Texas at a Glance
| Total Entities | 3,000,000+ |
| Filing Fee (LLC) | $300 |
| State Income Tax | None (franchise tax applies to larger businesses) |
| Popular For | Oil & gas, logistics, real estate, corporate relocations |
| Secretary of State | sos.state.tx.us/corp |
How to Search Texas Business Records
The official registry is SOSDirect, operated by the Texas Secretary of State at sos.state.tx.us/corp. Basic name searches are free; certificates of fact and detailed filings cost a small fee.
- Go to the SOSDirect page — from the Corporations section, choose "SOSDirect Search" or the free name search option.
- Search by name or filing number — enter the exact name for the fastest result; Texas requires uniqueness of names on file, so an exact match usually returns one entity.
- Read the record — the result shows the legal name, Texas filing number, formation date, status ("In existence", "Forfeited", "Involuntarily dissolved", etc.), and the registered agent.
- Order the full filing history if needed — for due diligence, the "Certificate of Account Status" (confirming the entity is current with franchise tax) and the filing history report are the two documents worth paying for.
What a Texas Company Record Contains
Texas SOS records show: the entity name and filing number; status — "In existence" (good standing), "Forfeited" (franchise tax delinquency), "Involuntarily dissolved" (administrative action), or "Voluntarily dissolved"; the date of formation; the type of entity; the registered agent and office; and the full history of filings. Texas is one of the few states that links the SOS registry with the Comptroller's franchise tax status: a company that is delinquent on franchise taxes shows a forfeited status directly in the registry.
Verifying an EIN for a Texas Company
As everywhere, the IRS will not confirm a Texas company's EIN to third parties. The reliable route is to request a W-9 (the counterparty attests the EIN under penalty of perjury), a 147C letter, or a CP575 notice. Two Texas-specific checks worth adding: confirm the SOS status is "In existence" rather than forfeited for franchise tax, and confirm the registered agent address is current — a stale agent address is one of the most common signs of an abandoned or mismanaged entity.
Common Issues When Verifying Texas Companies
- Forfeited status — the Comptroller forfeits entities for unpaid franchise tax or failure to file; a forfeited entity legally cannot transact business in Texas until reinstated.
- Involuntary dissolution — occurs when annual reports or taxes go unpaid; the name may also become available for reuse after the dissolution is final, so a name match is not identity proof.
- Out-of-state registrations — foreign entities register with Texas under their home-state name; verify both the Texas registration and the home-state record.
- Name similarity — Texas prevents identical names but allows similar ones; compare filing numbers, never just names.
Why This Matters Before You Transact
The Texas registry is a "single pane" — the SOS record reflects both corporate standing and franchise tax compliance. That makes it one of the fastest state checks in the country: an "In existence" record plus a valid W-9 covers most of what a supplier-vetting or tenant-screening process needs. For deeper checks, add an HQ Trust Score report with sanctions screening and litigation history.