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Formation Facts

What the state wants, and what it costs.

LLC cost guide · Texas

Texas LLC Fees (2026): What the State Charges and the 3 Best LLC Services

For anyone starting a limited liability company in Texas this year, 2026, we would go with Mainstay Filing ($199), TX Registered Agent.org ($199) and Texas Registered Agent.ai ($199), in that order. Texas charges $300 when you form the LLC and nothing every year when you file the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report. Compared with the other 49 states over three years, that ranks 33rd.
Briefing by the Formation Facts team

Texas in brief

33rd

among 50 states for three-year state fees

A rank of 1 means the lowest bill (same total as others). The whole 50-state comparison

  • Fee the state takes at filing

    $300

    Per sos.texas.gov, confirmed October 2026

  • Recurring report

    No fee

    Deadline, as the state states it: May 15. Per comptroller.texas.gov, confirmed October 2026

  • Cost of missing the deadline

    $50

    Per comptroller.texas.gov, confirmed October 2026

  • What the state collects in 3 years

    $300

    Filing in year 1, reports in years 2 and 3

Services ranked for Texas

Five weighted criteria set the order (see the method): three-year fees 33%, filings covered 26%, and then renewal terms, fit with Texas rules and a clear state fee.

Our top choice

1. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who would rather not file the Public Information Report themselves

$199 a year, renewing at $199

Mainstay Filing earns the top spot because a $199 yearly price replaces three separate jobs: the Texas formation, the registered agent and the Public Information Report.

Compare it with TX Registered Agent.org and the three-year bill is $200 higher, with more of the filings handled.

Each renewal includes the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report with no state fee.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares your formation papers and files them
  • Acts as your registered agent all year
  • Prepares and files your Public Information Report
  • Applies for your EIN
  • The state fee is handed on as is

What works

  • It files your EIN application
  • A flat $199 a year
  • Renews at $199

What to weigh

  • TX Registered Agent.org renews for $100 less
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Home-state option

2. TX Registered Agent.org: best for a thrifty first year

$199 to form, then $99 a year

Next comes TX Registered Agent.org, because you pay $199 plus the state fee, with your first agent year included, then $99 a year.

The price does not cover the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares your formation filing
  • First year of agent service

What works

  • A year of agent service is in the price
  • $199 to form
  • A $99 renewal

What to weigh

  • Filing the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report is something you do yourself
  • It charges $99 for the EIN application
Visit TX Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Home-state option

3. Texas Registered Agent.ai: best for LLCs that only operate in Texas

$199 to form, then $99 a year

Last on the list is Texas Registered Agent.ai, because you pay $199 plus the state fee, with your first agent year included, then $99 a year.

The price does not cover the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report.

It ties with TX Registered Agent.org on price.

What your money gets you

  • Prepares your formation filing
  • First year of agent service

What works

  • A $99 renewal
  • $199 to form
  • A year of agent service is in the price

What to weigh

  • Filing the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report is something you do yourself
  • It charges $99 for the EIN application
Visit Texas Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3 services, one table

RankWhoYou pay in year 1Then per yearTheir fees across 3 years
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2TX Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit TX Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Texas Registered Agent.ai$199$99/yr$397Visit Texas Registered Agent.aiPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
These are the prices each company showed on November 13, 2026. The state's $300 is not counted in the figures above.

Work out your total

Pick how many years you want to total and which provider you would use. What the state takes is built from its own schedule: $300 when you form, then the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report from year 2.
With Mainstay Filing, 3 years will cost you $897: $300 to the state and $597 to the provider.

How Texas compares with the states near it in the ranking

RankStateThree-year state fees
33rdNew Hampshire$300
33rdOregon$300
33rdTexas$300
37thWashington$340
38thArkansas$345
LLC costs by state lines up every state, starting with the lowest cost.

How much it costs to file an LLC in Texas

You will pay $300, and you file the Certificate of Formation (Form 205) with the Texas Secretary of State, as Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 3.005 provides. The providers below hand it along without a markup.

Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report: what it costs and when to file

Budget no money for the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report every year, which is due May 15. The price of being late is $50.

Why the Texas list is in this order

In Texas, Mainstay Filing beat TX Registered Agent.org on upkeep the price covers (26%).

TX Registered Agent.org costs less, but you would still have to file the Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report.

Common questions

How much will Texas charge me to form an LLC?

Filing costs $300 at the state office. A provider adds $199 to your bill.

What will I pay for the Texas Public Information Report + Franchise Tax Report?

You pay nothing, every year, and the deadline reads May 15. Filing late costs $50.

Is Texas a low-cost state for LLCs?

Texas ranks 33rd of 50 on three-year state fees, tied with other states, at $300. Rank 1 is the lowest total.

Will I need a registered agent in Texas?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which LLC services does this page rank?

Mainstay Filing ($199), TX Registered Agent.org ($199) and Texas Registered Agent.ai ($199), from strongest to weakest.

Which LLC service should I choose?

Start with Mainstay Filing: for $199 a year you get the Texas filing, a registered agent and your Public Information Report, and it renews at $199. Then look at TX Registered Agent.org and Texas Registered Agent.ai.

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Where this briefing comes from

  1. Everything in this briefing about Texas yearly filing: Annual report, official source rests on comptroller.texas.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  2. Everything in this briefing about Texas report due date rests on statutes.capitol.texas.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  3. Everything in this briefing about Tex rests on sos.texas.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  4. Everything in this briefing about Texas registered agent statute rests on sos.texas.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  5. Everything in this briefing about N.H rests on gc.nh.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  6. Everything in this briefing about New Hampshire formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on sos.nh.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  7. Everything in this briefing about New Hampshire formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on gc.nh.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  8. Everything in this briefing about New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporations Division rests on sos.nh.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  9. Everything in this briefing about ORS 63.044 and ORS 63.047 rests on oregonlegislature.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  10. Everything in this briefing about Oregon formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on sos.oregon.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  11. Everything in this briefing about Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division rests on sos.oregon.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  12. Everything in this briefing about Oregon Secretary of State, Corporation Division rests on sos.oregon.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  13. Everything in this briefing about Washington formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on sos.wa.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  14. Everything in this briefing about Washington formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on sos.wa.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  15. Everything in this briefing about Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division rests on ccfs.sos.wa.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  16. Everything in this briefing about Washington Secretary of State, Corporations & Charities Division rests on sos.wa.gov, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  17. Everything in this briefing about Washington yearly filing: Annual report, official source rests on sos.wa.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  18. Everything in this briefing about Ark rests on arkleg.state.ar.us, which we confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  19. Everything in this briefing about Arkansas formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on sos.arkansas.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  20. Everything in this briefing about Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax report: what and rests on sos.arkansas.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  21. Everything in this briefing about Arkansas yearly filing: Franchise tax: amount and filing rests on sos.arkansas.gov, which we confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our wording with the source.
  22. You can see Texas service page for Mainstay Filing on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026
  23. You can see pricing page for TX Registered Agent.org on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026
  24. You can see pricing page for Texas Registered Agent.ai on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026