How to file a Texas annual report

Texas doesn't have a filing called an "annual report." Instead, the state requires businesses to be familiar with three main annual filings: the Franchise Tax Report, the Public Information Report (PIR), and the Ownership Information Report (OIR).

Not all businesses need to file all three reports, but these filings are due on the same day. The requirements vary based on your entity type and structure.

Deadlines for Texas annual reports

Most businesses must file the Texas Franchise Tax Report and either the PIR or OIR by May 15th if they follow the calendar year for accounting.

If your company operates on a different fiscal year, your deadline shifts to the 15th day of the 5th month after your fiscal year ends.

New businesses typically file their first Texas annual report one year after formation or beginning Texas operations.

Franchise Tax Report

The Franchise Tax Report is required for most Texas businesses to calculate their Texas Franchise Tax based on margin or revenue.

Public Information Report

The Public Information Report accompanies the Franchise Tax Report for corporations and LLCs, providing:

Ownership Information Report

For partnerships and trusts, the Ownership Information Report serves a similar purpose, disclosing ownership and management information.

Accounting period definition for Texas annual reports

Your accounting period for Texas franchise tax typically aligns with your federal tax accounting period. Most businesses use the calendar year (January through December), though some operate on different fiscal periods.

Consistency is important—changing your accounting period requires approval from the Texas Comptroller. Any change affects filing deadlines and reportable financial data.

Extensions are available:

  1. Pay 90% of your tax by May 15th for an automatic extension to November 15th
  2. Meet certain conditions to extend to January 15th of the following year

For organizations managing multiple entities, these deadlines multiply quickly, making systematic tracking essential.

How to submit a Texas annual report

You have two filing options for your Texas annual filings:

  1. Online Submission: Via the Texas Comptroller's website
  2. Mail Submission: Download forms from the Texas Comptroller's website

Multi-state compliance considerations

When your business spans multiple states, annual reporting becomes increasingly complex. Each jurisdiction has unique rules, deadlines, and forms.

For many Texas-based companies, mastering the state of Texas franchise tax filing is just the beginning. As you expand, your compliance strategy must scale accordingly.

Consider these approaches for effective multi-state compliance:

  1. Centralize compliance tracking. Use a unified system to monitor obligations across all states for complete visibility.
  2. Standardize your process. Develop a consistent approach for gathering and reporting information in all jurisdictions.
  3. Monitor changing regulations. Stay informed about regulatory shifts in all operating states through official channels.
  4. Leverage technology. Implement software that automates data collection, form completion, and submissions to reduce errors and save time.
  5. Build scalable systems. Design your compliance approach to accommodate increasing complexity as you enter new markets.

Organizations in growth mode particularly need scalable compliance solutions as they rapidly expand into new jurisdictions.

Streamline your compliance process with Discern

Texas annual reports don't need to create administrative burdens, especially when managing multiple entities or expanding across state lines. A systematic approach to compliance can significantly reduce the resources required.

Discern helps organizations streamline their compliance processes by automating the heavy lifting. Our platform identifies exactly which reports each entity needs to file and when they're due, eliminating guesswork and preventing missed deadlines.

With coverage across all 51 U.S. jurisdictions, Discern is ideal for companies managing entities in multiple states. Our automated system reduces submission time to less than 15 minutes per entity through pre-filled forms and built-in error checks.

Author
The Discern Team
Published Date
June 27, 2025
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