Register a Foreign Corporation in Texas
To register a foreign corporation in Texas, you must file a Texas Application for Registration with the Texas Secretary of State. You can submit this document by mail, by fax, in person, or online. The Application for Registration for a foreign Texas corporation costs $750 to file. Below, you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about how to file the Application for Registration and register a foreign corporation in Texas. Or, sign up for our Texas Foreign Corporation service, and we’ll handle your filing instead!
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What does it cost to register a foreign corporation in Texas?
$750 for normal or online processing (for-profit and professional corporations).
$25 for non-profit normal or online processing.
$25 additional for expedited processing.
(Fees paid by credit card are subject to a statutorily authorized convenience fee of 2.7 percent of the total fees.)
How long does it take for the state to process the Texas Certificate of Authority?
Online Processing: around 2 business days.
Normal Processing: around 5-7 business days, plus additional time for mailing.
In Person Processing: around 2 business days.
Expedited Processing: around 2 business day, plus additional time for mailing.
How will I get verification of qualification back from Texas?
Evidence of filing will be sent to the submitter together with a file-stamped copy of the form, if a duplicate copy was provided as instructed.
What forms do I file with Texas to qualify my out of state corporation?
The Application for Registration form (in duplicate) and the filing fee is required. There are different forms for for-profit corporations, professional corporations and non-profit corporations.
What do I need from my home state?
Nothing.
Will I need an Texas registered agent for my corporation?
Yes, when you hire Northwest as your registered agent, it’s a flat rate yearly price of $125 a year. You’ll have an online account that tracks your report due dates, which states you’re registered in, when your yearly service with us is up, and any documents we receive locally for you are uploaded into your account immediately for complete viewing. If or when you get served with a lawsuit, we can email up to 4 people and your attorney at the same time for real time complete viewing of a lawsuit. You’ll receive annual report reminders. It’s the same price every year, and there are no weird fees or cancellation fees.
You’ll also see all the pre-populated forms and specific filing instructions on the thank you page, in your online account, and they are emailed to you immediately upon signing up for 1 year of registered agent service in Texas.
Does the Texas registered agent need to sign the filing?
No. However, the foreign corporation cannot act as its own registered agent. Do not enter the entity name as the name of the registered agent.
How can I file the Texas Certificate of Authority?
By mail, fax, in person or online. If a document is transmitted by fax, credit card information must accompany the transmission (Form 807). You will also want to fax your form twice so they have a duplicate copy.
What is the state agency that accepts the out of state registration?
Texas Secretary of State
PO Box 13697
Austin, TX 78711-3697
or
1019 Brazos
Austin, Texas 78701
Phone: (512)463-5555
Fax: (512)463-5709
Do the signatures on the Texas corporation application need to be original?
No.
Who has to sign the foreign corporation filing?
An authorized person on behalf of the corporation must sign the form.
Are there any weird things about registering in Texas?
Corporations are subject to a state franchise tax. Nonprofit corporations are also subject to a state franchise tax unless an exemption from those taxes is granted.
When providing address information for directors or governing persons, you may use a business or post office box address rather than a residence address if privacy concerns are an issue.
If you have a Professional Corporation, you will want to review Section 301.012 of the BOC. The state agencies exercising regulatory control over the professions to which the joint practice provisions apply continue to exercise regulatory authority over the respective licenses.
County filing or publication is not necessary for foreign corporations, unless specifically required by the county in which your registered agent resides.
Are there ongoing Texas annual report and/or initial reporting requirements?
The Comptrollers Office will contact your registered agent regarding any reporting requirements.
Initial reports, if applicable, for profit corporations in Texas are due within 1 year and 90 days from the entity organizing in or registering to do business in Texas.
Any profit corporation annual reports in Texas are due May 1st initially, and May 15th thereafter.
Under Section 22.357 of the BOC, the secretary of state may require a nonprofit corporation to file a report not more often than once every four years. The secretary of state will send notice to your nonprofit corporation at its registered office as to the time this report is due, if applicable.
What are your fees?
You’ll need to have an Texas registered agent. We charge $125 a year to act as your registered agent in Texas. It’s a flat rate, once a year fee, and includes more than other registered agents. Here’s a little more about our registered agent service.
We charge a $100 one-time filing service fee if you would like us to obtain the certificates needed from your home state, and register your company in any state you choose. We have offices in every state and can act as your registered agent and make your filings for you in any state. If you would like to register with multiple states at once, we can usually drop our filing service fee down.