Texas LLC cost: filing fee, annual costs & how to form
Forming an LLC in Texas costs $300 in state charges in the first year and $0 a year in recurring state charges for a typical small LLC. Here is every state charge, the deadlines, typical processing times, and the formation steps in order.
Texas LLC cost summary
| Articles of Organization | $300 |
| Recurring charge (No Secretary of State annual report; Public Information Report due with the franchise tax filing, May 15) | $0 / year |
| First-year total (state charges) | $300 |
| Ongoing cost per year | $0 |
| Foreign LLC registration (if formed elsewhere) | $750 |
Totals exclude optional costs: a hired registered agent (~$100–$300/yr), publication where required, and expedited processing.
Deadlines & processing
| Filing office | Texas Secretary of State (SOSDirect / SOSUpload) |
| Recurring due pattern | No Secretary of State annual report; Public Information Report due with the franchise tax filing, May 15 |
| Standard processing | Online filings through SOSDirect are commonly processed in about 2–3 business days according to formation guides; the Secretary of State publishes no guaranteed timeline, and mailed filings take considerably longer (guides cite anywhere from 1–2 weeks). Expedited in-person service carries an extra fee (guides cite $25). |
Run your own numbers
The calculator on the homepage totals any state’s filing fee, recurring charges, and franchise-tax minimum — with optional registered agent service added: Open the LLC cost calculator →
How to form an LLC in Texas, step by step
- Choose a name and check availability in the Texas Taxable Entity Search or by phone with the Secretary of State.
- Decide on a registered agent with a Texas street address (a person or a service).
- File the Certificate of Formation (Form 205) online via SOSDirect or by mail — the state fee is $300.
- Get an EIN from the IRS — free, online, in minutes (Form SS-4).
- Adopt an operating agreement (Texas calls it a company agreement) — not filed with the state, but it governs the company.
- Register with the Texas Comptroller for franchise tax reporting and any sales-tax permits your business needs.
- Calendar May 15: the franchise tax report and Public Information Report are due every year, even when no tax is owed.
Texas quirks that change the real cost
- No annual report with the Secretary of State — Texas is one of the lowest-maintenance states once formed.
- The franchise tax is $0 at or below the no-tax-due threshold: $2.47 million in total revenue for 2025 reports, rising to $2.65 million for 2026 reports (Texas Comptroller figures reported by Xero’s Texas franchise tax guide). Above the threshold, rates are 0.75% of margin, 0.375% for retail/wholesale, or 0.331% under the EZ computation.
- Since January 1, 2024, LLCs below the threshold file only the Public Information Report — no separate No Tax Due Report.
Registered agent: hire one or be your own?
A commercial agent typically costs $100–$300 a year; acting as your own is free if you meet the address rules. The full cost guide: Registered agent cost guide →
First-year cost, in one view
Year one in Texas: $300 to file = $300. From year two, budget $0 a year, plus a registered agent if you hire one. Operating in Texas but formed elsewhere? Registration as a foreign LLC costs $750 — see the foreign LLC guide.
Other state guides
FloridaCaliforniaNew YorkWyomingDelawareNevadaArizonaColorado
Educational information only. LLC Cost Guide is not a law firm, accounting firm, or filing service, and nothing on this page is legal or tax advice. Fees and deadlines change; confirm the current figures with your Secretary of State (or Division of Corporations) before filing, and consult a licensed attorney or CPA for advice about your specific situation.