Ultimate List of Regular Filings For Texas Businesses

As a Texas business owner, there are key filings and reports due at the state and local level that you’ll need to keep track of in order to enjoy long-term success. That’s right. Running your own business means you have to stay on top of your compliance filings to maintain your company’s legal standing and keep your business from being administratively dissolved by the state.

Here are Texas state filings you need to know as a business owner with all the forms and links you’ll need.

State-level Business filings in Texas

For the most part, the only time you’ll have to do a state-level filings in Texas is when you own a registered business like a Texas LLC or Texas corporation. State-level filings in Texas are often done with the department that oversees the filing like the comptroller.

At Northwest, we offer every client, no matter where they are based compliance for all filings and keep them up to date with any forms needed to keep their business compliant and in good standing with the state. If you’re ready to kick worry to the curb, use us as your Texas registered agent. We’ll make sure you never miss a deadline.

Texas Annual Franchise Tax Report

Texas requires most businesses and certain trusts to file an annual Franchise Tax Report, alongside a Public Information Report, to their Comptroller of Public Accounts by May 15th of every year. You’re free to file early once the year begins, however, and it’s good practice to do so.

Filing cost: If your business made $0-$2,470,000 in revenue, you won’t owe any tax. Beyond that amount, you’ll be charged a percentage of your revenue ranging from 0.331%-0.75%.

How to file: You can mail your franchise tax and public information forms directly to the Texas Comptroller. You can also file online instead, through the Texas Comptroller online filing system.

Texas sales tax return

If your business sells goods, offers taxable services, or collects rent or lease payments for property, you’ll likely need to file a sales tax return and pay the Texas Sales and Use Tax monthly, quarterly, or annually. If you’re not sure whether you’ll need to file, you can consult Texas’s list of taxable services. You can apply for a Texas Sales Tax Permit online at the comptroller website.

Filing cost: You’ll pay a maximum of 8.5% on the revenue from all goods and services sold depending on the jurisdictions you operate in.

How to file: Texas’s sales tax return forms can be found on the comptroller website and mailed in, but you can also file online through the same website.

Texas unemployment taxes

If you hire employees in Texas, you will likely need to file quarterly wage reports and pay the required taxes to the Texas Workforce Commission. You can refer to the list of liable employers on the Texas Workforce Commission website to determine whether or not you’ll need to file.

Filing cost: There is no fee to file through Texas’s Unemployment Tax Services (UTS) website. Total taxes paid are dependent on tax rates that are determined annually. You can read more about unemployment insurance tax rates and the modifiers that affect them on the Texas Workforce Commission website. You can create an account through the UTS website to determine your exact tax rate.

How to file: You can file online through Texas’s Unemployment Tax Services (UTS) website linked above.

Texas professional license and permit renewals

Many LLCs, corporations, and sole proprietors based in Texas will need to renew state-issued licenses or permits annually or biennially if they work in certain industries. Electrical contractors, medical professionals, and businesses in the food and beverage industry should all be aware of their renewal obligations.

Filing cost: Renewal costs can vary depending on the type of license or permit you’re looking to renew. For example, if you own an amateur wrestling association, you’ll need to pay $50 for filing the Amateur Combative Sports Association License Application.

How to file: Depending on the type of license you hold as a business owner, you’ll need to renew with one or several of these different state agencies:

• General, trade, and professional licenses – Texas’s Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) oversees many different licenses for businesses from cosmetologist and barber licenses to used automotive parts recycling. Fees, forms, and online renewal options can all be found through the license renewal search page on the TDLR website.

• Alcohol permits – Texas’s Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) regulates the issuance and renewal of alcohol sale and manufacturing permits and licenses. If your business deals involve beer, wine, or liquor sales, you’ll need to renew this license every two years. You can review all Texas alcohol license and permit types on the TABC website.

• Insurance licenses – Insurance agents, adjusters, and companies will need to renew licenses with Texas’s Department of Insurance every two years.

• Board-regulated professional permits – Physicians, physician assistants, acupuncturists, medical radiologic technologists, and many other medical professionals will need to renew licenses through Texas’s Medical Board every two years.

Disclosure: this list may not be exhaustive, and you’ll still want to do some research to make sure your business stays compliant.

Local-level Business filings in Texas

Texas has more counties than any other state (254 to be exact). This many jurisdictions can lead to some confusion when it comes to keeping your business compliant beyond secretary of state filings. Here are the local Texas filings you may need to submit by the end of each year.

Texas county and city licenses and permits

County licenses and permits can range from health permits for food-related businesses and occupancy permits and are imposed by the county or city to regulate certain business activities. These types of licenses and permits will need to be renewed regularly, usually annually or biennially.

Filing cost: Filing cost can vary by city or county. Like in Austin where any business that offers vehicle-for-hire services like carriage rides or shuttle buses must obtain an operating authority license from the city and pay the $159 filing fee.

How to file: Most counties and cities in Texas will have a website with information on filing and renewal processes. You can find a convenient list of county websites on the Texas Association of Counties website. You may need to look as locally as your cities website to find information on occupancy permits.

Texas property taxes (County Appraisal District)

Many counties will levy their own property taxes on business owners in Texas, such as the Business Personal Property Tax, which is a tax on any personal property that is used to earn income. These taxes are typically due to your counties appraisal district by April 15th.

Filing cost: Taxes can vary by county and property.

How to file: These taxes are typically paid directly to your counties appraisal district. The Texas Association of Appraisal Districts has a list of appraisal district websites you can refer to for more information.

Texas Assumed Name Certificate renewal

If your business operates legally under more than one name in Texas, called an assumed name, you’ll need to renew that once every 10 years. In Texas, registered businesses have to file an assumed name with the state and non-registered entities file with the county. Assumed names (sometimes called DBAs in other states) allow businesses to brand themselves differently or distance their public name from their registered entity name.

Filing cost: Texas businesses that file formation paperwork with the state like LLCs and corporations, will pay $25 for renewing their assumed name with the Texas Secretary of State. For non-registered businesses like sole proprietorships and general partnerships fees vary by county, but most business owners will pay at least $24.

How to file: For most entities, you can file an Assumed Name Certificate – Form 503 directly to the secretary of state. For sole proprietorships and general partnerships, you’ll need to file directly to the county clerk where you operate or hold a business location.