Form 636 - Instructions for Certificate of Conversion of a Limited Liability Company Converting to a Corporation
Form 636 (PDF) Instructions (PDF)
Commentary
A limited liability company may convert into a corporation by adopting a plan of conversion in accordance with section 10.101 of the Texas Business Organizations Code (BOC) and filing a certificate of conversion with the secretary of state in accordance with sections 10.154 and 10.155 of the BOC. As defined in section 1.002 of the BOC, “conversion” means the continuance of a Texas entity as a foreign entity of any type, the continuance of a foreign entity as a Texas entity of any type, or the continuance of a Texas entity of one type as a Texas entity of another type.
Purpose of Form: As used in the BOC and in this form, “converting entity” means the entity that existed before the conversion; “converted entity” means the entity resulting from a conversion. This form should be used when a domestic limited liability company is the converting entity and a domestic or foreign for-profit corporation, professional corporation or nonprofit corporation will be the converted entity.
Registration of Converted Foreign Entity: A converted foreign corporation must separately register under chapter 9 of the BOC in order to transact business in Texas.
Important: Not all jurisdictions permit conversions. For a cross-jurisdiction conversion to be effective, the law of both jurisdictions must permit the transaction and be followed. This document provides information about the Texas requirements; the entity’s governing documents and the law of the other jurisdiction must also be consulted. If the jurisdiction of formation of the converting entity permits the conversion, additional filings may be required there.
Instructions for Form
Converting Entity Information: The certificate of conversion is filed by the converting entity and should set forth the legal name of the converting entity and its jurisdiction of organization as part of the certificate. It is recommended that the date of formation and file number, if any, assigned by the secretary of state be provided to facilitate processing of the document.
Converted Entity Information: The entity following the conversion is the converted entity. The certificate of conversion should set forth the legal name of the converted entity and its jurisdiction of formation.
Converted Entity Name: If the converted entity is a Texas filing entity, the name of the converted entity will be checked for availability in accordance with section 5.053 of the BOC. If the converted entity name is the same as the name of any existing domestic or foreign filing entity, any fictitious name under which a foreign filing entity is registered to transact business in this state, any name reservation or registration, or the name of any existing registered series of a domestic limited liability company filed with the secretary of state, or if notarized written consent for the use of a similar name is required but cannot be obtained, the conversion cannot be filed.
However, if the conflicting entity name is the name of the converting entity and the converting entity is currently in existence with the secretary of state, the converted entity name will be accepted irrespective of the conflict with the entity name in use by the converting entity.
Plan of Conversion or Alternative Statements in Lieu of Plan: Unless the converting entity opts to complete the Alternative Statements section of this form, a plan of conversion conforming to the requirements of section 10.103 of the BOC should be attached to the certificate of conversion.
Certificate of Formation for the Converted Entity: The certificate of formation of the converted entity must be filed with the certificate of conversion if the converted entity is a Texas filing entity.
Approval of the Plan of Conversion: The certificate of conversion must include a statement that the plan of conversion has been approved as required by (1) the laws of the jurisdiction of formation and (2) the governing documents of the converting entity.
Section 101.356(c) of the BOC sets forth the requirements for approval of the plan of conversion by a Texas limited liability company.
Effectiveness of Filing: A certificate of conversion becomes effective when accepted and filed by the secretary of state (option A). However, pursuant to sections 4.052 and 4.053 of the BOC, the effectiveness of the instrument may be delayed to a specified date, or specified date and time, not more than ninety (90) days from the date the instrument is signed (option B). The effectiveness of the instrument also may be delayed on the occurrence of a future event or fact, other than the passage of time (option C). If option C is selected, you must state the manner in which the event or fact will cause the instrument to take effect and the date of the 90th day after the date the instrument is signed. In order for the certificate to take effect under option C, the entity must, within ninety (90) days of the filing of the certificate, file a statement with the secretary of state regarding the event or fact pursuant to section 4.055 of the BOC. See Form 805 for more information.
Tax Certification: The secretary of state may not accept a certificate of conversion for filing if the required franchise taxes have not been paid or the certificate does not provide that the converted entity is liable for the payment of the required franchise taxes. BOC § 10.156.
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Unless the converting entity opts to provide the alternative statement regarding payment of franchise taxes, the certificate of conversion must be accompanied by a certificate of account status from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts indicating that the converting entity is in good standing having no franchise tax reports or payment due. The certificate of account status must be valid through the effective date of filing of the conversion. Please note that the Comptroller issues many different types of certificates of account status. A printout of the converting entity’s franchise tax account status obtained from the Comptroller’s website is not sufficient. Contact the Comptroller for assistance in obtaining the necessary certificate by e-mail or by phone at (800) 252-1381 (toll-free) or (512) 463-4600.
In lieu of a tax certificate, the converting entity may opt to provide that the converted entity is liable for the payment of the required franchise taxes.
Execution: Pursuant to section 4.001 of the BOC, the certificate of conversion must be signed by a person authorized by the BOC to act on behalf of the converting entity in regard to the filing instrument. Generally, a governing person or managerial official of the entity signs a filing instrument.
A certificate of conversion filed by a limited liability company should be signed by an authorized manager if the company has managers. If the company does not have managers and is managed by its members, an authorized managing-member must sign the certificate of conversion.
The certificate of conversion need not be notarized. However, before signing, please read the statements on this form carefully.
A person commits an offense under section 4.008 of the BOC if the person signs or directs the filing of a filing instrument the person knows is materially false with the intent that the instrument be delivered to the secretary of state for filing. The offense is a Class A misdemeanor unless the person’s intent is to harm or defraud another, in which case the offense is a state jail felony.
Payment and Delivery Instructions: The filing fee for a certificate of conversion is $300 plus the fee for filing the certificate of formation when the converted entity is a domestic filing entity.
The total filing fee for the conversion of a Texas limited liability company to either a Texas for-profit corporation or to a Texas professional corporation is $600 ($300 for the certificate of conversion and $300 for the certificate of formation for the corporation).
The total filing fee for the conversion of a Texas limited liability company to a Texas nonprofit corporation is $325 ($300 for the certificate of conversion and $25 for the certificate of formation for the nonprofit corporation).
The total filing fee for the conversion of a Texas limited liability company to a foreign corporation is $300 for the certificate of conversion. There is no certificate of formation filed with the secretary of state on behalf of the converted foreign entity. However, in order to transact business in Texas, the converted foreign entity must separately register under chapter 9 of the BOC and pay the applicable filing fee.
In lieu of attaching the completed plan of conversion, the converting entity may opt to certify and complete the alternative statements in the form.
If the completed plan of conversion is attached to the certificate of conversion, the certificate of formation may be included as part of the plan of conversion or as an exhibit to the plan. Otherwise, if the converting entity opts to include the certifying statements in lieu of providing the complete plan of conversion, the certificate of formation must be attached to the certificate of conversion.
The certificate of formation of a Texas filing entity formed under a plan of conversion must include a statement to that effect as well as provide the name, address, date of formation, prior form of organization, and jurisdiction of formation of the converting entity. BOC § 3.005(a)(8).
If the certificate of formation for the converted Texas filing entity fails to comply with the requirements applicable to the entity under subchapter A of chapter 3 of the BOC, the certificate of conversion cannot be filed.
On the filing of a document with a delayed effective date or condition, the computer records of the secretary of state will be changed to show the filing of the document, the date of the filing, and the future date on which the document will be effective or evidence that the effectiveness was conditioned on the occurrence of a future event or fact. In addition, at the time of such filing, the status of a converting Texas filing entity will be shown as “Conversion” and the status of a converted Texas filing entity will be shown as “In existence” on the records of the secretary of state.
Fees may be paid by: (1) a personal check or money order payable through a U.S. bank or financial institution and made payable to the secretary of state; (2) a funded LegalEase account; or (3) a prefunded secretary of state client account.
Submit the completed form(s) in duplicate along with the filing fee. The form(s) may be: (1) mailed to P.O. Box 13697, Austin, Texas 78711-3697; or (2) delivered to the James Earl Rudder Office Building, 1019 Brazos, Austin, Texas 78701. On filing the document, the secretary of state will return the appropriate evidence of filing to the submitter together with a file-stamped copy of the document, if a duplicate copy was provided as instructed.
