What does 'forfeited existence' mean in a Texas search?

Forfeited existence means the entity lost its right to transact business, usually for failing to file a franchise tax report or pay tax. The entity generally must file delinquent reports, pay what it owes, and obtain a tax clearance to be reinstated.

Texas Business Entity Search: How to Look Up a Business (2026)

Q: Is the Texas business entity search free?

The Texas Comptroller's Taxable Entity Search is free and shows an entity's legal name, taxpayer number, and right-to-transact-business status. The Secretary of State's SOSDirect search is the official corporate record but charges $1 per search.

Q: Can I get a certified copy of a Texas filing online?

Yes. SOSDirect lets you order certified copies of formation documents and a Certificate of Fact (status), each for a separate fee. These certified records are what banks, lenders, and courts typically require.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

You can look up a Texas business two ways: the free Texas Comptroller Taxable Entity Search at mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us, which confirms an entity's legal name, taxpayer number, and right-to-transact-business status; or the Secretary of State's SOSDirect system, the official corporate record, which charges $1 per search. Use the Comptroller tool for a quick free status check and SOSDirect when you need the full filing history, registered agent, or a certified copy.

Quick Answer

Free search: Comptroller Taxable Entity Search - mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/
Official record: SOSDirect (Secretary of State) - $1 per search
Shows: Exact legal name, entity status, registered agent, filing number
Name check: Name must be distinguishable in Secretary of State records
Certified copies: Ordered through SOSDirect for a separate fee
Agencies: Texas Secretary of State and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Where Texas Business Records Live: Two Agencies

Texas business information is split between two state agencies, and knowing which one to query saves time and money. The Texas Secretary of State maintains the system of record for entity formation - the Certificate of Formation, registered agent, assumed names, and amendments - through its online portal, SOSDirect. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts maintains franchise-tax accounts and offers a free public lookup of an entity's tax standing. Because the two databases serve different purposes, a complete picture of a Texas company often means checking both. For the national overview of how these lookups work, see our business entity search hub.

Neither database is the same as the federal or trademark record. The Secretary of State tracks the entity's legal existence and its public filings; the Comptroller tracks whether the entity has met its state tax obligations. Your federal EIN, by contrast, is issued by the IRS and does not appear in either Texas system. Likewise, a name that is clear in Texas state records may still conflict with a registered trademark owned by a business in another state, so entity search is one layer of diligence, not the whole picture. Keep that scope in mind when you rely on a search result to make a decision.

Free Search: Comptroller Taxable Entity Search

The fastest no-cost option is the Texas Comptroller's Taxable Entity Search (also called Franchise Tax Account Status), available at mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/. You can search by entity name, taxpayer number, or the Secretary of State filing number. The results confirm the entity's exact legal name, its 11-digit taxpayer number, its mailing address, and - most usefully - its right to transact business in Texas, which reads as "Active," "Franchise Tax Involuntarily Ended," or a similar status. This free tool is ideal for verifying that a vendor, customer, or prospective partner is a real entity in good standing before you sign a contract. It does not, however, display the registered agent or the underlying formation document.

Official Record: SOSDirect ($1 per search)

For the authoritative corporate record, use SOSDirect, the Secretary of State's online filing and inquiry system. SOSDirect requires a free account and charges a $1 fee per search against a credit card or prefunded client account. A search returns the entity's filing number, formation date, entity type, status, and the registered agent and registered office on file. From the same screen you can order certified copies and status certificates. SOSDirect is the correct source when you need to confirm the current registered agent, review the assumed names (DBAs) an entity has filed, or pull the actual Certificate of Formation. If you cannot access SOSDirect, the Secretary of State also answers name and status questions by phone and email during business hours.

What a Search Reveals

Between the two tools you can confirm nearly everything a lender, court, or counterparty needs. The table below shows which data appears where.

Data point	Comptroller (free)	SOSDirect ($1)
Exact legal name	Yes	Yes
Entity type (LLC, corporation, LP)	Limited	Yes
Formation / registration date	No	Yes
Right to transact / tax status	Yes	Yes
Registered agent and office	No	Yes
Assumed names (DBAs)	No	Yes
Certified copies / Certificate of Fact	No	Yes (extra fee)

Because SOSDirect fees for copies and certificates change over time, confirm the current amount on the Secretary of State fee schedule before ordering.

How to Search, Step by Step

Start free at the Comptroller. Go to the Taxable Entity Search, enter the business name, and confirm the exact legal name and tax status. This is enough for a basic good-standing check.
Switch to SOSDirect for detail. Log in to SOSDirect, choose the business organizations inquiry, and search by name or filing number. Pay the $1 fee to open the entity record.
Open the filing detail. Review the entity status, formation date, and the current registered agent and registered office.
Order certified records if needed. Request a certified copy of the Certificate of Formation or a Certificate of Fact for financing, litigation, or a bank account opening.

Checking Name Availability Before You File

If you are forming a new company, an entity search doubles as a name-availability check. Texas requires a new entity name to be distinguishable in the records of the Secretary of State from existing names. Searching SOSDirect for close matches tells you whether your preferred name is likely available, but only the Secretary of State makes the final determination when you file. A clear search is not a guarantee, and a name that is available in state records can still infringe a federal trademark. If you are ready to reserve a name, you can file a name reservation to hold it for 120 days. See how to form an LLC in Texas for the full formation arc, and what is an LLC for entity basics.

Reading Texas Entity Status Codes

The status field is the single most important result of a search. An entity in good standing reads Active or "In existence." Common problem statuses include forfeited existence or "Franchise Tax Involuntarily Ended," which means the Comptroller revoked the entity's right to transact business for unpaid franchise tax or a missing report; and terminated or "voluntarily dissolved," meaning the owners closed it. A forfeited entity generally must file its delinquent franchise tax reports, pay what it owes, and obtain a tax clearance before it can be reinstated. If you are dealing with a company in a forfeited status, treat contracts cautiously - the entity may have lost limited-liability protection for that period.

Common Uses for a Texas Entity Search

A Texas entity search supports several everyday tasks. Vendors and lenders run one for due diligence before extending credit. Attorneys use SOSDirect to find the current registered agent so they can properly serve a lawsuit. New founders check name availability before filing a Certificate of Formation or a Texas DBA. Buyers confirm an entity's good standing during an acquisition, and banks require a Certificate of Fact to open accounts or process loans. Whatever the purpose, start with the free Comptroller tool to confirm the entity exists, then use SOSDirect when you need the registered agent, filing history, or a certified document.

A search is also the first step before you form or rename a company. Founders confirm a name is distinguishable before filing, and existing owners search their own record to verify the registered agent and status are current before a financing or a bid. If you are winding a company down instead, the search will eventually show a "terminated" status once you complete dissolution in Texas; leaving an entity active but unfiled is what produces the forfeited-existence status that later blocks reinstatement. Treat the entity search as a routine annual habit, not just a one-time check at formation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Texas business entity search free?

The Comptroller's Taxable Entity Search is free and shows the legal name, taxpayer number, and right-to-transact-business status. The Secretary of State's SOSDirect search is the official corporate record but charges $1 per search.

What is the difference between SOSDirect and the Comptroller search?

SOSDirect is the Secretary of State's system of record for formation documents, registered agents, and assumed names, and costs $1 per search. The Comptroller tool is free but focuses on franchise-tax account status rather than the full filing history.

How do I find a Texas LLC's registered agent?

Search the entity in SOSDirect and open its filing detail, which lists the current registered agent and registered office. The agent is filed on Form 205 and updated by Form 401.

How do I check if a Texas business name is available?

Search existing names in SOSDirect; a new name must be distinguishable in Secretary of State records. A clear search is not a guarantee - the Secretary of State makes the final call when you file.

What does "forfeited existence" mean?

It means the entity lost its right to transact business, usually for an unpaid or unfiled franchise tax report. The entity must generally file delinquent reports, pay what it owes, and get a tax clearance to be reinstated.

Can I get a certified copy of a Texas filing online?

Yes. SOSDirect lets you order certified copies and a Certificate of Fact for a separate fee. These are the records banks, lenders, and courts typically require.

Sources

Texas Secretary of State - SOSDirect online filing and inquiry system.
Texas Secretary of State - SOSDirect Fee Schedule ($1 per search; certified copy and status fees).
Texas Secretary of State - Name Filings FAQs (distinguishable-name standard; reservation).
Texas Secretary of State - Business Formation FAQs (registered agent on Form 205).
Texas Secretary of State - Business Organizations Code Forms (Form 205, Form 401).
Texas Comptroller - Taxable Entity Search (Franchise Tax Account Status) (free search).
Texas Comptroller - Franchise Tax Account Status (right to transact business; reinstatement).
Texas Comptroller - Franchise Tax (forfeiture for unfiled reports).
Texas Business Organizations Code - Chapter 5, Registered Agents and Registered Offices.
Texas Business Organizations Code - Chapter 101, Limited Liability Companies.
Texas Business Organizations Code - Section 5.053, name distinguishability.
Texas Comptroller - Reinstating an Entity (tax clearance requirement).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Limited Liability Company (LLC).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC).

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Search results, fees, and status codes change; verify current requirements with the Texas Secretary of State and Texas Comptroller before acting.