Texas Business Entity Search

Each search goes straight to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, and no answer is kept for more than a day.

Type a business name, or its first words, and choose Search. Results show each match's status, type and formation date.

Texas at a glance

LLC filing fee $300 Source, checked 2026-10-26
Corporation filing fee $300 Source, checked 2026-10-26
Public Information Report (or Ownership Information Report), filed with the annual franchise tax report to the Comptroller No fee, annually Source, checked 2026-10-26
Name reservation $40, held 120 days, renewable Source, checked 2026-10-26
Certificate of Fact - Status $15 Source, checked 2026-10-26

About Texas business records

Texas has two public lookups: the Secretary of State's SOSPortal charges $1 per search, while the Comptroller's Franchise Tax Account Status search is free and shows the SOS file number, SOS status, formation date and registered agent. There is no Secretary of State annual report; ongoing compliance runs through the Comptroller's annual franchise tax filing.

The Texas Secretary of State, Corporations Section keeps these records; many people call its search SOSPortal. The search on this page asks the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts each time you run it.

Coverage: Entities registered for the Texas franchise tax, up to 10 matches per search.

Statuses you may see in Texas

Status	What it means
Active	The entity's record with the Secretary of State is in existence.
Forfeited Franchise Tax	The entity lost its existence or registration because franchise tax reports or payments were not made; it can reinstate after clearing its tax account.
Forfeited Registered Agent	The entity lost its standing for failing to keep a registered agent in Texas.
Reinstated	The entity was forfeited or terminated and has since been restored.
Dissolved	The entity has been dissolved.
Terminated	The entity's existence has ended, voluntarily or by the state.
Merger	The entity merged into another entity and no longer exists separately.
Converted	The entity converted into a different type of entity.
Withdrawn	A foreign entity withdrew its registration to do business in Texas.
Expired	The entity's term or registration has run out.
Right to transact: Active	On the Comptroller's record, the entity's franchise tax right to do business in Texas is in effect.
Right to transact: Forfeited	On the Comptroller's record, the entity's right to do business in Texas was forfeited for unmet franchise tax requirements.

Source, checked 2026-10-26. Words other states use are in the business entity status guide.

Starting an LLC in Texas?

An LLC here starts with the Certificate of Formation ($300), with no yearly state fee after that, though the Texas Franchise Tax can still apply. The steps and the official links are in one guide.

How to start an LLC in Texas

Questions

Is this the official Texas business search?

No. Open State Index is independent and has no tie to the Texas Secretary of State or any other government body. It passes your search to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and links to the official search (Franchise Tax Account Status); confirm anything official with the state.

What is SOSPortal?

SOSPortal is what many people call the Texas Secretary of State's online business records. This page searches the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts instead, and links to its free official search.

How current are the results?

As current as the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: each search is sent when you run it, and an answer is kept for at most 24 hours before it is asked again.

How do I check if a business name is available in Texas?

Search existing entity names in SOSPortal, which charges $1 per search, or call the Secretary of State at (512) 463-5555 for a preliminary determination. A name is only final once the formation filing is reviewed, and it must be distinguishable from existing entities, registered names and reservations.

Does Texas charge a franchise tax or a similar yearly tax?

Yes, the Texas franchise tax: a privilege tax the Comptroller collects from each taxable entity formed in or doing business in Texas; for report years 2026 and 2027 entities with total revenue at or below $2,650,000 owe no tax, and the rate is 0.375% for retail or wholesale and 0.75% for other businesses.

More about a Texas business

Every fee and rule above links to the official page it came from. How we check our facts · Report an error