Search Texas LLC & Corporation Records
Texas business lookup is split between two official systems. The Texas Comptroller provides a free Franchise Tax Account Status Search, while deeper Secretary of State business records, filings, copies and certificates are handled through the new SOSPortal.
Texas launched SOSPortal on September 29, 2026, replacing SOSDirect and SOSUpload for business filing, search and ordering services.
Best free starting point: use the Comptroller Franchise Tax Account Status Search. It accepts an 11-digit Texas taxpayer number, 9-digit EIN, entity name or Texas Secretary of State file number.
Use SOSPortal when you need deeper SOS records: Secretary of State entity searches, filing history, plain copies, certified copies, Certificates of Fact and business filings are now handled through SOSPortal.
Important difference: Comptroller franchise-tax status and Secretary of State entity status answer different questions. Do not treat one as an automatic substitute for the other.
How to Use the Free Texas Comptroller Entity Search
For a quick free lookup, start with the Comptroller. This is the easiest way to check franchise-tax account status and find a Texas SOS file number before paying for a deeper Secretary of State search.
- Open the Texas Franchise Tax Account Status Search.
- Choose one identifier: taxpayer number, EIN, entity name or SOS file number.
- If searching by name, start with the strongest distinctive words.
- Open the matching result and verify the legal entity name.
- Check the Right to Transact Business in Texas field.
- Save the Texas SOS file number for deeper Secretary of State research.
- Print or save the result if you need a dated record of what the Comptroller showed.
How to Use the New Texas SOSPortal
Texas now uses SOSPortal for business filing, searching, copies and certificate ordering. The new portal replaced SOSDirect and SOSUpload in late September 2026.
- Open the official Texas SOSPortal access page.
- Select Access the SOS Portal.
- Sign in or create a current SOSPortal account.
- Open the search/order area and start a new search.
- Select Business Filings.
- Search by entity name, file number or another available search field.
- Open the file number and confirm that the record is the correct entity.
- Use Filing History or Order Copies & Certificates only after confirming the correct business.
Free Comptroller Search vs. SOSPortal
| Task | Best Texas resource | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Quick entity-status check | Comptroller Franchise Tax Account Status Search | Free |
| Find SOS file number | Comptroller free search | Free |
| Search Secretary of State business filings | SOSPortal | $1 search fee |
| Review filing history | SOSPortal | Search / copy fees may apply |
| Order Certificate of Fact – Status | SOSPortal | $15 |
| Check right to transact business | Texas Comptroller | Free |
| File or amend a business record | SOSPortal | Depends on filing |
How to Read a Texas Business Search Result
Comptroller result
- Legal entity name
- Texas taxpayer number
- Mailing address
- Right to Transact Business in Texas
- State of formation
- Effective SOS registration date
- Texas SOS file number
- Registered agent and registered office
Secretary of State record
- Official SOS file number
- Formation or registration record
- Registered-agent filings
- Amendments and corrections
- Mergers, conversions or terminations
- Filing history
- Copies and certificates
Why the Texas SOS File Number Is So Useful
The SOS file number is the cleanest bridge between the free Comptroller lookup and the deeper Secretary of State record.
Use it for
- Exact SOSPortal business searches
- Copies and certificate orders
- Registered-agent research
- Filing-history review
- Business filing support questions
Do not confuse it with
- Texas taxpayer number
- Federal EIN
- Sales-tax permit number
- Professional license number
- County assumed-name filing number
Texas Registered-Agent Rules
A Texas filing entity must continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office in Texas.
Who can serve
The registered agent can generally be an individual Texas resident or an organization registered or authorized to do business in Texas with a business office at the registered-office address.
The entity cannot serve itself
An officer, owner or employee may qualify individually, but the business entity itself cannot act as its own registered agent.
Failure to maintain a registered agent and registered office can result in involuntary termination of a domestic entity or revocation of a foreign entity’s Texas registration.
Texas Business Name Availability
Texas requires a filing-entity name to be distinguishable in the Secretary of State’s records from protected names already on file.
Texas allows a preliminary name-availability inquiry by phone at 512-463-5555 or email at CorpInfo@sos.texas.gov. The state warns that a final determination cannot be made until the actual filing is received and processed.
- Search the exact proposed name in the free Comptroller database.
- Search the strongest unique words without LLC, Inc. or Corporation.
- Search close spelling and wording variations.
- Use SOSPortal for current Secretary of State record searching.
- Request preliminary name guidance if the proposed name is important to a transaction.
- Do not spend heavily on branding based only on a preliminary clearance.
A Texas name reservation currently costs $40.
Texas Assumed Names: State vs. County Filing
Texas uses the term assumed name for many DBA filings, but the filing office depends on the type of business.
Entities that file with the Texas SOS
Corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, professional associations, LLPs and foreign filing entities generally file the assumed-name certificate with the Secretary of State.
Businesses that file at county level
Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, joint ventures, estates and certain other unincorporated businesses generally file assumed names with the applicable county clerk.
The current Secretary of State assumed-name filing fee is $25. A filed assumed-name certificate can remain effective for up to 10 years, depending on the duration selected.
Texas Franchise Tax Reports Are Separate From SOS Filings
Texas does not use the same annual-report model as many Secretary of State offices. Much of the recurring public-information reporting is tied to the Texas Comptroller’s franchise-tax system.
The normal annual franchise-tax due date is May 15. Corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, professional associations and financial institutions generally file a Public Information Report when required.
Public Information Reports can feed officer and director information into Texas public records. Ownership Information Reports are treated differently and their ownership details are confidential.
Texas Certificates & Business Record Copies
Texas has more than one document commonly described as proof of “good standing.” Ask the requester exactly which document it needs.
| Document / service | Current fee | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Fact – Status | $15 | Secretary of State evidence of existence or authority to transact business in Texas. |
| Long Form Certificate of Existence | $25 | Status plus a list of filings. |
| Certified copy | $1 per page + $15 certificate fee | Certified reproduction of filed Secretary of State documents. |
| Plain copy | $0.10 per page | Uncertified copy of a filed document. |
| Comptroller Account Status | Free status lookup | Current franchise-tax account status / right-to-transact-business information. |
- Log into SOSPortal.
- Select Search & Order Records.
- Select New Search.
- Enter payment information.
- Select Business Filings.
- Find the entity by name or file number.
- Open the file number and verify the business.
- Select Order Copies & Certificates.
- Choose the required certificate and complete checkout.
Common Texas Business Search & Filing Fees
| Service or filing | Current listed fee | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| Comptroller Taxable Entity Search | Free | Best no-cost starting point for entity status and SOS file number. |
| SOSPortal business search | $1 per search | Search fee is waived when an order or filing is placed from the search result. |
| Texas LLC formation | $300 | Certificate of Formation for a standard Texas LLC. |
| Texas for-profit corporation formation | $300 | Certificate of Formation for a standard for-profit corporation. |
| Texas nonprofit corporation formation | $25 | Different fee from a for-profit corporation or LLC. |
| Name reservation | $40 | Optional reservation before formation. |
| Assumed name certificate | $25 | For qualifying filing entities using a name other than their legal name. |
| Registered agent / office change | $15 | $5 for nonprofit corporations and cooperative associations. |
| Certificate of Fact – Status | $15 | Secretary of State status certificate. |
| Plain copies | $0.10 per page | Uncertified filed-document copies. |
Check the current Texas Business Filings & Trademarks Fee Schedule before paying.
Texas Express: Same-Day, Next-Day & Expedited Filings
Texas offers expedited processing for business filings when timing matters. Expedited review does not guarantee that a document will be accepted; the filing still has to satisfy statutory requirements.
| Service | Current extra fee | Target processing |
|---|---|---|
| Same-Day | $750 per document | By close of business when received by noon. |
| Next-Day | $500 per document | By close of the next business day when received by noon. |
| Standard Expedited | $50 per document | Typically two to three business days. |
Texas announced online Texas Express functionality in October 2026 as part of the SOSPortal modernization.
Common Texas Business Search Problems
| Problem | Best next step |
|---|---|
| No result in free search | Use fewer words, remove LLC/Inc./Corporation and search the distinctive root of the entity name. |
| Wrong number type | Do not mix the 11-digit taxpayer number, 9-digit EIN and SOS file number. |
| Need deeper filing history | Move from the free Comptroller search to SOSPortal using the SOS file number. |
| Old guide says SOSDirect | Use SOSPortal. Texas replaced SOSDirect and SOSUpload on September 29, 2026. |
| Certificate request says “good standing” | Ask whether the recipient wants an SOS Certificate of Fact – Status or Comptroller franchise-tax account status. |
| Registered agent seems to be owner | Do not assume ownership. Registered agent is a service-of-process role. |
| Need sole-proprietor DBA record | Check the applicable county clerk because many unincorporated assumed names are filed at county level. |
Texas Secretary of State Business Filings Contact Information
Have the exact entity name and Texas SOS file number ready when contacting Business Filings about a specific business record.
Business Filings
Agency hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. CT.
In-person lobby
Office of the Texas Secretary of State
400 W. 15th Street
Austin, TX 78701
Current lobby hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Mail & courier
USPS:
Business & Public Filings
P.O. Box 13697
Austin, TX 78711-3697
Express / courier:
Business & Public Filings
1019 Brazos
Austin, TX 78701
Official Texas Business Resources
Free lookup by taxpayer number, EIN, entity name or Texas SOS file number.
Current Secretary of State portal for business searches, filings, copies and certificate orders.
Official hub for formation, search, name availability, registered agents, copies, certificates and filing resources.
Current SOSPortal instructions for Certificate of Fact – Status, certified copies and plain copies.
Current Texas business filing forms and online filing paths.
Current Comptroller reporting requirements, information reports and tax filing guidance.
Texas Business Entity Search FAQ
1. Is the Texas business entity search free?
The Texas Comptroller Franchise Tax Account Status Search is free. The deeper Secretary of State business-record search in SOSPortal currently carries a $1 search fee.
2. Did SOSPortal replace SOSDirect in Texas?
Yes. Texas launched SOSPortal for business filings on September 29, 2026, replacing SOSDirect and SOSUpload for business filing, search and ordering services.
3. Where should I start a Texas LLC or corporation lookup?
Start with the free Texas Comptroller Franchise Tax Account Status Search. Use the entity name, taxpayer number, EIN or SOS file number, then move to SOSPortal only when you need deeper Secretary of State records.
4. What is a Texas SOS file number?
It is the Secretary of State identifier associated with the entity’s Texas filing record. It is different from the Texas taxpayer number and federal EIN.
5. How much does a Texas SOS business search cost?
The current Texas fee schedule lists a $1 search fee. The search fee is waived when an order or filing is placed from the search result.
6. How much is a Texas Certificate of Fact – Status?
The Texas Secretary of State currently charges $15 for a Certificate of Fact – Status, which provides official evidence of an entity’s existence or authority to transact business in Texas.
7. How much does it cost to form a Texas LLC?
The current Texas Secretary of State filing fee for a standard domestic LLC Certificate of Formation is $300.
8. Does a Texas LLC have to file an annual report with the Secretary of State?
Texas recurring reporting is primarily tied to the Comptroller’s franchise-tax system rather than a general annual SOS report. LLCs and many other taxable entities may have annual franchise-tax and Public Information Report obligations.
9. Can a Texas business be its own registered agent?
No. The represented entity cannot serve as its own registered agent. A qualifying Texas resident individual or eligible organization can serve with the required Texas registered-office address.
10. Is a Texas Comptroller status result the same as an SOS Certificate of Fact – Status?
No. The Comptroller result concerns franchise-tax account status and right to transact business, while the Secretary of State Certificate of Fact – Status is an SOS certificate concerning the entity’s existence or authority in Texas.