Texas Franchise Tax Deadline: What's Due May 15 (and How to Avoid Penalties)

The Texas franchise tax deadline is May 15 each year, when both your franchise tax report and your Public Information Report (PIR) are due to the Texas Comptroller — even if your LLC owes $0. Miss it and you face a $50 penalty right away, plus penalties and interest on any tax owed, and eventually forfeiture of your LLC's right to do business in Texas.

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's due on May 15

The May 15 deadline actually covers two separate filings that most Texas LLCs submit together through the Comptroller's free WebFile system:

1. The franchise tax report. This is your annual accounting to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. For 2026, LLCs with annualized total revenue below $2,650,000 (the no-tax-due threshold) owe $0 in franchise tax. LLCs above the threshold file a computation form — the EZ Computation (Form 05-169) for revenue between $2.65M and $20M, or the Long Form (05-158-A/B) above $20M — and pay any tax due.
2. The Public Information Report (Form 05-102). This is a free report, due the same day, that lists your LLC's registered agent, principal office, and members, managers, or officers. It is required regardless of revenue — there is no revenue level that exempts you from filing the PIR.

Common mistake: Many owners think that owing $0 in franchise tax means there's nothing to do on May 15. That's wrong. The old No Tax Due Report (Form 05-163) was discontinued in 2024, so below-threshold LLCs now file the PIR alone — but that PIR is still mandatory, and an incomplete or unsigned PIR can trigger forfeiture even if every dollar of tax is paid. For more on this report, see our Texas Public Information Report guide.

Who must file by May 15

The May 15 franchise tax deadline applies broadly to entities formed in Texas or doing business in Texas, including:

• Texas LLCs — both single-member and multi-member
• Corporations (C corps and S corps)
• Limited partnerships (LPs) and limited liability partnerships (LLPs)
• Professional associations (PAs)
• Out-of-state entities with Texas nexus, including foreign LLCs registered to do business in the state

If your business is an LLC, you almost certainly have a May 15 filing obligation — no matter how the IRS taxes it (disregarded entity, partnership, or S-corp election), and no matter whether it made a profit. The obligation exists even for an LLC that had zero activity during the year. For the full breakdown of the current-year date, see our Texas franchise tax due date for 2026 guide.

Common mistake: New owners often assume a brand-new LLC has nothing due in its first spring. In general, your first franchise report is due the May 15 following the year your LLC was formed. If you're unsure how your formation date maps to your first deadline, that's a good question for a CPA or licensed Texas attorney.

When May 15 lands on a weekend or holiday

The statutory deadline is May 15, but Texas follows the standard rule that when a due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, it rolls forward to the next business day. For example, if May 15 falls on a Sunday, the effective deadline becomes the following Monday.

That said, treating the rollover as extra breathing room is a mistake. WebFile can be slow in the final days before the deadline, access-code and login issues take time to resolve, and a filing that is even one day late still triggers the $50 penalty. The safest approach is to file well before May 15 and to confirm the exact date each year on the Comptroller's website rather than relying on memory or on a rollover.

Extending the deadline to November 15

If you can't file by May 15, Texas allows an extension. Filing an extension request by May 15 generally moves your franchise report deadline to November 15.

Two important limits apply:

• An extension to file is not an extension to pay. If your LLC owes tax, you must still remit your estimated payment by May 15 to avoid penalties and interest on the underpaid amount. The extension only buys time to submit the completed report.
• Mandatory electronic funds transfer (EFT) payers follow different extension mechanics, with separate payment and filing dates. If your LLC is required to pay by EFT, confirm your specific dates before relying on the standard November 15 date.

For the mechanics of requesting more time, see our Texas franchise tax extension guide.

What happens if you miss the May 15 deadline

Missing the deadline sets off a predictable escalation of consequences:

• $50 late fee — assessed the day after the deadline, even when no tax is owed.
• 5% penalty on any tax owed if you file 1–30 days late.
• 10% penalty on any tax owed if you file more than 30 days late.
• Interest on unpaid tax begins 61 days after the due date.

If the Comptroller never receives your filing, the state can ultimately forfeit your LLC's right to transact business in Texas. After forfeiture, under Texas Tax Code §§ 171.251, 171.252, and 171.255:

• Members and officers can be held personally liable for the LLC's debts.
• Your LLC generally cannot sue or enforce contracts in Texas courts.
• The Secretary of State may eventually dissolve the entity.

Common mistake: Some owners ignore a missed PIR because "no tax was due anyway." But a missing or unsigned PIR is a common trigger for forfeiture — the tax and the report are enforced separately. If you've already blown past the date, don't panic: read what to do if you forgot to file Texas franchise tax, and for the full penalty math see our Texas franchise tax penalty guide.

Quick reference

FAQ

What is the Texas franchise tax deadline?

The Texas franchise tax deadline is May 15 each year. By that date, every Texas LLC and other covered entity must file its annual franchise tax report and Public Information Report (Form 05-102) with the Texas Comptroller. The filing is required even if the business owes $0 in tax.

What is due on May 15 for a Texas LLC?

Two things are due on May 15: your franchise tax report and your Public Information Report (Form 05-102). LLCs with annualized total revenue below the 2026 no-tax-due threshold of $2,650,000 file only the PIR, while higher-revenue LLCs also file a computation form (05-169 or 05-158-A/B) and pay any tax owed.

What happens if May 15 falls on a weekend or holiday?

When May 15 lands on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the Texas franchise tax deadline rolls forward to the next business day. Even so, it's safest to file early rather than rely on the rollover, and you should always confirm the exact due date with the Comptroller each year.

Can I extend the May 15 franchise tax deadline?

Yes. Filing an extension request by May 15 generally moves the franchise report deadline to November 15. An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay, so any estimated tax owed is still due by May 15. Mandatory EFT payers follow different extension mechanics.

What happens if I don't file by May 15?

Missing May 15 triggers a $50 late fee immediately, plus a 5% penalty on any tax owed for the first 30 days late and 10% after that; interest begins 61 days after the due date. Continued non-filing can lead to forfeiture of your LLC's right to transact business, and members or officers can become personally liable under Texas Tax Code §§ 171.251–171.255.

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.

Check my obligations — free →

Last verified: 2026-08-04

Sources: Texas Comptroller — Franchise Tax | Texas Comptroller — PIR/OIR Filing Requirements | Texas Tax Code §§ 171.251–171.255