Lenders, other states, and counterparties routinely ask a Texas business for a “certificate of good standing.” Texas does not issue a document with that exact name. It issues two different documents from two different agencies, and requesters rarely say which one they mean. This guide clears that up.
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts runs a free online Franchise Tax Account Status search. The Texas Secretary of State (SOS) issues Certificates of Fact through SOSDirect, its online portal available 24/7. Both statuses are checkable in minutes, so you rarely need to guess or pay a premium. A certificate of good standing, in plain terms, is proof that your entity is compliant.
What Is a Texas Certificate of Good Standing?
Texas does not issue a document titled Certificate of Good Standing. Two documents serve that purpose. The Comptroller’s Certificate of Account Status proves franchise tax compliance. The Secretary of State’s Certificate of Fact – Status, sometimes called a Certificate of Existence, proves the entity exists and has not forfeited its registration.
The two are linked but separately administered. Unpaid franchise tax leads the Comptroller to notify the SOS, which can then forfeit your charter. Both statuses must be clean for a business to count as “in good standing.”
| Document | Issuing agency | What it proves | How to order | Fee | Turnaround | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Account Status | Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts | Franchise tax compliance | Webfile/eSystems online or Form 05-359 by mail | No charge | Effectively instant online | Texas Comptroller |
| Certificate of Fact – Status | Texas Secretary of State | Entity exists and has not forfeited registration | SOSDirect, mail, fax, or in person | $15 per certificate | About 2 hours via SOSDirect | Texas SOS fee schedule |
When Do You Need a Certificate of Good Standing in Texas?
You need one when a third party requires proof that your business is compliant. Lenders, banks, other states, and buyers all ask for it. Lenders and other states usually want the SOS Certificate of Fact – Status. Anyone checking your tax standing wants the Comptroller’s Certificate of Account Status.
Common use cases:
- Business loans and financing: lenders require proof of good standing before funding.
- Opening a business bank account: banks verify the entity is active and compliant.
- Registering for sales tax permits: agencies confirm your entity is in good standing.
- Foreign qualification: registering to do business in another state almost always needs a Texas certificate.
- Business licenses: many licenses require current good standing.
- Corporate contracts and RFPs, especially government contracts.
- Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and investor due diligence.
How Do You Check Good Standing Status in Texas?
Check for free before you order anything. Use the Comptroller’s Franchise Tax Account Status search to confirm your entity shows active franchise tax standing. Use SOSDirect or the Texas business entity search to confirm your SOS registration status. Both tools are public and return results in minutes.
The Comptroller’s search accepts an 11-digit Comptroller Taxpayer Number, a 9-digit federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), an entity name, or a Texas SOS file number, with no login or payment required (Texas Comptroller). If both searches show your entity active, you are ready to order the certificate a requester wants.
How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Texas
Pick the document your requester needs, then order it directly from the issuing agency. The Comptroller handles franchise tax standing. The Secretary of State handles the Certificate of Fact – Status. Neither requires a middleman.
How do you get a Certificate of Account Status from the Texas Comptroller?
Request a Certificate of Account Status from the Texas Comptroller online through Webfile/eSystems, or by mailing Form 05-359. The Comptroller issues it at no charge. Your entity must be current on all franchise tax reports and payments first, according to Comptroller guidance.
Basic account status can be viewed and printed online for free. Formal certificates tied to reinstatement or termination follow the Comptroller’s specific request processes.
How do you order a Certificate of Fact – Status from the Texas Secretary of State?
Order a Certificate of Fact – Status from the Secretary of State through SOSDirect, or by mail, fax, or in person at 400 W. 15th Street, Austin. The fee is $15 per certificate, per the SOS fee schedule. SOSDirect emails the certificate back in about two hours.
SOSDirect is advertised as available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (Texas SOS). The agency does document intermittent outages, so build in a small buffer for deadlines. Mail requests go to the Certifying Team, Secretary of State, P.O. Box 13697, Austin, Texas 78711-3697, or by email to corpcert@sos.texas.gov (Texas SOS).
What Are the Requirements for a Texas Certificate of Good Standing?
The certificate is only paperwork. The real requirement is being in good standing. That means all franchise tax reports filed and paid with the Comptroller, the Public Information Report current, a registered agent and registered office maintained with the SOS, and no involuntary forfeiture of your charter or registration.
Requirements are identical for Texas LLCs (limited liability companies) and corporations. Both file the annual franchise tax report and the Public Information Report (PIR). Professional associations and financial institutions file an Ownership Information Report (OIR) instead of the PIR (Texas Comptroller). Before ordering, have your exact entity name and SOS file number ready, and confirm your filings are current through the Texas business registration status.
How Much Does a Certificate of Good Standing Cost in Texas?
State cost is low, and checking status is free. The Comptroller charges nothing for account status. The Secretary of State charges $15 per Certificate of Fact – Status. Expedited handling adds $10 for certificate requests placed by mail, fax, or phone.
| Item | Fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Comptroller Franchise Tax Account Status search | Free | Texas Comptroller |
| Comptroller Certificate of Account Status | No charge | Texas Comptroller |
| SOS Certificate of Fact – Status | $15 per certificate | Texas SOS fee schedule |
| SOS Long Form Certificate of Existence | $25 | Texas SOS fee schedule |
| SOS expedite fee (mail, fax, or phone certificate requests) | $10 per request | Texas SOS fee schedule |
| SOSDirect certificate order | $15, no separate expedite fee | Texas SOS |
| SOSDirect name search fee | $1, waived when bundled with a certificate order | Texas SOS |
These are state government fees. Any managed-service provider that orders certificates for you charges a separate service fee on top. Keep the two straight: the state cost itself is $15 or free.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Texas?
Online is fastest. The Comptroller’s account status prints instantly online. A Certificate of Fact ordered through SOSDirect is emailed back in about two hours. Mail and fax orders take one business day under regular handling.
| Channel | Typical turnaround | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Comptroller online account status | Instant | Texas Comptroller |
| SOSDirect (online) | About 2 hours, emailed | Texas SOS instructions |
| SOS mail or fax, regular handling | 1 business day | Texas SOS |
| SOS mail or fax, expedited ($10) | About 2 hours | Texas SOS |
Can You Expedite a Certificate of Good Standing in Texas?
Yes. The Secretary of State expedites mail, fax, and phone certificate requests for a $10 fee, cutting turnaround to about two hours (Texas SOS). SOSDirect orders already return in about two hours with no expedite fee. The Comptroller account status needs no expediting because it is instant online.
Rush service matters when you are closing a loan or racing a foreign qualification deadline. Note the SOS’s tiered Texas Express filing program, which took effect October 1, 2025 and expanded April 29, 2026, applies to document filings, not to the $10 certificate expedite fee (Texas SOS).
What If Your Business Is Not in Good Standing in Texas?
Fix the underlying compliance failure first, then request the certificate. Common causes are unfiled franchise tax reports, unpaid tax, a missing PIR, a lapsed registered agent, or a forfeited charter. Check your status with the Comptroller, file and pay what is owed, then reinstate if the charter was forfeited.
To terminate, withdraw, or reinstate a Texas entity, you must first obtain a Certificate of Account Status from the Comptroller by satisfying all franchise tax responsibilities, including a final report where required (Texas Comptroller). Texas certificates do not expire and need no renewal. They reflect status on their issue date, so requesters usually want a recent one.
How Do You Maintain Good Standing in Texas?
File the annual franchise tax report and Public Information Report by May 15 each year, and keep a registered agent on file. If May 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day, per the Comptroller franchise tax page.
Every corporation, LLC, limited partnership, professional association, and financial institution doing business in Texas must file the PIR or OIR annually, even if it owes no franchise tax under the no-tax-due threshold (Texas Comptroller). Miss the franchise tax and the Comptroller forfeits your standing, then notifies the SOS, which can forfeit your charter. A compliance calendar keeps these deadlines from slipping.
How Commenda Helps You Stay in Good Standing in Texas
Commenda’s entity management platform tracks your Texas filings, registered agent requirements, and franchise tax deadlines so your standing never lapses. As a fully managed entity service, every filing is handled, and the team can pull a Certificate of Account Status or Certificate of Fact – Status when a lender or another state asks.
Pair it with Commenda’s compliance calendar to see every Texas deadline in one place, and keep your Texas business registration current before you order any certificate. Book a demo to get a free compliance status check on your Texas entity.
