Change LLC Name in Texas

Can I change the name of my LLC in Texas?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Texas LLC name.

The first step is to file a form called the Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State and wait for it to be approved. This is how you officially change your LLC name in Texas.

The filing fee for a Certificate of Amendment in Texas is $150.

After the state approves your LLC name change, you should then notify the following 3 places:

• the IRS
• state tax department
• your business bank account

And finally, you can update your LLC name in other places like your website and marketing materials.

This page will guide you through the process and include helpful tips along the way.

Note: We’ve changed the names of our own LLCs over the years. So we have first-hand experience with filing the paperwork as well as dealing with the IRS and financial institutions.

What are the steps for changing an LLC name in Texas?

1. Check if your new LLC name is available
2. File the Amendment form (and wait for approval)
3. Update the IRS
4. Update the Texas Comptroller
5. Update financial institutions (credit card companies, banks)
6. Update business licenses
7. Update other places (branding materials, business accounts, etc.)

How much does it cost to change an LLC name in Texas?

It costs $150 to change your LLC name in Texas. This is the filing fee for the Certificate of Amendment form.

The fee is the same whether you file the form online or by mail.

How do I change my Texas LLC name?

In order to change your LLC name, you must file a Certificate of Amendment with the Texas Secretary of State. This officially updates your legal entity (your Limited Liability Company) on state records.

Note: The Texas Secretary of State is responsible for LLC formation and administration, including name changes.

The Certificate of Amendment is a PDF download. After you complete the form, you can file it online or by mail.

Can I file the LLC Name Change myself?

You can file the Certificate of Amendment yourself or you can hire a company to do this for you.

Because the Amendment filing in Texas can be confusing and time consuming, many people choose to hire a company for help.

Step 1: Make sure your new Texas LLC name is available

Before filing your amendment form (the Certificate of Amendment), you’ll want to check that your new LLC name is available in Texas.

This is important because two businesses in the state can’t have the same name, or be too similar. This is called LLC name distinguishability.

If you file an amendment for a name that’s already taken, the state will reject your filing. And if that happens, you’ll need to re-file with a different name.

To avoid that, look up your desired Texas LLC name ahead of time using the state’s business entity search.

Step 2: File the Texas LLC name change form

What’s the form called?

Each state has its own form for changing a business name. In Texas, the form is called the Certificate of Amendment (Form 424).

Most states call the name change form the “Certificate of Amendment” or “Articles of Amendment” because you are amending your Texas LLC Certificate of Formation.

How to file a Certificate of Amendment in Texas

First: Download the Certificate of Amendment form.

You can complete the form on your computer, then print it out to sign. Or you can print out the form, and complete it by hand using black ink.

Entity Information

The name of the filing entity:

Enter your current LLC name.

This is the name currently on Secretary of State records, not the new name you want to change it to.

Filing entity type

Check the box for “Limited Liability Company“.

File number issued to the filing entity by the SOS:

Enter your Texas SOS File Number from the business entity search. This should be a 10-digit number.

Date of formation of the entity:

This is the date the Texas Secretary of State approved your LLC (the date it was “born”).

Enter the Effective SOS Registration Date from the business entity search.

Amendments

1. Amended Name

The name of the filing entity:
Now enter the new LLC name you want to use. Make sure to include an allowable designator (like “LLC”).

If you’re only changing your LLC name, you don’t need to fill out any other sections in the Amendments part. You can skip ahead to “Effectiveness of Filing” on the last page of the PDF if you’re only changing the LLC name.

2. Amended Registered Agent/Registered Office

You can also use the Certificate of Amendment form to change your Texas Registered Agent. If you want to do that, complete the information here about the new Registered Agent.

Enter the name of the company you’ve hired as your new Registered Agent in item A, or the name of the person who will be your LLC’s Registered Agent in item B. Then enter their street address in Texas (PO Boxes aren’t allowed) in item C.

You must also attach a completed, signed copy of Form 401-A (Acceptance of Appointment as Registered Agent). Note: If you’re hiring a Commercial Registered Agent (aka Registered Agent Service), they should provide you with a copy of this form to use.

3. Other Added, Altered, or Deleted Provisions

Most people leave this section blank.

Note: If your business attorney instructed you to add, edit, or delete a provision from your Certificate of Formation, they will provide you the language to use here.

Statement of Approval

There is nothing to complete in this section.

Effectiveness of Filing

You can make the name change effective ASAP (as soon as the Secretary of State approves it), or you can post-date it to be effective later.

Most people just want to change the name now, so they check box A for: “This document becomes effective when the document is filed by the SOS“.

Execution

You’ll sign, print your name, and enter the date you signed the Certificate of Amendment.

On the line marked “By:“, enter your LLC’s current name (not the new name).

Then sign on the next line.

And enter your first and last name on the third line.

Per Texas Law, here’s who can sign the Certificate of Amendment:

• If your Texas LLC is Member-managed, a Managing Member can sign.
• If your LLC is Manager-managed, a Manager can sign.

Or if you hire a company to file this form for you, they’ll sign as an Authorized Person.

Confused by these terms? Check out LLC Member vs Manager.

Texas Certificate of Amendment Filing Methods

You can file the Texas Certificate of Amendment online or by mail.

File online using SOSUpload

1. Scan your signed Certificate of Amendment and save it on your computer
2. Login to SOSUpload
3. Enter your credit card information (the fee is $150)
4. Select “No“, this filing is not for a new entity.
5. Enter your LLC’s Texas SOS Filing Number (from the business entity search)
6. Select “Certificate of Amendment” from the drop down menu for Filing Type
7. Locate the scanned Certificate of Amendment file on your computer, and click the button to Upload File
8. Click Submit for Review, and you’re done!

File by mail

1. Prepare a check or money order for $150 payable to the “Texas Secretary of State”.
2. Send the payment, and two (2) copies of the Certificate of Amendment, to:

PO Box 13697
Austin, TX 78711-3697

Wait for approval

After submitting your Certificate of Amendment to the state, please wait for approval.

Approval times vary, but on average, how long it takes to change an LLC name in Texas can take:

• 13-15 business days if you file online with SOSUpload
• up to 4-8 weeks (plus mail time) if you file by mail

If you filed online, you’ll receive your name change approval by email.

If you filed by mail, you’ll get a stamped and approved copy of your filing back in the mail. (That’s why you sent two copies of the Certificate of Amendment.)

Step 3: Change your LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Texas LLC name with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This updates the name connected to your LLC’s EIN number.

We have step-by-step instructions here:
How to change LLC name with IRS

Step 4: Update your LLC’s Account with the Texas Comptroller

After your new LLC name is approved, you need to update your business’s account with the state’s tax department (the Texas Comptroller).

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. However, in Texas it’s called the Office of the Texas Comptroller, and this is who you’ll update with your new LLC name.

Typically, you can update your LLC name in one of three ways:

• online
• by mail
• by phone

But it differs from state to state, so we recommend you call the Texas Comptroller. You can ask about the process to update your Texas business name.

Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name

Besides updating your Texas LLC name with the IRS and Texas Comptroller’s tax department, you’ll also want to contact the following places and let them know about the name change.

Financial institutions:

• LLC business bank account
• business checks
• business debit card
• business credit cards
• Paypal or other online banking solutions
• business loans or lines of credit
• brokerage accounts
• bookkeeping software, like Quickbooks

Pro Tip: You don’t have to rush to update these the same day or even the same week. Your existing checks and credit cards will still work, but it’s important to eventually get everything updated to your new LLC name.

Step 6: Update or Get a New Business License

If you have a state business license or a local business permit, you’ll need to change the name on that license.

Sometimes that means applying for a new license and canceling the old one. Or sometimes you can just change the name on your existing license.

Contact your state licensing agency or licensing board for information on how to update the state business license:

• Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
• Texas Business Permit Office

And contact your local government (like a city clerk or county clerk) for the process to update any local business permits. You can find your county clerk on the Texas Association of Counties website, and you’ll need to look up your town or city, too.

Step 7: Update marketing materials and other places with your new LLC name

Below are some examples of places to update with your new LLC name.

Branding and online presence:

• online stores (like eBay, Shopify, Amazon)
• website, domain registrar, hosting company
• letterhead, logos, invoices, contracts, and important documents
• social media accounts

Professional services:

• Registered Agent Service (if you hired one)
• accountant
• attorney

Other government agencies:

• local tax office (ex: city, county, township)
• business licenses and permits
• sales tax permit
• utility companies
• Department of Labor (if you have employees)

Stay calm: Don’t stress out thinking you have to change your LLC name everywhere right away. That’s not the case. Take your time and do the important ones first. Give yourself a few days or a few weeks to get them all done. Technically, your old business name will still work for quite some time.

Update your Texas LLC Operating Agreement

It’s a good idea to update the name on your LLC’s Operating Agreement. Don’t worry, this is a simple process. You can either:

• You can make a new version of the Operating Agreement you already have. Update the document with your new LLC name, and have the LLC Member(s) sign.
• Or, you can use our free template on Texas LLC Operating Agreement to create a new Operating Agreement with the new LLC name.

Tip: This is a good opportunity to review the other sections in your Operating Agreement and make any needed updates there, too. Have the LLC Member(s) sign, and distribute copies like you did with your initial LLC Operating Agreement.

Change LLC Name in Texas FAQs

Matt Horwitz

Founder & Educator, LLC University®

Matt Horwitz is the leading expert on LLC education, and has been teaching for 15 years. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC. He's cited by Entrepreneur Magazine, Yahoo Finance, and the US Chamber of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.
 
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.