Verify the Right Texas Business Record
Use SOSDirect for detailed Secretary of State filings, registered-agent information and document history, then use the free Comptroller search when you need the entity’s franchise-tax right to transact business.
This guide shows which tool to open, how to fix missing results, how to check a DBA, and what Texas status, certificate and 2026 franchise-tax terms actually mean.
What do you need to verify?
Select the task rather than opening the first state page you find.
Choose the Correct Texas Business Search
Texas separates detailed Secretary of State records from the Comptroller’s franchise-tax status. The searches are complementary, not interchangeable.
SOSDirect detailed entity search
Current statutory fee: $1 per searchUse SOSDirect when you need the legal entity record, SOS file number, registered agent, registered office, management information, filing history, document images, copies or certificates.
- Available continuously through the official online service.
- A temporary login can be used for many searches and orders.
- The $1 search charge is waived when an order or filing is placed from the search result.
Free Comptroller account-status search
Current public search fee: $0Use the Franchise Tax Account Status search to check the Comptroller’s record of a taxable entity’s right to transact business in Texas.
- Search by entity name, taxpayer number, federal EIN or Texas SOS file number.
- Print the result when a current account-status record is sufficient.
- Do not treat it as a substitute for formation documents or filing history.
| Need | SOSDirect | Comptroller search |
|---|---|---|
| Detailed legal entity record | Yes | Limited identifying data |
| Search fee | $1 per search | Free |
| Registered agent and office | Yes | Not the primary source |
| Filing history and document images | Yes | No |
| Right to transact for franchise-tax purposes | No | Yes |
| Certificate of Fact – Status | Order here | Different status documents |
Open the appropriate official source only after deciding which question you need answered.
How to Search SOSDirect Step by Step
SOSDirect is more detailed than the free Comptroller search. Follow the process carefully so the $1 search opens the most useful record.
Enter SOSDirect through the official page
Confirm that you are on a Texas Secretary of State page. Use an existing client account or the temporary-user option when available for the task.
Open Business Organizations
Choose the business-organisation search rather than UCC, trademark or another filing system.
Search by entity name or SOS file number
The file number is the most precise key. Do not substitute the federal EIN or Comptroller taxpayer number in the SOS file-number field.
Use the distinctive name words
When an exact name fails, remove punctuation and designators such as LLC, Inc., Corporation, LP or Company.
Compare similar entity results
Check entity type, jurisdiction, formation or registration date, SOS file number and status before opening a record.
Review the complete entity profile
Match the legal name, registered agent, registered office, governing people and legal status.
Open filing history and available images
Review formation, amendments, agent changes, mergers, terminations and reinstatements. Available images can be saved or printed from the filing history.
Order a certificate only when required
Ask the bank, agency or transaction partner whether it needs a Certificate of Fact – Status, a long-form certificate or a certified copy of a specific filing.
Search by Registered Agent, Officer, Director, Member or Manager
SOSDirect can connect entities with several public roles. These searches are useful when you know a person or agent but not the exact legal company name.
Registered-agent search
Use this when a contract, notice or formation document identifies an agent but the entity name is incomplete. A professional agent can represent many unrelated companies, so compare the full entity record.
Corporation officer or director search
This can identify corporations connected to a reported officer or director. It does not show every shareholder, and the management record may depend on the most recent Public Information Report.
LLC member or manager search
Use reported member or manager information as an identity clue. A manager is not necessarily an owner, and public management information may lag behind a recent internal change.
Limited-partnership general-partner search
A general-partner search can connect a person or entity to a limited partnership. Open the partnership record and filings before relying on that relationship.
How to Read a Texas Entity Record
Read the legal record and the franchise-tax record as separate layers. One field should not be treated as complete verification.
| Record field | What it means | What it does not prove | Useful next check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal name | The name on the Secretary of State entity record. | That every brand, store or website uses the same name. | Search assumed-name filings and contracts. |
| SOS file number | The Secretary of State identifier for the filing record. | It is not the federal EIN or Comptroller taxpayer number. | Use it in SOSDirect and the Comptroller status search. |
| Domestic or foreign | Domestic entities formed in Texas; foreign entities formed elsewhere and registered in Texas. | Foreign does not necessarily mean outside the United States. | Identify the formation jurisdiction and Texas registration date. |
| Formation or registration date | The date the domestic entity formed or foreign registration became effective. | Continuous operation since that date. | Review later termination, revocation or reinstatement filings. |
| Registered agent | The person or eligible organisation designated to receive legal process and official notices. | Ownership or management control. | Compare management information and current filings. |
| Registered office | The physical Texas address where the registered agent can be served during business hours. | That it is the customer-facing or principal office. | Compare company communications and principal-office information. |
| Governing people | Reported officers, directors, members, managers or general partners. | Complete ownership or current signing authority. | Review the latest PIR/OIR and internal authority documents. |
| Filing history | A chronological record of accepted business filings. | Every internal ownership or operational event. | Open the newest document relevant to the issue. |
| SOS legal status | The entity’s existence or authority in Secretary of State records. | Current franchise-tax right to transact. | Run the Comptroller account-status search. |
| Franchise Tax Account Status | The Comptroller’s record of the taxable entity’s right to transact business. | Formation history, registered agent or filed-document contents. | Use SOSDirect when the legal record is needed. |
Texas Registered Agent and Registered Office Rules
Domestic and foreign filing entities must continuously maintain both a registered agent and a registered office in Texas.
Registered agent
- May be an individual Texas resident or an eligible organisation authorised to do business in Texas.
- Receives service of process, official notices and legal demands.
- Must consent to the appointment.
- The represented entity cannot serve as its own registered agent.
- An eligible owner, officer or employee may serve, but that role does not prove ownership.
Registered office
- Must be a physical Texas address where the agent can be personally served during business hours.
- May be the same as the business office when the requirements are met.
- Cannot solely be a standard mailbox or telephone-answering-service address.
- Must be kept current through the proper change filing.
- Failure to maintain it can lead to involuntary termination or revocation.
Use the official registered-agent guidance after determining whether the agent or office information needs verification or correction.
SOS Status vs Comptroller Right to Transact
A Texas entity can have a Secretary of State legal record and a different Comptroller franchise-tax status. State the agency whenever describing a company’s status.
| Status or event | Agency/source | Plain-English meaning | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existing or active SOS record | Secretary of State | The entity exists or remains authorised in the SOS filing record. | Check Comptroller status and latest filings before relying on it. |
| Involuntarily terminated | Secretary of State | A domestic filing entity was terminated through an administrative process. | Review the cause and reinstatement filings. |
| Registration revoked | Secretary of State | A foreign entity’s Texas registration was revoked. | Check whether it later reinstated or re-registered. |
| Right to transact business | Comptroller | The franchise-tax account currently permits the entity to transact business for Comptroller purposes. | Print the result when the transaction accepts the online status record. |
| Franchise-tax forfeiture | Comptroller | The entity failed to resolve required franchise-tax filings or payments after notice. | File missing reports, pay liabilities and complete the reinstatement process. |
| Certificate of Fact – Status | Secretary of State | Official evidence of the entity’s legal existence or authority and SOS status. | Order only when an official certificate is requested. |
No Texas Entity Found? Use This Troubleshooting Order
A missing result may come from the spelling, entity designator, old name, assumed name, entity type or search system—not necessarily from a lack of registration.
Check Texas Business Name Availability
An online name search or preliminary staff response is not the final filing decision. The Secretary of State determines availability when the formation, registration or reservation filing is reviewed.
Run these name variations
- Complete proposed legal name.
- Distinctive words without LLC or Inc.
- Singular and plural forms.
- Common abbreviations and spacing changes.
- Similar-sounding names.
- Existing assumed names and trademarks.
Do not confuse these rights
- Entity-name acceptance is a filing decision.
- Name reservation temporarily holds an available entity name.
- Assumed-name filing is primarily public notice.
- Trademark rights are a separate legal question.
- Online availability does not excuse infringement or unfair competition.
120-day name reservation
The official fee schedule lists a $40 fee for a Texas name reservation or renewal. The reservation period is 120 days. Reserving a name does not form the company.
Use the Secretary of State name guidance and fee schedule after completing a preliminary conflict search.
Find or File a Texas DBA or Assumed Name
The correct filing office depends on the business type. A Texas filing entity and an individual sole proprietor do not follow the same path.
| Business type | Where to file | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Texas or foreign corporation, LLC, LP, LLP or other filing entity | Texas Secretary of State using the applicable assumed-name filing | Since September 1, 2019, these filing entities generally do not duplicate the SOS filing with county clerks. |
| Individual, sole proprietor or other unincorporated business | County clerk in each applicable county where a business premise is maintained | County procedures, forms and fees can vary. |
$25 state filing fee
The current Secretary of State fee for one assumed-name certificate is $25. A separate certificate is required for each assumed name.
Up to ten years
The certificate can be effective for a period not exceeding ten years and can be renewed through a new certificate within six months before expiration.
Select counties or all Texas counties
The state form allows all counties, all except listed counties, or only specifically listed counties.
New certificate after material change
There is no ordinary amendment process. A materially misleading change calls for a new certificate within 60 days.
No SOS conflict approval
The filing is public notice. The Secretary of State does not approve the assumed name against every conflicting name.
$10 abandonment filing
The official fee schedule lists a $10 fee to abandon an assumed-name certificate before its expiration.
Use the official Form 503 instructions only after deciding that the business is a filing entity subject to the Secretary of State path.
Review Filing History and Management Information
The summary profile identifies the entity. Filing history explains how its name, agent, structure and legal status changed over time.
Certificate of formation
Shows the entity’s original Texas formation information and organiser.
Foreign registration
Shows when an out-of-state entity registered to transact business in Texas.
Name or governing change
May explain a previous legal name or amended formation provision.
Registered-agent change
Shows updates to the agent or registered-office information.
Merger or conversion
Identifies the surviving or converted entity when the original record changed form.
Termination or reinstatement
Shows whether the entity ended, was involuntarily terminated or later restored.
Why management information can lag
Some SOS management information comes from Public Information Reports filed with the Comptroller. A recent internal officer, director, member or manager change may not appear until a later report updates the public record.
Which Texas Status Certificate or Copy Do You Need?
Texas has several documents that sound similar. Ask what the requester needs and which agency must issue it before paying.
| Need | Document or result | Current fee | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official evidence of legal existence or authority | Certificate of Fact – Status | $15 | Texas Secretary of State through SOSDirect |
| Status plus a list of filings | Long-form Certificate of Existence | $25 | Texas Secretary of State |
| Official copy of a specific filed document | Certified copy | $1 per page plus $15 per certificate | Texas Secretary of State |
| Read a filing without certification | Plain copy | $0.10 per page | Texas Secretary of State |
| Current right to transact for franchise-tax purposes | Printable Franchise Tax Account Status result | Free | Texas Comptroller |
| Terminate, withdraw or reinstate in a process requiring tax clearance | Certificate of Account Status or Tax Clearance Letter, when applicable | Follow Comptroller process | Texas Comptroller |
Verify a certificate you received
The Secretary of State provides an online certificate-verification service. Enter the document or certificate number shown at the bottom of the issued certificate to confirm that the agency issued it.
Use the official copy and certificate instructions after the requester confirms the required document.
Texas Franchise Tax and PIR/OIR Requirements for 2026
Texas does not use one universal Secretary of State annual report for ordinary corporations and LLCs. Most taxable entities instead handle annual franchise-tax and information-report requirements through the Comptroller.
What the 2026 threshold means
- The 2026 no-tax-due threshold is $2.65 million in annualised total revenue.
- An entity at or below the threshold generally does not file the discontinued No Tax Due Report.
- It can still be required to file a Public Information Report or Ownership Information Report.
- Being below the threshold does not mean the entity can ignore all 2026 franchise-tax filing obligations.
| Situation | Likely 2026 filing responsibility | Important caution |
|---|---|---|
| Annualised revenue at or below $2.65 million | No No Tax Due Report; file the applicable PIR or OIR unless an exception applies. | Do not assume “no tax due” means “nothing to file.” |
| Revenue above the threshold | File the applicable franchise-tax computation report plus the required PIR or OIR. | Use current Comptroller forms and instructions for the entity’s facts. |
| Corporation, LLC, LP, professional association or certain financial entity | Often files a Public Information Report. | Management data can feed public SOS records. |
| Other taxable entity type | May file an Ownership Information Report. | Check the Comptroller entity-type rules rather than guessing. |
| Qualifying new veteran-owned business | Special exemptions can apply during the qualifying period. | Confirm continued qualification under current rules. |
What happens before tax forfeiture?
The Comptroller sends notice of a pending forfeiture and provides a statutory response period before the right to transact is forfeited. Resolve missing reports, tax, penalties and interest as soon as a notice is received.
PIR and OIR are public-information tools
These reports can provide management or ownership-related names to state records, but they do not automatically prove complete beneficial ownership or current authority for a transaction.
Use the official 2026 forms and filing-requirement pages after identifying the entity’s revenue and report type.
Registered Agent, Officer, Manager or Owner?
Role labels answer different questions. Use the comparison below to avoid identifying the wrong person as the owner.
| Role | Typical function | Does it prove ownership? |
|---|---|---|
| Registered agent | Receives legal process and official notices at the registered office. | No. Professional agents can represent many unrelated entities. |
| Corporation officer | Performs a reported corporate office such as president, secretary or treasurer. | No. An officer can serve without owning shares. |
| Director | Participates in corporate governance. | No. Director status does not establish share ownership. |
| LLC member | May hold an LLC ownership interest and governance rights. | It can indicate ownership, but the public record may not be complete or current. |
| LLC manager | Manages a manager-managed LLC. | No. A manager does not have to be a member. |
| General partner | Manages and bears the applicable responsibilities of a limited partnership. | It identifies a partnership role, but not every economic interest. |
| Organiser or incorporator | Signs or submits the formation filing. | No. This may be an attorney, employee or formation service. |
Use the Correct Texas Lookup Tool
The entity record does not replace sales-tax, tax-exemption, UCC, professional-licence or federal EIN research.
Contact Texas Business & Public Filings
Contact the division after gathering the entity name, file number and exact task. Verify the current physical location before travelling because some older pages and forms may show a previous delivery address.
Prepare these details first
- Exact legal name and spelling variants.
- Texas SOS file number, when available.
- Entity type and formation jurisdiction.
- Registered agent or governing person searched.
- Filing, order, session or document number.
- Screenshot of the issue with payment data removed.
Final Checklist Before You Rely on a Texas Record
Use this final pass before signing a contract, paying a vendor, lending money, ordering a certificate or representing that an entity is current.
TX SOS Business Search FAQs
Is the Texas Secretary of State business search free?
No. The official SOSDirect service currently charges $1 for each search. The charge is waived when an order or filing is placed from the search result. The Texas Comptroller Franchise Tax Account Status search is free but provides a different, tax-status-focused record.
What is the difference between SOSDirect and the Texas Comptroller search?
SOSDirect provides detailed Secretary of State entity records, registered-agent information, management data, filing history, copies and certificates. The Comptroller search reports the franchise-tax account status and right to transact business.
Can I search a Texas business by registered agent?
Yes. SOSDirect can be used to search by registered agent as well as entity name and certain management roles. An agent may represent many unrelated businesses, so open the complete entity record before relying on the result.
Can SOSDirect show the owner of a Texas LLC?
It may display reported members or managers, but the public record may not provide a complete or current beneficial-ownership picture. A manager is not necessarily an owner, and management information can lag behind recent internal changes.
What is a Texas SOS file number?
It is the identification number assigned to the entity’s Secretary of State filing record. It is different from the federal EIN and the Comptroller’s taxpayer number.
What does “right to transact business” mean?
It is the Comptroller’s franchise-tax account status indicating whether the taxable entity currently has the right to transact business in Texas for franchise-tax purposes. It is separate from the Secretary of State legal filing record.
How do I search for a Texas DBA or assumed name?
Texas corporations, LLCs, LPs, LLPs and qualifying foreign filing entities generally use the Secretary of State assumed-name process. Individuals, sole proprietors and other unincorporated businesses generally use the appropriate county clerk.
How much does a Texas Certificate of Fact – Status cost?
The current Secretary of State fee schedule lists a $15 fee for a Certificate of Fact, including a Certificate of Existence or Status. A long-form Certificate of Existence with a filing list costs $25.
When is the 2026 Texas franchise-tax report due?
The annual 2026 Texas franchise-tax due date is May 15, 2026. The no-tax-due threshold is $2.65 million, but an entity at or below the threshold may still need to file a Public Information Report or Ownership Information Report.
Is the Texas entity search the same as an EIN, sales-tax, UCC or licence search?
No. Use IRS records for EIN matters, the Comptroller Sales Taxpayer Search for sales-tax permits, the Texas UCC system for financing statements and the responsible state board or agency for professional licensing.
Source and freshness note: fees, thresholds, due dates, addresses and online interfaces can change. This guide links to the relevant Texas government pages so users can verify the current amount, status and filing requirement before paying or submitting information.