Every Texas LLC must file its franchise tax report and Public Information Report (PIR) through the Comptroller's free WebFile portal by May 15 each year — even if you owe $0 in tax. Miss the deadline and the state assesses a $50 penalty immediately, plus 5–10% of any tax owed. Ignore it long enough and Texas can forfeit your LLC's right to transact business entirely. This Texas franchise tax WebFile tutorial walks you through every screen, from account setup to final confirmation.

Step 1: Log in to WebFile (or create your account)

Go to webfile.cpa.state.tx.us and sign in with your WebFile number and PIN. Your WebFile number starts with "XT" followed by digits — it appears on any franchise tax notice the Comptroller has mailed you and is tied to your 11-digit Texas taxpayer number.

If this is your first time using WebFile:

1. Click "Not registered? Create a new WebFile account"
2. Enter your 11-digit Texas taxpayer number — find it on the franchise tax notice the Comptroller sent after formation, or look it up via the Comptroller's taxpayer search
3. Enter your business zip code as the security verification
4. Create a PIN (6–12 characters)
5. Log in with your new WebFile number and PIN

Common mistake: Many new LLC owners don't realize the Comptroller assigns a taxpayer number automatically when the LLC is formed — you don't apply for it separately. If you can't find yours, search the Comptroller's public entity lookup before calling the agency hotline.

Account setup takes about 5 minutes.

Step 2: Select your franchise tax account and open the return

After logging in, you'll see a list of your registered tax accounts. Find Franchise Tax and click "File Return."

WebFile will display the report year and period. For the 2026 report year, you're reporting on revenue earned during your 2025 accounting period. The due date shown will be May 15, 2026.

If the franchise tax account does not appear in your list, your LLC may not yet be registered with the Comptroller. Newly formed Texas LLCs are registered automatically, but it can take a few weeks after SOS formation for the account to appear in WebFile. If more than 60 days have passed since formation and you see nothing, contact the Comptroller's office at 1-800-252-1381.

Step 3: Determine which franchise tax form applies to your LLC

WebFile presents the form options based on your revenue. The decision tree is straightforward:

Common mistake: A lot of LLC owners assume that if they owe no tax, they don't need to file. That is wrong. The old "No Tax Due Report" was discontinued in 2024. You must file the standard report and report $0 — skipping it entirely triggers the same $50 penalty and eventual forfeiture risk as not filing at all.

For the vast majority of small Texas LLCs, the EZ Computation Report is the correct form. It's shorter and takes roughly 15–20 minutes to complete once you have your revenue figure.

Step 4: Complete the franchise tax report

WebFile guides you screen by screen. Here's what you'll need on hand:

For the EZ Computation Report (Form 05-169):

• Total revenue for the reporting period — pull this from your books, bookkeeper, or tax return
• Reporting period dates — typically January 1 through December 31 of the prior calendar year, unless your LLC uses a fiscal year
• Business description or SIC code — a general category like "retail" or "professional services" is sufficient

WebFile calculates tax automatically using the rate that matches your industry:

• 0.375% for retail and wholesale businesses
• 0.75% for all other businesses

If your revenue is at or below $2,650,000, the system will display $0 tax owed after you enter your figures. Enter accurate numbers regardless — the filing record is what protects you from a forfeiture notice later.

Do not leave required fields blank. WebFile will not advance with missing data, and sessions that time out are not automatically saved. If you need to gather information, log out and return — your filing is not committed until you click the final Submit button.

Step 5: Complete the Public Information Report (PIR)

After completing the franchise tax portion, WebFile automatically prompts you to file the Public Information Report (Form 05-102) in the same session. The PIR is a separate but related filing, also due May 15, and it is always filed together with the franchise tax report.

What the PIR asks for:

• Full legal names and addresses of all LLC members (owners) or managers
• Your registered agent's name and Texas address (street address required — P.O. boxes are not accepted)
• Principal business office address

Common mistake: Some filers think the PIR is only required when ownership or officer information has changed. It is required every single year, regardless of changes. Failure to file a complete, signed PIR can trigger forfeiture of your LLC's business privileges even if every dollar of franchise tax has been paid. Under Texas Tax Code §§ 171.251–171.255, officers and directors can become personally liable for entity debts after forfeiture.

The PIR is free to file through WebFile and takes about 5 minutes once you have member/manager details ready.

Step 6: Review, confirm, and submit

Before you click the final Submit button:

1. Review the summary screen — verify total revenue, tax amount (or $0), entity name, and all addresses
2. Confirm the PIR entries — double-check member names and the registered agent address
3. Pay any tax owed — WebFile accepts electronic check (free) or credit/debit card (processing fee applies)
4. Click "Submit"

WebFile displays a confirmation number immediately after successful submission. This is your proof that the filing was received. Write it down, take a screenshot, or use the option to email yourself a copy from the confirmation screen. If the Comptroller's records ever show a discrepancy, this number is your primary evidence.

You'll also receive an email confirmation if you registered with an email address. The filing will appear in your WebFile account history within 24–48 hours.

Quick reference

FAQ

What is Texas WebFile?

WebFile is the Texas Comptroller's free online filing portal, available at webfile.cpa.state.tx.us. You use it to file your franchise tax report, Public Information Report, sales tax returns, and other state tax filings. No third-party software or paid service is required.

Do I need WebFile if I owe no franchise tax?

Yes. Even if your LLC falls below the $2,650,000 no-tax-due threshold for 2026, you must still file the franchise tax report and PIR through WebFile by May 15. Skipping the filing — even with $0 tax owed — triggers a $50 penalty and, if left uncorrected, eventually forfeiture of your LLC. See the Texas franchise tax no tax due guide for more on how the threshold works.

What happens if I can't access my WebFile account?

Use the "Forgot PIN" or "Forgot WebFile number" links on the login page. If your LLC is newly formed and you've never used WebFile, register using your 11-digit Texas taxpayer number — find it on the Comptroller's taxpayer search or on the franchise tax notice the state mailed after your LLC was formed.

Can I file the franchise tax report without WebFile?

Yes — paper forms can be mailed to the Texas Comptroller at P.O. Box 149348, Austin, TX 78714-9348. However, WebFile is faster, free, and gives you immediate confirmation of receipt. Taxpayers with $10 million or more in total revenue are required to file electronically. For everyone else, WebFile is the easiest option.

What happens if I miss the May 15 WebFile deadline?

A $50 late filing penalty applies immediately. If you also owe franchise tax, a 5% penalty is added for 1–30 days late, and 10% for filing more than 30 days late. File as soon as possible to stop penalties from growing. If you haven't filed yet and May 15 hasn't passed, see the Texas franchise tax extension guide — an extension gives you until August 15 to file without the late penalty (though any tax owed must still be paid by May 15 to avoid interest).

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.

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Last verified: 2026-05-03

Sources: Texas Comptroller — Franchise Tax · Texas Comptroller WebFile portal · PIR and OIR Filing Requirements