Registered Agent in Texas: requirements, cost & best options
Texas has no state income tax and no normal annual report — but a strict registered-agent consent rule and a Public Information Report that's due even at $0 tax. Here's what that means for your LLC.
By Luis Cornado, Founder & Editor · Published June 7, 2026 · Updated July 26, 2026
The exact Texas rules, real costs, and the right registered-agent option for your LLC — checked against the official Texas source.
The Short Answer
- Texas requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical Texas street address — a PO box does not qualify.
- Texas is stricter than most: your agent must formally consent to the role (Form 401-A). A commercial agent does this automatically.
- You can be your own agent with a Texas address and your written consent.
- There's no Secretary of State annual report, but you must still file an annual Public Information Report (PIR) with the Comptroller by May 15 — even if you owe $0 tax. (Since 2024, LLCs under the ~$2.47M threshold file only the PIR, not a separate franchise tax report.)
- No state income tax. For privacy and to handle consent and mail forwarding cleanly, a service like Northwest is the easy choice.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never changes what we recommend or what you pay. See how we make money.
boltQuick decision for Texas
- chevron_rightUse a professional registered agent if you work from home, travel, keep irregular hours, or run the LLC from outside Texas — it keeps your street address off the public record and guarantees someone is there to accept a lawsuit.
- chevron_rightBe your own agent if you have a staffed Texas street address during business hours and don't mind that address appearing on the public Secretary of State record.
- chevron_rightNorthwest fits if privacy and never missing the § 5.2011 consent step or the Comptroller's May 15 deadline matter more to you than saving ~$125 a year.
Texas Registered Agent & LLC Facts
| Requirement / Metric | Texas Specifics |
|---|---|
| Registered agent required? | Yes — every Texas LLC & corporation |
| Governing statute | Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 5.201 (designation) & § 5.2011 (consent) |
| Physical Texas address required? | Yes — a physical Texas street address |
| PO box allowed? | No — a PO box does not satisfy the requirement |
| Can you be your own agent? | Yes, with a Texas street address — but you must consent to the role in writing (Form 401-A) |
| LLC filing fee | $300 (confirm current) |
| Annual report | No Secretary of State annual report — but a Public Information Report (PIR) is due to the Comptroller by May 15. Since 2024, LLCs under the ~$2.47M no-tax-due threshold file only the PIR (the separate No Tax Due Report was discontinued) |
| Franchise / annual tax | Franchise (margin) tax applies only above the no-tax-due threshold (~$2.47M, 2024–2025; indexed periodically). Most small LLCs owe $0 and — since 2024 — no longer file a No Tax Due Report, but they still file the PIR. No state income tax. |
| Publication requirement | None |
| Change registered agent fee | $15 (Form 401, filed with the Secretary of State) |
| Official source | Texas Division / Secretary of State |
Fees and rules change — always confirm the current figures on the official Texas source linked above before filing.
What Texas requires from a registered agent
Like every state, Texas requires every LLC to keep a registered agent at a physical Texas street address (a PO box won't do), staffed during business hours to receive lawsuits and official state mail.
Can you be your own registered agent in Texas?
Yes, with a Texas street address — but you must consent to the role in writing (Form 401-A). The catch most pages skip: that address goes on Texas's public record (scraped by data brokers if it's your home), and you must be available during business hours or risk missing a lawsuit — so home-based and remote owners usually use a service. Here's the full DIY trade-off.
thumb_upBeing your own agent — pros
- addNo annual registered-agent fee — you keep the ~$100–$125/year a service would charge
- addYou receive every state notice and legal document directly, with no middle layer
- addPerfectly workable if you already staff a Texas street address during business hours
infoCons & risks
- removeYour Texas street address becomes part of the public Secretary of State record — and home addresses get scraped by data brokers
- removeYou must be physically present during business hours; a process server who finds you out can still complete service, and a missed suit can become a default judgment
- removeYou handle the § 5.2011 consent yourself and must file Form 401 ($15) every time your address changes
Using your home as your own agent address puts it on a public, searchable state record and invites service of process at your door — sometimes in front of family or customers. For home-based Texas founders, that exposure is the main reason to use a service.
Registered agent cost in Texas
Forming an LLC in Texas costs $300 up front, and a registered agent runs about $100–$150 a year on top — Northwest includes the first year free, then about $125. Full breakdown, including the DIY $0 route, in cheapest registered agent. To see Texas's filing and annual fees beside all 50 states, use our LLC cost calculator.
Privacy & the public record in Texas
The registered-agent address you give Texas goes onto the public Secretary of State record and is searchable by anyone — data brokers, marketers, and process servers included. List your home and that becomes the address tied publicly to your business. Texas also bars a registered office that is only a mailbox or answering service (Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 5.201), so a UPS box won't substitute. The clean fix is a commercial agent: their Texas street address appears on the record instead of yours, while your legal mail still reaches you.
Out-of-state & non-resident founders: Out-of-state and international founders can own a Texas LLC, but Texas still requires a registered agent with a physical Texas street address available during business hours — which you usually can't provide yourself from another state or country. A commercial agent is effectively required there, and it also handles the § 5.2011 consent and forwards the Comptroller notices you'd otherwise miss from afar.
Comparing options? See our Northwest review, Northwest vs LegalZoom, or the budget pick in Northwest vs Bizee.
Best Registered Agent Services in Texas
We weigh providers on real first-year and renewal cost, privacy, upsell pressure, and support — the same way for every state. Here are the three we point Texas founders to.
Northwest
First year free when you form, then a flat ~$125/year. Strong privacy and no upsell funnel.
- doneRegistered agent free for year one
- donePrivacy by Default® — their address, not yours
- doneUS-based support, no upsells
Bizee
Lowest upfront cost — $0 service fee, first RA year free. Best if you'll decline the checkout add-ons.
- done$0 formation service fee
- done1st year registered agent free
- doneLifetime compliance alerts
ZenBusiness
$99 intro first year
All-in-one platform with a compliance guarantee. We don't earn a commission from ZenBusiness — here's our honest comparison.
- doneWorry-Free compliance guarantee
- doneAll-in-one formation suite
- doneHigher renewal than our top picks
Pricing reflects each provider's advertised rates as of July 2026 and can change — confirm the current price on the provider's own site before you buy.
Compare your options in Texas
Every realistic way to meet the Texas registered-agent requirement — including doing it yourself.
| Option | Best for | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Be your own agent | Founders with a staffed Texas street address who want $0 cost |
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| Northwest Registered Agent | Privacy-focused, home-based, or out-of-state Texas owners |
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| Bizee or another formation service | Owners who want the lowest upfront formation cost |
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| Texas attorney or CPA as agent | Complex entities already paying a Texas professional |
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Texas's consent rule and the Public Information Report
Texas looks low-maintenance — no state income tax and no traditional Secretary-of-State annual report. But two Texas-specific things trip people up. First, your registered agent must formally consent to serving (Form 401-A); you can't just list someone, and a commercial agent gives that consent automatically. Second, instead of a SOS annual report, every Texas LLC files an annual Public Information Report (PIR) with the Comptroller — and it's required even if your revenue is below the no-tax-due threshold (about $2.47M), which most small businesses are. Since 2024, those sub-threshold LLCs no longer file a separate No Tax Due Report, but the PIR is still mandatory. Miss the PIR and you can lose good standing. Changing your agent later is a separate $15 Form 401 filing.
Texas is genuinely a good fit for:
- doneBusinesses physically operating in Texas
- doneOwners who value having no state income tax
- doneCompanies serving the large Texas market
How a Texas LLC's paperwork splits across two agencies
The single thing that trips up Texas founders: formation and your registered agent live with the Secretary of State, but the annual report you can't skip lives with the Comptroller — a different agency, a different login, a hard May 15 deadline.
Texas-specific things to know
The thing that trips up new Texas owners is that the state splits its paperwork across two different agencies. You form your LLC and change your registered agent with the Secretary of State (online via SOSDirect). But your annual Public Information Report (PIR) — plus a franchise tax report only if you're over the threshold — goes to a completely separate agency, the Texas Comptroller, through WebFile, with its own login and a May 15 deadline. Many people set up the LLC, then forget the Comptroller side exists until a delinquency notice arrives.
Two more Texas-specific catches. First, your registered agent must formally consent to the role — Texas provides Form 401-A (Acceptance of Appointment); you cannot simply list someone, and a commercial agent like Northwest handles this automatically. Second, most small LLCs owe $0 in franchise tax because they fall under the Comptroller's 'no tax due' revenue threshold — but they still must file the PIR every year (since 2024, the separate No Tax Due Report is no longer required below the ~$2.47M threshold). Owing nothing is not the same as filing nothing, and missing the PIR can lead the state to forfeit your LLC's right to do business (and the liability shield with it) until you reinstate.
Changing your agent later is a separate Form 401 filing ($15) with the Secretary of State — it cannot be done on the PIR. Texas has no state income tax and no traditional SOS annual report, which makes the Comptroller filings the obligation that actually matters.
Looking up an existing registered agent in Texas
Every Texas company's registered agent is public record — you can find any LLC's or corporation's agent, with the registered office address, free through SOSDirect. Search by company name and the record shows the current agent on file.
The usual reasons to look one up: serving legal papers on a company, due diligence on a business you're about to deal with, or confirming your own record updated correctly after a change of agent (in Texas, that filing is $15).
"Registered agent near me" in Texas — explained
Searched "registered agent near me"? In Texas it's not about being near you — your agent just needs a physical Texas street address, staffed during business hours, on file with the Texas filing office. That's why a national service like Northwest works no matter where in Texas — or which state — you personally live.
How to change your registered agent in Texas
To switch in Texas, file the state's change-of-agent form ($15) and put the new agent on record before cancelling the old one — many services handle it. Full steps in how to change your registered agent.
How to start an LLC in Texas
In short: choose your name, appoint a registered agent (the step above), file your formation document with Texas ($300), and get a free EIN from the IRS. Then keep it compliant: No Secretary of State annual report — but a Public Information Report (PIR) is due to the Comptroller by May 15. Since 2024, LLCs under the ~$2.47M no-tax-due threshold file only the PIR (the separate No Tax Due Report was discontinued). Franchise (margin) tax applies only above the no-tax-due threshold (~$2.47M, 2024–2025; indexed periodically). Most small LLCs owe $0 and — since 2024 — no longer file a No Tax Due Report, but they still file the PIR. No state income tax.. For the full walkthrough see our cheapest way to start an LLC guide.
Which path is right for you in Texas?
verifiedUse Northwest if
- doneYou work from home or want to keep your address off the public record
- doneYou're forming or operating the LLC from outside Texas
- doneYou'd rather not track the § 5.2011 consent step or the Comptroller's May 15 deadline yourself
personBe your own agent if
- checkYou have a Texas street address that's staffed during business hours
- checkYou're comfortable with that address appearing on the public Secretary of State record
- checkYou're confident you'll file the annual Public Information Report (PIR) on time
compare_arrowsConsider other options if
- checkYour only priority is the lowest upfront formation cost (a budget service like Bizee)
- checkYou already pay a Texas attorney or CPA who can serve as your agent
- checkYou want to compare on price first — see our Northwest vs Bizee and Northwest vs ZenBusiness guides
Texas Registered Agent FAQ
What is the Texas Public Information Report (PIR)?expand_more
Does my Texas registered agent have to consent to the role?expand_more
Which Texas agency do I file with — the Secretary of State or the Comptroller?expand_more
How do I change my registered agent in Texas?expand_more
Does a Texas LLC have to file an annual report?expand_more
Does my Texas LLC owe franchise tax?expand_more
What happens if I miss the Texas franchise tax or PIR deadline?expand_more
Does Texas have a state income tax?expand_more
Official Texas sources
Comparing states?
Founders weighing Texas usually shortlist these too — or see every state's fees side by side.
Keep reading
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This page is for general informational purposes and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Texas fees and rules can change — confirm current details with the official Texas source before filing.