In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Texas
Texas has no document titled Certificate of Good Standing. Its equivalent is the Certificate of Fact (Status), issued by the Texas Secretary of State, Business & Public Filings Division. Order it online through SOSPortal for $15; the certificate becomes available within 10 minutes. You can also order by email or mail with Form 806. Separately, the Texas Comptroller shows your franchise tax account status free online.
- Official name: Certificate of Fact (Status), equivalent to a Certificate of Good Standing
- Issued by: Texas Secretary of State, Business & Public Filings Division (Certifying Team)
- Fee: $15; $25 for a Long Form Certificate of Existence
- How to order: Online through SOS online services, or by email or mail with Form 806
- Turnaround: Up to 10 minutes online; email and mail not published by the state
- Free status check: The Comptroller franchise tax account status search
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing the annual franchise tax report with the Comptroller by May 15 and keeping a registered agent
“Good standing” in Texas involves two agencies. The Secretary of State issues the Certificate of Fact (Status), which is the certificate banks and other states accept. The Texas Comptroller tracks your franchise tax account status, and a lapse there leads to forfeiture. This guide covers both, along with fees, ordering and the May 15 franchise tax deadline. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Texas Certificate of Good Standing Is
The Texas Secretary of State issues a Certificate of Fact (Status), which it describes as equivalent to a Certificate of Good Standing. It certifies the current status of an LLC, corporation or other filing entity on the Secretary of State’s records. The Certifying Team of the Business & Public Filings Division issues it.
Texas also offers a Long Form Certificate of Existence. It includes the entity’s status plus a list of its filings with the Secretary of State. Order the long form when a lender, buyer or foreign authority asks for the filing history along with the status.
Texas good standing means staying current with both offices. The Secretary of State certifies the entity’s status, and the Comptroller can forfeit the entity’s right to transact business when franchise tax reports go unfiled.
The Certificate of Fact (Status) is requested by:
- Banks: for business accounts and account reviews.
- Other states: when a Texas entity registers as a foreign entity.
- Lenders: before approving a loan or credit line.
- Payment processors: to approve merchant accounts.
- Buyers and investors: during due diligence.
- Licensing agencies: for state and local licenses.
How to Order a Certificate of Fact (Status) in Texas
SOSPortal is the Secretary of State’s online ordering system. Order there:
- Open the Texas Secretary of State online services and accept the terms to reach SOSPortal.
- Search for your entity by name.
- Select the entity and choose Certificate of Fact (Status), or the Long Form Certificate of Existence.
- Pay $15 for the Certificate of Fact or $25 for the long form.
- Wait up to 10 minutes for the order to become available.
- Download the certificate from the retrieval link. The link expires after 90 days.
To order without SOSPortal, complete Form 806, Request for Certificate, and email it to [email protected] or mail it to the Secretary of State. Form 806 lists a $10 expedite fee for certificate requests. The Secretary of State’s instructions for copies and certificates page lists current payment details.
Texas Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| SOSPortal, Certificate of Fact (Status), LLC or corporation | $15 | Up to 10 minutes; retrieval link valid 90 days |
| SOSPortal, Long Form Certificate of Existence | $25 | Up to 10 minutes; retrieval link valid 90 days |
| Email or mail with Form 806, Certificate of Fact (Status) | $15 | Not published by the state |
| Email or mail with Form 806, Long Form Certificate of Existence | $25 | Not published by the state |
| Expedite (Form 806) | Additional $10 | Not published by the state |
| Comptroller Franchise Tax Account Status | Free | Printable online |
How to Check Texas Good Standing Status for Free
The Comptroller franchise tax account status search is free and printable. Search for your entity to see whether the entity’s right to transact business in Texas is active. The Comptroller formerly called this result “Good Standing.” The Comptroller’s account status instructions explain each result.
The printout covers franchise tax only. When a bank or another state asks for a certified good standing certificate, order the Secretary of State Certificate of Fact (Status). For more on searching Texas entities, see our Texas business entity search guide.
How a Texas LLC Stays in Good Standing
Texas has no Secretary of State annual report. Instead, every taxable entity, including LLCs and corporations, files an annual franchise tax report with the Comptroller, due May 15.
- At or below the no-tax-due threshold ($2,650,000 for 2026 and 2027): file a Public Information Report or Ownership Information Report instead of paying tax.
- Above the threshold: file the franchise tax report and pay the tax.
- Late filing: a $50 penalty per late report.
If reports stay unfiled, the Comptroller forfeits the entity’s right to transact business after giving at least 45 days’ notice of pending forfeiture. After forfeiture, officers and directors can become personally liable for the entity’s debts. The Comptroller’s franchise tax page has the current forms.
Every Texas entity also keeps a registered agent on file with the Secretary of State. The agent receives legal papers and state notices, which matters most for owners who live outside Texas. Compare these rules with other states in our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Texas Business Is Not in Good Standing
A Texas entity forfeited for franchise tax reasons reinstates through both the Comptroller and the Secretary of State:
- File every overdue franchise tax report and every overdue Public Information Report or Ownership Information Report.
- Pay all franchise tax, penalties and interest owed.
- Request a Tax Clearance Letter from the Comptroller through Webfile or on Form 05-391.
- File the Tax Clearance Letter with the Secretary of State’s reinstatement forms and fees through SOSPortal.
- Once reinstated, order your Certificate of Fact (Status).
The Comptroller’s reinstatement and termination page lists the current requirements. For a general walkthrough, see how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
Texas Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
Texas has three Comptroller documents that are easy to confuse with the Secretary of State certificate:
- Franchise Tax Account Status: free, printable online, formerly called “Good Standing.” It shows whether the entity’s right to transact business is active.
- Certificate of Account Status (Form 05-359): required only to terminate an entity.
- Tax Clearance Letter (Form 05-391 or 05-377): required for reinstatement.
The Secretary of State’s Certificate of Fact (Status) is the certified document for banks, lenders and foreign registrations. The Comptroller’s certificate and letter request page explains how to request the Comptroller documents.
Using a Texas Certificate in Another State
When your Texas LLC or corporation registers in another state as a foreign entity, that state asks for a recent Certificate of Fact (Status). SOSPortal delivers it within 10 minutes, so order it the day you file. The other state then issues its own registration. Our guide to certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority explains the difference.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Texas Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
Does Texas issue a Certificate of Good Standing?
Texas issues a Certificate of Fact (Status), which the Secretary of State describes as equivalent to a Certificate of Good Standing. Banks and other states accept it for the same purpose. The Comptroller separately shows franchise tax account status for free.
How much does a Texas Certificate of Fact (Status) cost?
The Certificate of Fact (Status) costs $15. A Long Form Certificate of Existence, which adds a list of filings, costs $25. Form 806 lists a $10 expedite fee for certificate requests.
How fast can I get a Texas Certificate of Fact?
SOSPortal orders take up to 10 minutes to become available. The retrieval link expires after 90 days. The Secretary of State does not publish a processing time for email or mail requests.
Is the Comptroller account status the same as good standing?
The Comptroller’s Franchise Tax Account Status was formerly called “Good Standing” and is free to print. It covers franchise tax only. For a certified good standing document, order the Secretary of State Certificate of Fact (Status).
Do Texas LLCs file an annual report?
Texas has no Secretary of State annual report. LLCs file an annual franchise tax report with the Comptroller by May 15. Entities at or below the $2,650,000 no-tax-due threshold for 2026 and 2027 file a Public Information Report or Ownership Information Report instead.
Fees verified against official Texas sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Texas Secretary of State site before you order.
