Starting an LLC in Texas comes with a clear price tag: $300 for your Certificate of Formation. This flat fee stays the same whether you file online or mail your paperwork. Qualified veteran-owned businesses can have this fee completely waived with proper documentation, including a verification letter from the Texas Veterans Commission and certification from the Texas Comptroller.
If your LLC was born in another state, you will pay more. Texas charges $750 for foreign LLC registration in Texas, reflecting the extra work needed to review out-of-state businesses. Your filing method also affects the final price tag. Online submissions through SOSDirect incur a 2.7% credit card convenience fee, whereas paying via ACH or check avoids this surcharge entirely.
Here is the breakdown of costs to help you pick the right filing approach:
The $50 standard expedite fee is confirmed on the official Form 806 fee schedule. For faster turnaround, higher-tier options are available through Texas Express: next-day service runs $500 per document and same-day service runs $750 per document, available for documents submitted by mail or personal delivery. Processing times are not guaranteed and are subject to statutory review; check the SOS portal for current estimates before planning your timeline.
Most business owners opt for online filing despite the small card fee, valuing faster access to their documents. If those extra dollars matter, mailing a check keeps your cost at exactly $300.
Texas saves you money in the long term by what it does not charge at the state level. There is no annual report fee, and many LLCs owe zero franchise tax (learn about what is a franchise tax) since the Texas Comptroller exempts businesses with annualized total revenue under $2.65 million for the 2026 and 2027 reporting periods, per the Comptroller's franchise tax page. This threshold adjusts biennially based on the Consumer Price Index under Texas Tax Code Section 171.006.
One important caveat: falling below the franchise tax threshold does not eliminate all annual filing obligations. Texas Tax Code Section 171.203 requires all taxable entities subject to the franchise tax, including most LLCs, to file a Public Information Report (PIR) each year by May 15, regardless of whether any tax is owed. The PIR itself has no filing fee, but late filers face a $50 penalty.
Compare that to states charging recurring fees every year, and that higher upfront cost starts looking like a bargain.
Additionally, special cases can cut or increase your costs:
Budget about $308 for online credit card filing, $350 with standard expedited processing, and $375 if you also need a DBA.
That $300 Texas LLC fee might make you wince compared to the neighbors.
However, do not be misled by these lower rates, as some conceal recurring costs that Texas does not impose.
Arkansas imposes a flat $150 annual franchise tax on most LLCs, with no revenue-based exemption threshold, per the Arkansas franchise tax form. Louisiana requires a $25 annual report fee for LLCs, though the state eliminated its corporate franchise tax effective January 1, 2026, according to Louisiana Legislature statute.
Texas shines when you look beyond year one. With no state-level annual report fee and franchise tax exemptions for businesses earning under $2.65 million, your yearly state cost can be $0 for entities below the threshold (just the free PIR filing).
Common additional costs, confirmed on the official SOS fee schedule, include:
Discern streamlines Texas LLC formation while providing the infrastructure for seamless multi-state expansion. Our platform handles the Certificate of Formation filing, provides professional registered agent services, and maintains ongoing compliance tracking, including annual report filing reminders and franchise tax notifications, all with transparent pricing.
When you are ready to register in additional states, the same workflow handles foreign registrations across all jurisdictions and the District of Columbia without requiring a restart.
Schedule a demo with Discern to see how Discern eliminates formation complexity across all states where you operate.
Here is what Texas business founders need to know about LLC formation timing, costs, and procedures:
When do I pay the Texas LLC filing fee?
Payment is due in full upon submission. Texas does not offer payment plans or delayed invoicing, and online card payments include a 2.7% convenience fee.
Can I get a refund if my filing is rejected?
No. Filing fees are non-refundable once submitted.
Are there any discounts available?
Qualified veteran-owned businesses may file for free. Eligibility requires 100% ownership by honorably discharged veterans, along with documentation from the Texas Veterans Commission and the Texas Comptroller. Confirm current requirements directly with those agencies before filing. Everyone else pays standard rates.
What happens if fees increase after I start my application?
You will pay whatever rate is in effect when you actually submit, not when you started drafting.
Do I need to pay the filing fee again if I make a mistake on my application?
Yes. Once rejected, your fee is forfeited, and you must refile with an additional $300 payment. Pre-clearance ($50) or careful review prevents this expensive mistake.
Does my Texas LLC need to file anything annually?
Yes. Most LLCs subject to the Texas franchise tax must file a Public Information Report by May 15 each year, even if no tax is owed. There is no fee for this filing, but a $50 late penalty applies if you miss the deadline.
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