State hub · Texas
Texas LLC true cost (2026)
Texas state side: $300 formation filing, $0 for Franchise tax / Public Information Report in the 3-year model, ~$300 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #30 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
Texas state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is Texas Secretary of State (formation); Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (franchise tax/PIR). Filings go through www.sos.state.tx.us.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $300 | Certificate of Formation (Form 205) — Texas SOS; credit-card payments add a 2.7% convenience fee |
| Franchise tax / Public Information Report | $0 typical | No SOS annual report. Franchise tax $0 if annualized total revenue at or below no-tax-due threshold ($2,650,000 for report years 2026–2027). PIR (Form 05-102) still required annually for LLCs even when no tax is due; PIR itself has no filing fee. |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $300 | Articles $300 + $0 recurring SOS/franchise tax for small LLCs at or below threshold for years 1–3 |
When Texas actually bills you
Texas's recurring filing is due May 15 annually (Comptroller) — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What Texas charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $300 | $300 |
| Year 1 cycle | Franchise tax / Public Information Report (no charge in this model) | $0 | $300 |
| Year 2 cycle | Franchise tax / Public Information Report (no charge in this model) | $0 | $300 |
| Year 3 cycle | Franchise tax / Public Information Report (no charge in this model) | $0 | $300 |
Provider + Texas state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the Texas state subtotal of $300.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $589 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $797 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $598 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $1,047 |
Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices above are researched from public pages, not supplied by the provider. How this site makes money.
How Texas ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, Texas sits at #30 — the 30th cheapest three-year state charter — at $300 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $265 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $20 above the $280 median, and $2,210 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, Texas lands in the pricier half of the table.
- Just cheaper: Vermont ($290), North Dakota ($285).
- Just pricier: South Dakota ($315), New Jersey ($325).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (Texas)
- Texas registered agent with street address required; LLC cannot be its own agent. Commercial RA common if no in-state physical presence.
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of Texas state fees is $300, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not Texas, is about 49% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- Free PIR still mandatory each May 15; missing completed/signed PIR can forfeit right to transact business
- Franchise tax applies above $2.65M annualized total revenue (2026–2027 threshold)
- Credit-card convenience fee 2.7% on SOS filings
- Qualified new veteran-owned businesses may have fee/franchise exemptions — verify with SOS/Comptroller
Who Texas is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- In-state operators wanting low ongoing SOS cost and no personal income tax; businesses likely to stay under the franchise-tax revenue threshold
Often a poor fit when…
- High-revenue entities that will owe franchise tax; those needing the absolute lowest formation fee
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about Texas LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Texas?
$300 to Texas Secretary of State (formation); Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (franchise tax/PIR) for the formation filing. Certificate of Formation (Form 205) — Texas SOS; credit-card payments add a 2.7% convenience fee That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing Texas LLC fees after year one?
$0 in recurring Franchise tax / Public Information Report charges under the modelled scenario (May 15 annually (Comptroller)). No SOS annual report. Franchise tax $0 if annualized total revenue at or below no-tax-due threshold ($2,650,000 for report years 2026–2027). PIR (Form 05-102) still required annually for LLCs even when no tax is due; PIR itself has no filing fee. Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a Texas LLC really cost over three years?
$300 in Texas state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $589 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $1,047 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with Texas.
Do I need a registered agent in Texas?
Yes. Texas registered agent with street address required; LLC cannot be its own agent. Commercial RA common if no in-state physical presence. On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every Texas figure above.
Is Texas a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, Texas ranks #30 of 51 at $300 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the Texas three-year number is built
Articles $300 + $0 recurring SOS/franchise tax for small LLCs at or below threshold for years 1–3 Figures are re-derived from the cited Texas sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the Texas state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- Provider checkout upsells: see the national comparison page.
- Re-check live Texas Secretary of State (formation); Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (franchise tax/PIR) fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
- Texas SOS Form 205 instructions — $300 Certificate of Formation
- Texas Comptroller — Franchise Tax rates and $2.65M no-tax-due threshold 2026–2027
- Texas Comptroller — PIR/OIR filing requirements
- Texas Comptroller — 2026 Franchise Tax Report Forms
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where Texas's $300 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the Texas math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.