Texas has two government agencies and two separate search tools, and most guides mix them up. That confusion sends people to the wrong tool, then leaves them missing the exact record they came for. This guide keeps the two straight so you find the right answer the first time.
Here is the verdict up front. Use the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts’ free Taxable Entity Search to confirm tax status and the right to transact business. Use SOSDirect, the paid portal from the Texas Secretary of State (SOS), for legal identity records like the registered agent, formation date, filing history, and certified documents.
What Is a Texas Business Entity Search?
A Texas business entity search is a lookup of businesses registered in Texas, run across two official tools from two different agencies. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts operates a free Taxable Entity Search for tax status. The Texas Secretary of State (SOS) operates SOSDirect for legal identity records. Older guides wrongly credit both tools to a single agency.
The distinction matters for every task below. A tax-status check is free and instant. A legal-records pull, like confirming a registered agent or ordering a certified document, requires SOSDirect and a small fee.
Texas SOSDirect vs Comptroller Entity Search: Which Tool Should You Use?
Use the Comptroller’s free Taxable Entity Search to confirm tax status and the right to transact business in Texas. Use SOSDirect, the SOS paid portal, for the registered agent, formation date, filing history, and certified documents. Most real due diligence needs both tools, one for tax standing and one for legal identity.
| Feature | Comptroller Taxable Entity Search | SOSDirect | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $1.00 per name search | Texas Comptroller; Texas SOS |
| Managed by | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | Texas Secretary of State | Texas Comptroller; Texas SOS |
| Best for | Tax status and right to transact | Legal records, agents, certified docs | Texas Comptroller; Texas SOS |
| Registered agent shown | No | Yes | Texas SOS |
| Formation date shown | No | Yes | Texas SOS |
| Filing history shown | No | Yes | Texas SOS |
| Certificate of status | No | Yes ($15) | Texas SOS fee schedule |
| Account required | No | Yes | Texas SOS |
| Availability | Open access | 24/7, login required | Texas SOS |
How Do You Use the Texas Comptroller’s Free Taxable Entity Search? (Step by Step)
Open the Comptroller’s Taxable Entity Search, pick a search field, and read the result. The tool is free and searchable by 11-digit Taxpayer Number, 9-digit Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), entity name, or Texas SOS File Number, per the Texas Comptroller. It returns tax status, not full legal records.
- Go to `comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/franchise/account-status/search`.
- Choose your search type: Entity Name, Taxpayer Number, or File Number.
- Enter your term. Partial names and keywords work for a name search.
- Complete the CAPTCHA (the “prove you are human” check) if prompted, then submit.
- Find the entity in the results table, shown with Name, Taxpayer’s Number, and ZIP.
- Select the entity to view Taxpayer Number, Mailing Address, Right to Transact Business, State of Formation, and SOS Registration Status.
One limit to know: some entities that appear may not be set up for a franchise tax, per the Texas Comptroller, so a record can look incomplete here even when the business is validly registered.
How Do You Search a Texas Business on SOSDirect? (Step by Step)
Create a SOSDirect account, run a business organization inquiry, and pay the per-search fee to view detail. SOSDirect charges $1.00 per name searched, waived when you order a copy or certificate on the results, per the Texas Secretary of State. It returns what the Comptroller never will: the registered agent, formation date, and filing history.
- Go to `sos.state.tx.us/corp/sosda/index.shtml` and create an account or log in.
- Add a payment method for the per-search and per-document fees.
- Run a business organization inquiry by entity name or file number.
- Pay the $1.00 search fee to open the entity detail.
- Order a Certificate of Status or certified copies if you need official proof.
SOSDirect is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, per the Texas Secretary of State, with occasional maintenance and weather closures. The fee is authorized by Texas Government Code Section 405.018, which requires it to be reasonable and necessary to cover system costs. As of January 12, 2026, in-person services moved to 400 W. 15th Street, Austin, lobby hours 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, during renovation of the historic Rudder Building.
How Do You Check If a Texas LLC Is Active?
Check “Right to Transact Business in Texas” on the free Comptroller tool first, then confirm SOS registration status. “Active” with an intact right to transact means the limited liability company (LLC) is current on franchise tax. Tax standing alone does not confirm every SOS obligation is met, so cross-check both status fields for a complete picture.
| Status value | What it means | Assigned by | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Current on franchise tax; right to transact intact | Texas Comptroller | Texas Comptroller |
| Right to Transact Business | Field showing franchise tax standing | Texas Comptroller | Texas Comptroller |
| Forfeited (tax forfeiture) | Lost right to transact for unpaid franchise tax or reports | Texas Comptroller | Texas Comptroller |
| Involuntary termination | Entity ended in SOS records, often after tax forfeiture | Texas Secretary of State | Texas SOS |
| SOS registration status | The entity’s standing in SOS legal records | Texas Secretary of State | Texas SOS |
How Do You Verify a Texas LLC Before Signing a Contract?
Run both tools before you sign. Confirm the entity is active on the free Comptroller search, then pull the registered agent and formation record on SOSDirect. A forfeited entity can lose its right to maintain a lawsuit, so tax standing is a deal-level fact. For material deals, order a certificate of status.
Use this due-diligence checklist:
- Confirm active status and right to transact business (Comptroller, free).
- Match the legal name exactly to the contract signature block.
- Confirm the registered agent and formation date (SOSDirect, $1.00 search).
- Check the formation date. A very new entity may warrant extra diligence.
- Request a Certificate of Status for high-value or high-risk deals.
How Do You Check Business Name Availability in Texas?
The free Comptroller search is only a first pass for obvious conflicts. Only an SOS name inquiry through SOSDirect is legally meaningful, because the Secretary of State decides whether a name is “distinguishable in the records” when it accepts your filing. A name is not secured until that filing clears, though you can reserve one in advance.
Name availability is separate from trademark clearance, which runs through the federal or state trademark systems. Clearing an entity name in Texas does not grant brand rights.
How Do You Find the Registered Agent for a Texas Company?
The registered agent name and address come from SOS records through SOSDirect, never from the Comptroller results. A registered agent is the person or company designated to receive legal service of process for the entity. Confirming a real, current agent tells you who to serve and where, which is why the record matters for lawsuits and legal notice.
Earlier versions of this guide implied the Comptroller search shows the registered agent. It does not. Route that lookup to SOSDirect.
How Do You Get a Texas Certificate of Good Standing?
Order it through SOSDirect. Texas calls the document a Certificate of Fact, also known as a Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Status. A standard certificate costs $15.00 and a Long Form Certificate of Existence costs $25.00, per the Texas SOS fee schedule. Banks, lenders, and out-of-state registrations commonly require it.
Certified copies of entity documents cost $1 per page plus a $15 certificate fee, per the same Texas SOS fee schedule. The Comptroller does not issue this document.
What Is the Difference Between a State File Number and a Taxpayer Number?
The Secretary of State assigns the state file number at formation. The Comptroller assigns the 11-digit Taxpayer Number for franchise tax. People confuse the two because both identify the same business, but each agency issues its own. Use the file number for SOS records and the Taxpayer Number for tax status.
| Identifier | Assigned by | Purpose | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| State file number | Texas Secretary of State | Unique ID assigned at formation or registration | Texas SOS |
| Taxpayer Number (11-digit) | Texas Comptroller | Franchise tax account identifier | Texas Comptroller |
How Commenda Helps You Manage Texas Entities
One search is easy. Tracking status, registered agents, and filings across many entities and multiple states is not, and that work is where surprises hide. Commenda’s entity management platform gives you standardized formation workflows, filing tracking, and document storage in one place, so every entity behaves the same way from the first state to the tenth.
Checking a name before you form? Start with the Commenda Company Name Checker. Managing deadlines across states? The Commenda Compliance Calendar tracks filing dates by entity. If you are forming in Texas, our guide on business formation in Texas and how to register a business in Texas walk through the next steps.
Book a demo to get a free entity compliance health check across your Texas and multi-state entities.
