Filing Options
The Secretary of State is aware that many transactions in the business and financial world are time sensitive. The office strongly encourages electronic filing through SOSPortal to ensure swift processing times.
Online Filing
Online services are available through our website at SOSPortal including the ability to:
- file business formation documents;
- manage an entity record;
- receive evidence of processing in real-time;
- order certified or plain copies and order certificates of fact;
- search for business entities/obtain entity information;
- print copies of imaged documents;
- obtain entity status; and
- check name availability
If you do not have a SOSPortal account, you may quickly create one by using this link: Create a SOSPortal Account. For more information, please e-mail our team.
Expedited Service
Expedited service means that the documents are processed before other documents received the same day and the filing party is notified in writing by email of the filing disposition. The Secretary of State offers expedited service for business filings documents online thru SOSPortal and in person. For more information visit Texas Express.
Preclearance Services
The Secretary of State will pre-clear a business filing instrument upon request. The fee is $50 per filing instrument. Generally, an instrument submitted for preclearance is a draft of an instrument that will be submitted for filing at a later date. The instrument to be pre-cleared will not be filed, but reviewed for compliance with minimal statutory filing requirements. The instrument will be returned with a written statement that the draft instrument is suitable for filing or with the reasons why the instrument would be rejected if submitted for filing as drafted. Preclearance submissions can be submitted online thru SOSPortal or in person.
Payment Methods
- Credit Card (For filings submitted thru SOSPortal) Credit card payments are subject to an additional convenience fee of $0.25 per transaction plus 2.25% of the amount charged.
- ACH (For filings submitted thru SOSPortal)
- Check or money order (For filings submitted in person and by mail)
All checks should be made payable to the Secretary of State. Checks will not be returned for documents that cannot be filed. They will be securely destroyed for security reasons.
