent must have consented.
- Complete Form 205. It asks for the name, the agent, the managers or members (with the name and address of each initial governing person), and the mailing address for franchise tax correspondence. It does not need to be notarized.
- File it. Create an account in SOSPortal and use the Business Filings tile, or mail the form with a check or money order to P.O. Box 13697, Austin, TX 78711-3697. The pages we checked publish no standard turnaround.
- Calendar May 15. Your first franchise tax report and Public Information Report are due on May 15 of the year after the LLC becomes subject to the tax.
Have us file it for you
Our Texas LLC formation is $199 plus the Texas state filing fee, passed through at cost, and your first year of registered agent service is included (then $99 a year). We prepare your Certificate of Formation and file it with the Secretary of State for you.
$199 + $357 Texas state fees (filing $307 + required expedite $50) = $556 due today
FAQ
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Texas?
The state fee is $300 for the Certificate of Formation. Paying online by credit card adds a $0.25 plus 2.25% convenience fee, which makes $307.00.
Does Texas have an LLC annual report fee?
Not with the Secretary of State. The Comptroller requires a franchise tax report and Public Information Report each May 15, with no filing fee, though tax can be owed above the no-tax-due revenue threshold.
What does it cost to expedite a Texas LLC filing?
Texas Express adds $50 for standard expedited service, $500 for next day or $750 for same day, on top of the $300 filing fee.