Congratulations! Officially forming a Texas LLC is a huge first step. While this first step is an important one, it is by no means the last. We hope you find the list below helpful in answering the question “What do I do after forming a Texas LLC?”

The LLC's TEXAS tax ID (for sales tax and franchise tax purposes) is issued automatically by the Texas Comptroller shortly after your LLC is approved. Your Texas tax ID can be located via the Texas Comptroller’s website. Please note, this system is very particular (even a missing comma will affect your search).

The LLC's FEDERAL tax ID aka EIN (for income and banking purposes) must be requested from the IRS. Most of our clients ask us to get an EIN for their new LLC, but if you declined this option, you can obtain the EIN once the LLC is created. An EIN can be requested online, via fax or mail. Applying for an EIN online is by far the best and fastest way to obtain an EIN.

• Do I need an EIN/federal tax ID for my new LLC?  The short answer is “Yes.” If the LLC will have a bank account or employees, it will need an EIN.

The next step after forming a Texas LLC is to open a new bank account in the name of the LLC. You’ll want to take the formation paperwork you received from us via email (along with the EIN Assignment letter from the IRS if you applied for the EIN yourself). At a minimum, the bank will want to see the file-stamped Certificate of Formation and the EIN Assignment Letter.

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) requires virtually all entities (LLCs, PLLCs, Series LLCs, etc.) operating in the United States to submit certain information about the entity and its owners to the federal government (specifically to the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network aka FinCEN). Failure to comply with the CTA has serious ramifications (penalties of up to $500 per day and up to two years in prison).

For entities formed before January 1, 2024, the deadline to file the initial report is December 31, 2024. For entities formed in 2024, the deadline to file the initial report is ninety (90) days after the date of formation. Read more about the Corporate Transparency Act's Reporting Requirements.

Trademark Protection: Registering an LLC with the state is just the starting point. You should consider applying for a federal trademark to further protect your business name (and/or logo). Securing a federal trademark involves a time investment, typically spanning about a year. However, the benefits of obtaining a federal trademark registration are numerous and valuable.

Assumed Name Filing: If the LLC uses an assumed name (i.e., any name that does not equal the LLC name), you must file an Assumed Name Certificate (aka “DBA” which is short for “doing business as”).

A W-9 is a one page IRS Form that is used to provide your federal tax identification number (TIN) to others. The federal tax identification number for an LLC is called an EIN (the abbreviation of "Employer Identification Number"). A W-9 is often requested by your clients so they can send you a 1099 at the end of the year.

A W-9 for a multi-member LLC is intuitive to fill out:

Box 1 – The LLC name
Box 2 – Leave blank
Box 3a – Check the "LLC" box and then write "P" for partnership (write "S" or "C" only if the LLC has filed an S-Corp or C-Corp Election)
Box 3b – Typically, this would be left unchecked, but check the instructions to make sure 
Box 4 – Leave empty
Boxes 5&6 – Add the address to where you want 1099s mailed
Part 1 – Use the LLC's EIN

A W-9 for a single-member LLC is a little counter-intuitive:

Box 1 – Enter the name of the owner of the LLC (typically your name)
Box 2 – Enter the LLC name
Box 3a – Check the box: "individual/sole proprietor" (not the "LLC" box)
Box 3b – Leave unchecked
Box 4 – Leave empty
Boxes 5&6 – Add the address to where you want 1099s mailed
Part 1 – Enter the SSN for the person listed in Box 1

An LLC protects the business owner(s) from the business liabilities, while insurance protects the LLC's assets from the LLC's liabilities. For example, when an LLC holds real estate, a slip and fall claim would be filed against the owner (the LLC).  In this scenario, (a) the business owner(s) are shielded from this liability, but all of the LLC's assets could be at risk (assuming the plaintiff wins). If the LLC has the applicable insurance coverage, the insurance company would cover the slip and fall judgment and the real estate and other assets would not be at risk.

We recommend speaking with an insurance agent to learn about the various options/policies that are available to you and your new LLC.

Luckily, in Texas, there is no requirement that every single business get a general business license or permit. However, keep in mind that there are certain businesses or activities that do require a license or permit. While the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration (TLDR) governs some of the more popular Texas licenses, the links below may be useful in determining if your profession or business activity requires a business license.

Professions Licensed and Regulated by TDLR →
Texas Professional Licenses →
TCEQ Environmental Licenses & Permits →
Federal Licenses →

Keep in mind, your local city and/or county may have additional licenses (and permits) that are required. CityApplications.com lists some of the local licenses that may be required by your city.

About 1 week after forming a Texas LLC, you will likely receive two solicitations that you can discard. The first is from LCPS in Austin, called "Labor Law Compliance Notice" and the other will be from Texas Certificate Service and called "Certificate of Fact Request Form." These solicitations will look official, but they are private companies.