If you are making a change to your registered agent in Texas, you’ll need to inform the Texas Secretary of state. It costs $15 to do it yourself.
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Changing a registered agent in Texas involves a few simple steps. Follow this instruction guide to ensure a smooth and hassle-free change. These steps are required whether you are switching from one commercial agent to another or from a private commercial agent to a commercial agent. They are also required whether your business was formed in Texas or is an out of state business working in Texas.
Step 1: Find a New Registered Agent. You need to find a new registered agent before making any changes to your current one. Your new registered agent must be a legal resident of Texas, a business entity authorized to do business in Texas, or a registered professional entity. They must also agree to accept service of process on behalf of your company.
Step 2: Fill out the Appropriate Form To change your registered agent in Texas, you must file Form 401-A or Form 424 with the Texas Secretary of State. Form 401-A is used for changing the registered agent of a Texas corporation, and Form 424 is used for changing the registered agent of a Texas LLC. Both forms can be found on the Texas Secretary of State’s website.
Step 3: Pay the Filing Fee There is a $15 filing fee for submitting Form 401-A and a $15 filing fee for submitting Form 424. The fee can be paid online using a credit or debit card, or by mailing a check or money order along with the completed form.
Step 4: Submit the Form Once you have completed the appropriate form and paid the filing fee, you can submit the form to the Texas Secretary of State. You can submit the form online, by mail, or in person. If submitting the form by mail or in person, make sure to include the filing fee.
Step 5: Notify Your Current Registered Agent After you have filed the appropriate form, you must notify your current registered agent that you have changed agents. This can be done by sending a letter or email to your current registered agent.
Step 6: Update Your Company Records After you have successfully changed your registered agent, update your company records with the new registered agent’s information. This includes updating your company’s articles of incorporation or articles of organization.
The minimum requirements of a registered agent are to receive your official state mail and service of process, but a good registered agent can become an essential part of your business’ compliance needs.
An excellent registered agent service will:
All businesses, domestic and foreign, that register with the Texas Secretary of State must maintain a registered agent. This includes:
It does not include:
A registered agent in Texas can be an individual who is a resident of the state, or a business entity that is authorized to do business in Texas. The agent must have a physical address in Texas and be available during regular business hours to receive legal and tax documents.
To change your registered agent in Texas, you must file a form called a Statement of Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent with the Texas Secretary of State. You can do this online or by mail. Once the form is processed, your new registered agent will receive a Certificate of Appointment as evidence of their appointment.
Yes, there is a fee for changing your registered agent in Texas. As of 2021, the fee is $15 for online filing or $5 for paper filing.
Yes, you can change your registered agent at any time in Texas. However, it’s important to ensure that you have a new registered agent in place before you terminate your current one, to avoid any gaps in service that could put your business at risk.