A Texas business search lets you look up any company registered in Texas — and Texas gives you two official tools to do it.
The Texas Comptroller’s Taxable Entity Search is free. It shows whether a business is current on its taxes and allowed to operate.
The Secretary of State’s SOSDirect costs $1 per search. It holds the full legal record, including the registered agent.
This guide shows you both, step by step, so you can pick the right one.
What Is the Texas Business Search?
Unlike most states, Texas splits business records between two agencies:
- The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts tracks tax status. Its free search answers: “Is this business in good standing with the state?”
- The Texas Secretary of State keeps the legal filings. Its SOSDirect portal answers: “What exactly is this business, and who is its registered agent?”
Most people only need the free Comptroller search. You need SOSDirect when you want formation details or official documents.
Texas Business Search: Step-by-Step
Using the free Comptroller search:
Step 1: Open the official tool. Go to the Comptroller’s Franchise Tax Account Status Search at comptroller.texas.gov. No account, no fee.
Step 2: Choose your search type. You can search by entity name, taxpayer number (11 digits), federal EIN (9 digits), or Secretary of State file number.
Step 3: Enter the details and search. For a name search, type the company’s legal name as registered.
Step 4: Open the matching record. From the results, select the business to see its detail page.
Step 5: Read the franchise tax status. This line tells you whether the business currently has the right to transact business in Texas.
Using SOSDirect instead (for legal records): create an SOSDirect account on the Secretary of State website, run a name search for $1, and open the entity to see its registered agent, formation date, and filing history. The $1 fee is waived if you go on to order a copy or certificate from the results.
What Information Does the Texas Search Show?
The free Comptroller record shows:
- Entity name and taxpayer number
- Secretary of State file number
- Franchise tax account status — whether the business is in good standing
- Right to transact business — yes or no
- Charter type and mailing address on file
The paid SOSDirect record adds the legal details:
- Registered agent name and address
- Formation date and governing documents
- Filing history — formations, amendments, and annual filings
- Copies of filed documents and certificates (extra fees)
Neither tool shows tax amounts paid, revenue, or owners’ private information.
Other Ways to Search in Texas
- By taxpayer number or EIN — the fastest route if you have the number from an invoice or contract.
- By SOS file number — precise; the file number is on the company’s formation documents.
- By name with fewer words — if a full-name search fails, try the most distinctive word of the name.
- Sales tax permit search — the Comptroller also offers a separate search to confirm a business holds an active Texas sales tax permit, useful before collecting or paying sales tax.
Is the Texas Business Search Free?
The Comptroller search is completely free — unlimited searches, no account.
The Secretary of State side is the exception:
| Tool | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Comptroller Taxable Entity Search | Free | Checking tax status and good standing |
| SOSDirect name search | $1 per search | Registered agent, formation date, filing history |
| SOSDirect documents and certificates | Extra fees | Official copies for banks, courts, and deals |
So for a quick check, Texas is free. For the full legal file, expect the $1 search fee.
What the Business Status Means
In the Comptroller search, the key phrases are:
- In good standing — franchise tax filings and payments are current. The business has the right to operate in Texas.
- Not in good standing — a tax filing or payment is overdue. The business may lose its right to transact business if it does not fix this.
- Franchise tax ended / no longer in good standing — the tax account has been closed, often because the entity ended or forfeited its charter.
In SOSDirect you may also see forfeited (the state cancelled the entity’s authority, usually over taxes) or involuntarily dissolved.
Important: the Comptroller and the Secretary of State update on different schedules. If the two tools disagree, the record is probably mid-update — check again in a few days, or call the agency for anything urgent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Texas search should I use first?
Start with the free Comptroller Taxable Entity Search. It covers most needs — confirming a business exists and is in good standing. Use SOSDirect when you need the registered agent or filing history.
Why does SOSDirect charge $1 per search?
Texas law authorizes a $1 fee for SOSDirect name searches. The fee is waived when you order a copy or certificate based on that search.
Can I find a Texas business’s owner in the search?
Not directly. SOSDirect shows the registered agent and, for some entities, the managers or directors on file — but shareholders and LLC members are not public record.
What if a Texas business is not in the Comptroller search?
Some entities are not set up for franchise tax, so their Comptroller record can look incomplete even when the business is properly registered. Check SOSDirect before concluding the business is not registered.
How do I get official proof of a Texas business’s status?
Order a Certificate of Account Status from the Comptroller or a Certificate of Status through SOSDirect. Banks and closing agents usually accept these official certificates, not printouts.
Searching another state? See our full guide to business entity search and the free searches for Utah, Delaware, and Florida.