Requirements For Starting Your Business
Complying with Local, State, and Federal Regulations
Registering the Name of your Business:
You must obtain an Assumed Name Certificate (DBA) from the County Clerk or the Texas
Secretary of State’s Office. If your business is organized as a corporation, it is not necessary
to file a DBA if you operate under the same name as that corporation.
State Sales Tax Permit:
Businesses involved in selling, renting, leasing or providing taxable items or services must
obtain a Sales Tax Permit from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. This office also
assesses the annual state Margin Tax for Texas corporations. There is no cost to obtain the
sales tax permit.
Employer Identification Number (EIN):
This federal tax number is required by all businesses except sole proprietorships with no
employees. This number is used to file Employer Tax Returns, make deposits of employment
taxes and file business tax returns. This number is obtained from the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS). See the IRS website at www.irs.gov for more details. To apply online, go to:
https://sa.www4.irs.gov/sa_vign/newFormSS4.do There is no fee for obtaining your EIN.
Employer Requirements:
Besides obtaining the EIN and depositing payroll taxes, employers must comply with several
other requirements. The state unemployment rate is paid to the Texas Workforce
Commission. Employers should also contact the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour
Division and OSHA Division, regarding employer requirements including display of certain
posters tat can be easily seen by employees and applicants. Also contact the Texas
Department of Insurance and the Texas Worker’s Compensation Commission for information
about workers’ compensation requirements and classifications.
Incorporating:
Articles of incorporation must be filed with the Secretary of State’s Office: Corporations
Section. There is a $300 filing fee for Texas corporations. If you incorporated your business
out of state, and wish to operate within Texas, you must file a Certificate of Authority with the
Secretary of State’s Office.
Licenses and Permits:
To determine if your business requires local, state, or federal licenses or permits, contact the
Texas Department of Economic Development (TDED), Business Information and Referral
Program. This office has a Comprehensive Application Form (CAF) for Texas licenses and
permits, and also has information about local and Federal requirements.
Business Property Taxes:
Property tax must be paid to the county appraisal district on tangible personal property used to
produce income. Business owners must report all inventory, equipment and machinery. The
report is filed annually between January 1 and March 31.
Self-Employment Tax
Because FICA is not withheld from self-employment earnings, self-employment tax is paid to
fund social security and Medicare benefits. This is reported using a Schedule SE from filed
with your income taxes.
Important Contact Information:
County Offices
Hays County Clerk
Travis County Clerk
Williamson County Clerk
State Offices
Texas Secretary Of State
Texas Dept. of Economic
Development
State Comptroller’s Field Office
Texas Workforce Commission
Texas Workers’ Compensation
Commission
Texas Department of Insurance
Address
Telephone
137 N. Guadalupe Street, San Marcos, TX
78666
1000 Guadalupe Street, #222, Austin, TX
P.O. Box 18, Georgetown, TX 78627
Address
James Earl Rudder Bldg.,1019 Brazos, Room
106, Austin, TX 78701
Stephen F. Austin Bldg, 1700 North Congress,
Austin, TX 78711
111 West 6th Street, Austin, TX 78701
Tax Department, 9001 N. IH35, Suite 110,
Austin, TX 78753
7551 Metro Center Drive, Austin, TX 787441609
333 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78701
Texas Alcoholic Beverage
Commission
Texas Dept. of Health
5806 Mesa Drive, Austin, TX 78731
Office of the Governor
Federal Offices
Taxpayers Assistance Office
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Social Security Administration
State Insurance Building, 1100 San Jacinto,
Austin, TX 78701
Address
825 East Rundberg Lane, H-4
Austin, TX 78753
903 San Jacinto, Austin, TX 78701
U.S. Department of Labor
Wage & Hour Division
Department of Labor (OSHA)
Northchase 1 Office Building, 10127 Morocco,
Suite 140, San Antonio, TX 78216
903 San Jacinto #319, Austin, TX 78701
U.S. Small Business
Administration
17319 San Pedro, Bldg 2, #200
San Antonio, TX 78232
1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX 78757
512-393-7330
512-854-9188
512-943-1515
Telephone
800-648-9642
www.sos.state.tx.us
512-936-0101
www.tded.state.tx.us
800-252-5555
www.cpa.state.tx.us
512-837-8636
www.twc.state.tx.us
512-804-4100
www.twcc.state.tx.us
512-463-6169
www.tdi.state.tx.us
512-206-3333
www.tabc.state.tx.us
512-719-0232
www.tdh.state.tx.us
512-463-2000
www.governor.state.tx.us
Telephone
800-499-5127
www.irs.gov
512-916-5404
www.ssa.gov
210-308-4515
www.dol.gov
512-916-5783
www.osha.gov
512-403-5900
www.sba.gov
Business Entity Tax Form Chart
Use the chart below to determine what tax forms you need to file
Basic Tax
Forms and
Schedules
Estimated Tax
Payments
Helpful
Publications
Sole
Proprietorship
Form 1040
Schedule-C
Schedule SE
Form 1040-ES
Publication 334
Partnership
LLC
LLP
S Corporation
C Corporation
Form 1065
Sch. K-1
Form 1040
Sch. C
Sch. SE
-ORForm 1065
Sch. K-1
Form 1040ES
-ORForm 1120W
Publication
8832 & Inst.
Form 1065
Sch. K-1
Form 1120-S
Sch. K-1
Form 1120
Form 1040-ES
Publication
541
Form 2553
(1st year Only)
Form 1040ES
Form 1120-W
1120-W
Form 1040-ES
Form 8832
Inst To Form
Inst. To Form 1120-S Inst. to
1065 & K-1
Form 2553
These publications can be found on the IRS website at: www.irs.gov
Publication
542
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