Texas Corporation cost
Forming a corporation in Texas costs $300 in state fees in year one, then no recurring state fees for most small businesses.
Forming a Texas Corporation
You file Certificate of Formation (Form 201) with the Texas Secretary of State, Business & Public Filings Division. The state fee is $300. See the official fee.
File it yourself with the state →
Every year after
- Public Information Report (Form 05-102, filed with the franchise tax report): $0, filed every year. Due: May 15 each year (next business day if May 15 falls on a weekend or holiday).
- First one: May 15 of the year after formation.
- If you're late: $50 penalty on each report filed after the due date; failure to file the PIR can forfeit the right to transact business.
- Official report page
State taxes that apply even to a small Corporation
- Franchise tax: $0 — No tax due if annualized total revenue is at or below $2.65M (2026 and 2027 reports); no No Tax Due Report required, only the PIR/OIR. Above the threshold, rate is 0.375% (retail/wholesale) or 0.75% of taxable margin source
Worth knowing
- Formation costs $300 for an LLC or corporation and $25 for a nonprofit.
- Most small LLCs and corporations owe no franchise tax (revenue at or below $2.65M for 2026-2027 reports) but must still file a Public Information Report by May 15 each year.
- There is no Secretary of State annual report; nonprofits file a $5 periodic report only when asked.
- SOSPortal replaced SOSDirect and SOSUpload for online filings on September 29, 2026.
Registered agent
Texas requires a registered agent. Agent must be a Texas resident individual or a registered entity with a Texas street address where it can be personally served; the entity cannot be its own registered agent. You can serve as your own agent if you have a qualifying address; paid services usually charge a yearly fee.
| Other filings | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $40 | 120 days |
| DBA / assumed name (state) | $25 | Assumed name certificate filed with the Secretary of State for LLCs and corporations; sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the county clerk |
| Expedited processing | $50 | Standard expedite $50 per document; next-day expedite $500; same-day expedite $750; expedited certified copy or certificate $10 |
| Foreign Corporation registration | $750 | Application for Registration of a Foreign For-Profit Corporation (Form 301) |
Fees last checked 2026-10-20 against Texas Secretary of State, Business & Public Filings Division and the state revenue department. States change fees — confirm on the linked page before you file.
Thinking about forming somewhere else?
If you operate in Texas, an out-of-state Corporation also has to register here as a foreign entity. See both costs side by side: