How to Get a Texas Certificate of Good Standing
To get a Texas certificate of good standing, you request one of two documents: the Comptroller's Certificate of Account Status (free, proves your franchise tax is current) or the Secretary of State's Certificate of Fact – Status ($15, confirms your entity is active). Both require that your franchise tax and Public Information Report are current — if you owe a past-due filing, you cannot get either until you catch up.
Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Rules and dates change — always verify current requirements directly with the relevant agency before acting.
What "certificate of good standing" means in Texas
Many states issue a single document called a "certificate of good standing." Texas does not use that exact term. When a bank, lender, or another state asks a Texas LLC for a certificate of good standing, they are almost always referring to one of two documents:
- Certificate of Account Status — issued by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. It shows whether your entity's franchise tax account is active and current. It is free.
- Certificate of Fact – Status — issued by the Texas Secretary of State (SOS). It confirms that your entity exists on the SOS records and is in existence/active status. It costs $15 per certificate.
The two agencies track different things. The Comptroller tracks tax compliance; the Secretary of State tracks your entity's formation records. Because both feed off each other — the Comptroller notifies the SOS when an entity forfeits its right to transact business for unpaid franchise tax — your standing with one agency generally reflects the other.
Common mistake: Ordering the $15 SOS Certificate of Fact when the requesting party would have accepted the free Comptroller Certificate of Account Status. Always ask exactly which document is required before you pay for anything.
The prerequisite: your franchise tax and PIR must be current
Neither certificate is available if your entity is behind on its state obligations. Before requesting either document, confirm that:
- Your annual franchise tax report has been filed for every year due (by May 15 each year).
- Your Public Information Report (Form 05-102) has been filed and is complete and signed — this is required even if your LLC owes $0 in tax.
- Any franchise tax actually owed has been paid.
If you have missed a filing, the Comptroller can forfeit your entity's right to transact business in Texas, and the account status will not display as active. To understand the tax obligation behind this requirement, see our guide on what Texas franchise tax is. If your entity has already been forfeited, you will need to bring it current first — our guide on how to reinstate a forfeited Texas LLC walks through that process.
Common mistake: Assuming that owing $0 in franchise tax means there is nothing to file. The Public Information Report is a separate requirement, and an unfiled or unsigned PIR can block your certificate even when no tax was owed.
How to get the Comptroller's Certificate of Account Status (free)
The Certificate of Account Status is the document most requesters accept, and it costs nothing. It is issued through the Comptroller's WebFile system.
What you need before you start:
- Your Texas taxpayer number (the 11-digit number the Comptroller assigned your entity — this is not your IRS EIN).
- Your WebFile Access Code or an existing WebFile account login.
- Confirmation that all franchise tax reports and the PIR are filed and current.
Steps:
- Go to the Texas Comptroller website at comptroller.texas.gov and open the WebFile / eSystems login.
- Log in with your credentials, or create an account using your taxpayer number and Access Code if this is your first time.
- Confirm your franchise tax account shows as current. If a report or the PIR is outstanding, file it first.
- Locate the Certificate of Account Status option for your entity and generate the certificate.
- Save or print the certificate. It is generated on demand, so there is no processing wait for the standard online version.
This typically takes about 10–15 minutes if your account is already current. A separately certified version for legal or formal purposes may require an additional request — check the current options on the Comptroller's site.
How to get the Secretary of State's Certificate of Fact – Status ($15)
Some parties specifically want a certificate from the Secretary of State. The Certificate of Fact – Status confirms your entity's existence and status on the SOS records. You order it through SOSDirect, the SOS online filing portal.
What you need before you start:
- Your entity's exact legal name and, ideally, its SOS file number.
- A SOSDirect account and a payment method for the $15 fee (a small statutory convenience fee may apply for card payments through the portal).
Steps:
- Go to the Secretary of State's business pages at sos.state.tx.us/corp/ and open SOSDirect.
- Log in or create a SOSDirect account.
- Search for your entity by name or file number to pull up its record.
- Order a Certificate of Fact – Status for the entity.
- Pay the $15 fee and download the certificate once issued.
You can also order a Certificate of Fact by mail, fax, or phone through the SOS, but SOSDirect is generally the fastest. If your entity is not in good standing with the Comptroller, the SOS status will reflect that, and the certificate may show the entity as not in existence or forfeited rather than active.
Which certificate do you actually need?
The right document depends entirely on who is asking. Common scenarios:
| Requester | Usually accepts |
|---|---|
| Business bank account opening | Comptroller Certificate of Account Status (free) |
| Small business lender / SBA loan | Often the Comptroller certificate; some want the SOS Certificate of Fact |
| Registering your Texas LLC in another state (foreign qualification) | Frequently the SOS Certificate of Fact – Status |
| Investors, M&A, or legal due diligence | Often the SOS Certificate of Fact – Status |
Because requirements vary, confirm the exact document the requesting party needs in writing before ordering. If you are not sure whether your entity currently qualifies, our guide on how to check your Texas LLC's good standing explains how to verify your status with both agencies, and our guide on what to do when your Texas LLC is not in good standing covers the steps to fix it.
Quick reference
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| What | Certificate of Account Status (Comptroller) or Certificate of Fact – Status (SOS) |
| Who | Texas LLCs and other entities needing proof of active status for banks, lenders, or other states |
| When | On demand — request whenever a third party requires proof of standing |
| Where | Comptroller: comptroller.texas.gov (WebFile) · SOS: sos.state.tx.us/corp (SOSDirect) |
| Cost | Certificate of Account Status: free · Certificate of Fact – Status: $15 |
| Prerequisite | Franchise tax report + Public Information Report (Form 05-102) filed and current |
| If not current | Certificate is unavailable until all past-due franchise tax filings are completed |
FAQ
What is a Texas certificate of good standing?
Texas does not issue a single document literally titled "certificate of good standing." The phrase refers to two documents: the Comptroller's Certificate of Account Status, which shows your franchise tax account is current, and the Secretary of State's Certificate of Fact – Status, which confirms your entity is active on the state's records. Which one you need depends on who is asking.
How do I get a Texas certificate of good standing?
For the Comptroller's Certificate of Account Status, log in to WebFile at comptroller.texas.gov and generate the certificate once your franchise tax and Public Information Report are current. For the Secretary of State's Certificate of Fact – Status, order it through SOSDirect at sos.state.tx.us for a $15 fee. Both require that your entity is current on its state filings.
Is a Texas certificate of good standing free?
The Comptroller's Certificate of Account Status is free through WebFile. The Secretary of State's Certificate of Fact – Status costs $15 per certificate ordered through SOSDirect. Many banks, lenders, and other states accept the free Comptroller certificate, so confirm which document the requesting party actually needs before paying.
What happens if my franchise tax isn't current when I request a certificate?
You cannot obtain either certificate until your franchise tax account is current. If your entity has fallen behind, the Comptroller's account status will not show as active, and the Secretary of State cannot issue a Certificate of Fact – Status. You would first need to file all past-due franchise tax reports and the Public Information Report to bring the account current.
Which certificate do banks and lenders usually want?
It varies. Banks opening business accounts, lenders, and other states registering a foreign entity most often accept the free Comptroller Certificate of Account Status because it proves franchise tax compliance. Some parties specifically require the Secretary of State's Certificate of Fact – Status. Ask the requesting party which document they need before ordering, and for nuanced situations consult a CPA or licensed Texas attorney.
Not sure what else your Texas LLC owes?
Most business owners are surprised by how many filing obligations they have. Ortholo's free compliance checker shows you everything you owe, when it's due, and what happens if you miss it — personalized to your entity.
Last verified: 2026-08-04
Sources: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | Texas Comptroller — Franchise Tax | Texas Secretary of State — Corporations