Texas Business Filing Deadlines & Ongoing Requirements

See the start plan

Texas ongoing requirements

Recurring filings

  • File Franchise Tax Report and Public Information Report (LLCs, corporations and nonprofits): every year by May 15; no fee.
  • State tax returns and payments (sales, withholding, unemployment) follow the schedule your agency assigns when you register.

Tax registration

  • Register for state taxes with Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Official page
  • Business-level tax: Franchise (margin) tax. 0.75% of taxable margin (0.375% for retail and wholesale); no tax due at or below $2.65 million of annualized total revenue, though the report is still filed.
  • Sales tax: get a Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit from Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts before you sell taxable goods. Official page
  • Remote sellers must register once sales into the state pass $500,000 a year.
  • Local sales taxes are collected through the state return.
  • Texas has no wage withholding for state income tax.

Hiring

  • Register for unemployment insurance with Texas Workforce Commission. The 2026 taxable wage base is $9,000 per employee; experience-rated rates run from 0.32% to 6.32%. Official page
  • New employers start at 2.7%.
  • Workers' compensation through Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation and private insurers. Required when: Optional for most private employers (mandatory for public contractors)
  • Post the required labor notices at your workplace. Official page

Formation

  • Form your LLC or corporation with Texas Secretary of State. Official page
  • A trade name (DBA) is registered with the County clerk.

Agencies

  • Business filings and annual reports: Texas Secretary of State. Official page
  • Taxes: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Official page
  • Unemployment insurance and labor rules: Texas Workforce Commission. Official page
  • Workers' compensation: Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation.
  • Real estate licensing: Texas Real Estate Commission.
  • Alcohol licensing: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
  • Child care licensing: Texas HHSC, Child Care Regulation.
  • Health facility licensing: Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Exceptions to watch

  • Local permits (City or county): Texas has no general state or city business license; occupancy, health, signage and industry permits are local, and DBAs go to the county clerk.
  • Cannabis: medical licensing only, regulated by Texas Department of Public Safety, Compassionate Use Program.

Checked against official sources on October 13, 2026. Rules change; confirm each item with its agency.

Cities and counties in Texas

Choose a city to see its full list.

We use cookies for analytics (Google Analytics and PostHog) to see which pages help. Nothing loads until you choose. Privacy policy