Texas Franchise Tax Due Date 2026: May 15 Deadline for Every Texas LLC
The Texas franchise tax due date for 2026 is May 15, 2026. Every Texas LLC — regardless of revenue — must file a franchise tax report and a Public Information Report (PIR) with the Comptroller by that date. Miss it and you face a $50 penalty immediately, plus 5–10% on any tax owed. Ignore it long enough and Texas can forfeit your LLC's right to do business in the state.
Step 1: Understand what's due on May 15, 2026
The May 15 deadline triggers two separate filing obligations for most Texas LLCs:
1. Franchise tax report — Depending on your revenue, you file one of these forms:
- EZ Computation Report (Form 05-169): For LLCs with total revenue between $2,650,001 and $20 million.
- Long Form (05-158-A/B): For LLCs with total revenue above $20 million.
- No franchise tax form required: If your total revenue is $2,650,000 or less, you owe $0 in franchise tax and skip the computation form entirely.
2. Public Information Report (PIR, Form 05-102) — Every Texas LLC must file the PIR by May 15, regardless of revenue or tax owed. The PIR collects your LLC's principal office address, member and manager names, and registered agent information. It is free to file and has no fee.
Common mistake: Many LLC owners assume that owing $0 means filing nothing. That is incorrect. LLCs below the $2,650,000 threshold still owe a PIR filing by May 15. The old No Tax Due Report (Form 05-163) was officially discontinued in 2024. There is no longer a separate "no tax due" form — the PIR is your sole obligation if you're below the threshold.
This step should take about 5 minutes to review.
Step 2: Calculate your annualized total revenue
Before you can determine exactly which forms to file, confirm your annualized total revenue for the 2025 reporting period:
- If your LLC operated all 12 months of 2025: Use your 2025 annual gross revenue.
- If your LLC was formed mid-year in 2025: Divide your revenue by the number of months you operated, then multiply by 12.
The 2026 no-tax-due threshold is $2,650,000. Here is what you file based on that comparison:
| Your annualized total revenue | What you file by May 15 |
|---|---|
| $2,650,000 or less | Public Information Report (Form 05-102) only |
| $2,650,001 – $20,000,000 | PIR + EZ Computation Report (Form 05-169) |
| More than $20,000,000 | PIR + Long Form (05-158-A/B) |
For multi-entity structures or complex revenue calculations, consult a CPA familiar with Texas franchise tax.
This step should take about 10 minutes.
Step 3: File your franchise tax report and PIR via WebFile
The Texas Comptroller's WebFile portal is the fastest way to meet the May 15 deadline. Most LLCs complete their filing in 15–30 minutes.
- Go to comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/franchise/ and click WebFile.
- Log in with your eSystems account, or create a free account if this is your first time using WebFile.
- Select your LLC from the entity list.
- Choose the correct filing path: PIR only, or PIR plus EZ Computation, or PIR plus Long Form.
- Complete the PIR: enter your LLC's principal office address, names and addresses of all members and managers, and your registered agent's information.
- If your revenue is above $2,650,000, complete the franchise tax computation and enter your payment details.
- Review everything, e-sign, and submit.
- Save your confirmation number.
You can also download paper forms from comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/franchise/forms/ and mail them, but online filing gives you immediate confirmation and is strongly preferred.
Common mistake: Many filers discover on May 14 that they need their Texas Taxpayer Identification Number to access WebFile. Find it now — it appears on any prior Comptroller correspondence, or look it up using the Comptroller's Taxpayer Search.
This step should take about 20 minutes.
Step 4: Request an extension if you need more time
If you cannot complete your filing by May 15, Texas allows an automatic extension to November 15, 2026 by filing Form 05-164 (Extension Request) with the Comptroller on or before May 15.
Key limits on the extension:
- Filing extension only, not payment: If franchise tax is owed, you must still pay the estimated amount by May 15 to avoid the 5–10% late payment penalty. The extension only moves the reporting deadline.
- PIR is not extended: The Public Information Report must still be filed by May 15. The extension does not cover the PIR.
- No Comptroller approval needed: Submitting Form 05-164 by May 15 automatically moves your filing deadline to November 15.
For a step-by-step walkthrough on how to request an extension, see the Texas franchise tax extension guide.
Step 5: What to do if you missed the May 15 deadline
If May 15 has already passed and you have not filed, act immediately. The longer you wait, the higher the penalties — and the closer you get to a potential forfeiture notice from the Comptroller.
- File now, even if late. A late return is far better than no return. The Comptroller can initiate forfeiture for persistent non-filing.
- Pay the $50 late penalty when you submit. WebFile calculates this automatically.
- Pay any franchise tax owed plus the applicable surcharge: 5% of taxes owed if you file within 30 days of the deadline, or 10% if you file more than 30 days late.
- If your LLC has already been forfeited, you will need to reinstate it before it can legally transact business. See the Texas LLC reinstatement guide for the full process.
There is no formal penalty waiver process for standard late franchise tax filings. File as soon as possible to stop penalties from compounding.
Quick Reference
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| What | Franchise tax report + Public Information Report (PIR) |
| Who | All Texas LLCs, corporations, LPs, LLPs, PAs with Texas formation or nexus |
| When | May 15 annually (November 15 with extension) |
| Where | Texas Comptroller — comptroller.texas.gov |
| Form | Form 05-102 (PIR); Form 05-169 (EZ) or 05-158-A/B (Long Form) if tax owed |
| Cost | Free to file; tax owed depends on revenue and applicable rate |
| Penalty | $50 late fee + 5% (within 30 days) or 10% (30+ days) on taxes owed |
Frequently asked questions
When is the Texas franchise tax due date for 2026?
The Texas franchise tax due date for 2026 is May 15, 2026. This deadline applies to all Texas LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, and other taxable entities. Both the franchise tax computation report and the Public Information Report (PIR) must be filed by that date, regardless of whether your entity owes any tax.
What happens if I miss the Texas franchise tax May 15 deadline?
Missing the May 15 deadline triggers a $50 late filing penalty immediately. If your LLC also owes franchise tax, a 5% surcharge applies if you file within 30 days of the deadline, or 10% if you file more than 30 days late. Continued non-filing can result in the Texas Comptroller initiating forfeiture of your LLC's right to do business in Texas. For more detail on penalties and late filing, see the Texas franchise tax penalty guide.
Does my Texas LLC still need to file if it owes no franchise tax?
Yes. If your Texas LLC's annualized total revenue is $2,650,000 or less in 2026, you owe $0 in franchise tax — but you are still required to file the Public Information Report (Form 05-102) by May 15. The No Tax Due Report (Form 05-163) was discontinued in 2024. See the complete guide on Texas franchise tax no tax due 2026 for the full filing walkthrough.
Can I get an extension on the Texas franchise tax due date?
Yes. Texas allows an automatic extension to November 15 if you file Form 05-164 (Extension Request) with the Comptroller by May 15. The extension applies to the report filing deadline only — any franchise tax owed must still be paid by May 15 to avoid the 5–10% late payment penalty. The PIR deadline is not extended by this request.
What is the Texas franchise tax due date for a new LLC formed in 2025 or 2026?
If your Texas LLC was formed in 2025, your first franchise tax report is generally due May 15, 2026, covering the 2025 tax year. If your LLC was formed in 2026, your first report is typically due May 15, 2027. New LLCs use a partial-year revenue calculation for their first filing, and the Comptroller typically sends an initial franchise tax questionnaire after formation confirming your reporting period.
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: 2026-05-07
Sources: Texas Comptroller — Franchise Tax · PIR/OIR Filing Requirements · Texas Tax Code §§ 171.251–171.255