Texas registered agent
Texas registered agent requirements
Who must appoint a registered agent in Texas, which office keeps the record, how to change agents, and what reliable coverage costs.
Direct answer
Does Texas require a registered agent?
Every corporation, LLC, or other registered entity formed or qualified in Texas must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. Texas Secretary of State, Corporations Section keeps the agent of record under Tex. Bus.
Last verified July 29, 2026
The Texas requirement
Every corporation, LLC, limited partnership, or other registered entity formed or qualified to do business in Texas must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. The agent has to be available during business hours to accept service of process, tax notices, and official correspondence. A lapse can mean missed lawsuits, penalties, loss of good standing, or administrative dissolution.
- Filing office
- Texas Secretary of State, Corporations Section
- Statute
- Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 5.201
- Cornerstone Licensing service fee
- $99 per year (renews at $149)
Changing your registered agent in Texas
File Form 401 (statement of change of registered agent/office) with the Texas Secretary of State; the agent must consent to the appointment.
Texas registered agent FAQ
- Does Texas require a registered agent?
- Yes. Every corporation, LLC, or other registered entity formed or qualified in Texas must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. A lapse can lead to penalties, loss of good standing, or administrative dissolution.
- Who keeps the registered agent records in Texas?
- Texas Secretary of State, Corporations Section maintains the registered agent of record for each entity. The requirement comes from Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code § 5.201.
- How do I change my registered agent in Texas?
- File Form 401 (statement of change of registered agent/office) with the Texas Secretary of State; the agent must consent to the appointment.
- What does registered agent service cost in Texas?
- Cornerstone Licensing provides Texas registered agent service for $99 per year, with renewals at $149 per year. Same-day document scanning and forwarding is included; there are no per-document charges.
- Can I be my own registered agent in Texas?
- An individual with a physical street address in the state who is available during business hours can generally serve. The entity itself cannot act as its own registered agent, and a P.O. box does not satisfy the street-address requirement.