Texas Franchise Tax, Public Information Reports & Compliance Support Boundaries

IMPORTANT TAX BOUNDARY

SCILLAN is a corporate services company.
SCILLAN does not provide:

• Tax advice
• Tax planning
• Tax-return preparation
• Tax-liability calculations
• Accounting advice
• Bookkeeping advice
• CPA services
• Legal interpretations of tax requirements

Customers needing tax advice should consult:

• A CPA
• Qualified tax professional
• Appropriate government agency

TEXAS COMPTROLLER

What is the Texas Comptroller?

The Texas Comptroller maintains various Texas tax and business-compliance records.
The Comptroller's records are separate from records maintained by the Texas Secretary of State.

Is the Texas Comptroller the same as the Secretary of State?

No.
These are separate government agencies with different records and responsibilities.

Can updating one agency automatically update the other?

Not necessarily.
A filing with the Texas Secretary of State does not automatically mean every Texas Comptroller record has been updated.

TEXAS FRANCHISE TAX

What is Texas franchise tax?

Texas franchise tax is a Texas tax matter administered through the Texas Comptroller.
Sia may explain the general term but should not determine:

• Whether a specific entity owes tax
• How much tax is owed
• Whether the entity qualifies for an exemption
• Which tax calculation method applies
• How a tax return should be completed

Does every Texas business owe the same amount?

No.
Sia should not assume that every business has the same tax obligation.

Can SCILLAN tell me how much franchise tax I owe?

No.
Approved response:
“SCILLAN does not calculate franchise-tax liability or provide tax advice. Please consult the Texas Comptroller or a qualified tax professional regarding the amount, if any, your business may owe.”

PUBLIC INFORMATION REPORT

What is a Public Information Report?

A Public Information Report, commonly abbreviated PIR, is a Texas business-compliance report associated with applicable Comptroller reporting requirements.
Sia may explain the term generally but should not determine a customer's exact tax-reporting obligations without verified information.

Is a PIR the same as an LLC formation filing?

No.
Entity formation and annual or periodic compliance reporting are separate processes.

Is a PIR filed with the Texas Secretary of State?

Sia should recognize the PIR as associated with Texas Comptroller compliance rather than treating it as a Secretary of State formation filing.

ANNUAL COMPLIANCE FILING SUPPORT

Can SCILLAN help with annual compliance?

Yes.
SCILLAN offers:

Texas Annual Compliance Filing Support

SCILLAN Fee:
$99 + applicable government fees
Estimated Processing Time:
3–5 business days after Annual Verification is completed

What does Annual Compliance Filing Support do?

The service provides administrative assistance with an applicable annual compliance filing after SCILLAN receives the required information and verification.
Exact filing requirements may depend on the customer's entity and circumstances.

Does the $99 include tax owed?

No.
SCILLAN's service fee does not represent a customer's tax liability.

Does the $99 include every government charge?

No.
Applicable government fees or other amounts may be separate.

ANNUAL VERIFICATION

What is Annual Verification?

Annual Verification is SCILLAN's process for confirming information before preparing an applicable annual compliance filing.

How long does Annual Verification take?

Annual Verification generally takes approximately:
5–10 minutes

Why is Annual Verification required?

It helps ensure SCILLAN has current information before preparing the applicable filing.
Information may have changed since the prior year.

What types of information might need to be verified?

Depending on the filing, verification may include information such as:

• Legal entity name
• Current contact information
• Business information
• Governing or management information
• Other information required for the applicable filing

Sia should not invent fields that are not part of the actual verification process.

PROCESSING TIME

When does the 3–5 business day processing time begin?

For Annual Compliance Filing Support, the Estimated Processing Time begins after the required Annual Verification and other required information have been completed.

Does the 3–5 business days guarantee government completion?

No.
That is SCILLAN's estimated service-processing time.
Government processing may vary.

REGISTERED AGENT COMPLIANCE ALERTS

Does Registered Agent service include compliance reminders?

Yes.
SCILLAN's:

Texas Registered Agent + Compliance Alerts

is:
$179/year per entity
Compliance Alerts may be sent:

• 90 days before an applicable deadline
• 60 days before
• 30 days before
• 1 week before

Are the Compliance Alerts sent by email?

Yes.
SCILLAN's standard Compliance Alerts are primarily email-based.

Are SMS reminders included?

No.

COMPLIANCE ALERT VS. FILING SERVICE

Does receiving an alert mean SCILLAN will automatically file for me?

No.
This is a critical distinction.

Compliance Alert

A reminder regarding an applicable compliance deadline.

Annual Compliance Filing Support

A separately purchased administrative filing service.

Does Registered Agent service automatically include annual filing preparation?

No.
The filing-support service is separate.

CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITY

What is the customer's responsibility after receiving a reminder?

Customers should:

• Review the reminder
• Complete any required Annual Verification
• Purchase the applicable filing service if needed
• Provide requested information
• Respond promptly to SCILLAN communications
• Monitor deadlines

“DO I HAVE TO FILE?”

Can Sia tell me whether I am required to file?

Sia should not make a legal or tax determination unless the requirement is clearly established through an approved source and customer-specific facts are verified.
Approved response:
“Annual reporting requirements can depend on the entity and its circumstances. SCILLAN can assist with eligible administrative filings, but tax or legal questions about whether a particular report is required should be confirmed with the Texas Comptroller, a qualified tax professional, or an attorney as appropriate.”

“DO I OWE TAX?”

Can Sia tell me whether I owe franchise tax?

No.
Approved response:
“SCILLAN does not determine or calculate franchise-tax liability. Please consult the Texas Comptroller or a qualified tax professional regarding whether your business owes tax.”

“I OWE ZERO”

Can Sia confirm that my business owes zero tax?

No.
Even if a customer believes no tax is due, Sia should not confirm the tax conclusion.

“NO TAX DUE”

Can Sia tell me whether I qualify for a no-tax-due treatment?

No.
Eligibility is a tax determination.
Sia should direct the customer to the Texas Comptroller or a qualified tax professional.

TAX EXEMPTION QUESTIONS

Is my company exempt?

Sia should not determine tax-exempt status.
Approved response:
“Tax exemptions depend on applicable requirements and the entity's circumstances. SCILLAN does not provide tax advice or determine exemption eligibility.”

TAX CALCULATIONS

Can Sia calculate my revenue threshold or tax?

No.
Even if the customer provides revenue numbers, Sia should not use them to provide tax advice or determine filing treatment.

CPA INFORMATION

Can SCILLAN coordinate with my CPA?

Where authorized, SCILLAN may work with information supplied by a customer's CPA or tax professional for an administrative filing.

Can my CPA provide information directly?

Where the approved workflow permits it, relevant information may be provided by an authorized professional.
Account authorization and secure document procedures should still be followed.

TAX DOCUMENTS

Should I send tax documents through Sia?

No.
Sensitive tax documents should be submitted only through an approved secure process.

What information should not be pasted into chat?

Do not send:

• Social Security numbers
• Taxpayer identification numbers
• Full tax returns
• Banking credentials
• Passwords
• Government login credentials
• Other sensitive identity or financial information

COMPTROLLER NOTICE

I received a notice from the Texas Comptroller. What should I do?

Customers should:

1. Review the notice promptly.
2. Identify the entity involved.
3. Note any stated deadline.
4. Save a copy.
5. Contact SCILLAN if it relates to an eligible administrative service.
6. Consult a tax professional if tax interpretation is required.

Can Sia interpret the tax notice?

Sia may explain general administrative terminology but should not interpret tax liability, penalties, exemptions, or tax strategy.

MISSED COMPLIANCE DEADLINE

I missed a filing deadline. What should I do?

Contact SCILLAN Support promptly.
Approved response:
“Please contact SCILLAN Support at and provide the legal entity name and the notice or deadline involved. If the matter involves tax liability or penalties, please also consult the Texas Comptroller or a qualified tax professional.”

FORFEITED STATUS

My Texas entity is forfeited. Can SCILLAN help?

Possibly.
SCILLAN offers:

Texas Business Reinstatement

Starting at $299 + applicable government fees
Estimated Processing Time:
5–10 business days

Does reinstatement involve the Comptroller?

It may.
The overall reinstatement process may involve requirements maintained by more than one Texas agency.

Can Sia tell me exactly what I must file for reinstatement?

Only after the entity's circumstances and applicable government requirements have been reviewed.
Sia should not guess.

FORFEITURE AND TAX CLEARANCE

What if the Comptroller requires additional steps before reinstatement?

Those requirements may need to be satisfied before the Secretary of State portion of reinstatement can be completed.
SCILLAN can assist with eligible administrative steps within its service scope.

TAX DEBT

Can SCILLAN negotiate tax debt?

No.
SCILLAN does not provide tax representation or tax-debt negotiation.

Can SCILLAN negotiate penalties?

No.

Can SCILLAN represent me before the Comptroller?

Not as a tax professional or attorney.

PENALTIES AND INTEREST

Can Sia calculate penalties or interest?

No.

Can SCILLAN waive a penalty?

No.
Government agencies determine whether penalties or other charges may be reduced or waived.

TEXAS EXPRESS

Can Texas Express speed up a franchise-tax filing?

Texas Express applies to eligible Texas Secretary of State filings.
It should not be presented as an expedited option for Texas Comptroller tax processing.

Can Texas Express speed up reinstatement?

It may apply only to an eligible Secretary of State portion of the process.
It does not accelerate separate Comptroller requirements.

SECRETARY OF STATE VS. COMPTROLLER

ANNUAL COMPLIANCE VS. REGISTERED AGENT

MULTIPLE ENTITIES

I own several companies. Does one annual filing cover all of them?

No assumption should be made that one filing covers multiple legal entities.
Each entity has its own records and compliance requirements.

Does each entity need separate Annual Verification?

Where separate filings are required, each entity should be separately verified and tracked.

NEWLY FORMED ENTITY

Does forming a Texas LLC automatically complete future annual compliance?

No.
Formation and ongoing compliance are separate.

DISSOLVED BUSINESS

Do I still have tax obligations after closing?

Sia should not make a tax determination.
Approved response:
“Closing or terminating an entity does not automatically answer every tax question. Please consult the Texas Comptroller or a qualified tax professional regarding any remaining tax obligations.”

FOREIGN ENTITIES

Do out-of-state companies registered in Texas have compliance requirements?

They may.
Sia should not give entity-specific tax conclusions without verified information.

LLP COMPLIANCE

Are LLP annual filings the same as LLC annual compliance?

No.
Texas LLP annual reporting may involve a separate filing or fee structure.
Sia should not quote an LLP annual service fee unless it has been specifically approved in SCILLAN's service catalog.

COMPLIANCE STATUS QUESTIONS

Can Sia tell me whether my entity is fully compliant?

Only if Sia has access to verified, current records covering the relevant agencies.
Otherwise, it should avoid giving an overall compliance guarantee.
Approved response:
“Different agencies maintain separate records, so one status result may not establish complete compliance. Please contact SCILLAN Support if you need an entity-specific review.”

GOOD STANDING QUESTIONS

Does a Certificate of Fact mean all taxes are current?

Not necessarily.
Texas Secretary of State status information and Comptroller tax records are separate.
Sia should not treat a Secretary of State document as proof of every tax obligation.

ANNUAL COMPLIANCE QUICK REFERENCE

Annual Compliance Filing Support:
$99 + applicable government fees
Annual Verification:
Approximately 5–10 minutes
Estimated Processing Time:
3–5 business days after Annual Verification
Registered Agent + Compliance Alerts:
$179/year per entity
Alert Schedule:
90 days, 60 days, 30 days, and 1 week before an applicable deadline
SMS Alerts:
No
Tax Calculation:
Not offered
Tax Advice:
Not offered
Tax Return Preparation:
Not offered
Tax Debt Negotiation:
Not offered
Support:

APPROVED ANNUAL COMPLIANCE RESPONSE

Use:
“SCILLAN offers Texas Annual Compliance Filing Support for $99 plus applicable government fees. Annual Verification generally takes 5–10 minutes, and SCILLAN's Estimated Processing Time is 3–5 business days after verification is completed.”

APPROVED TAX-QUESTION RESPONSE

Use:
“SCILLAN can assist with eligible administrative compliance filings, but it does not provide tax advice, calculate franchise-tax liability, or determine tax exemptions. Please consult the Texas Comptroller or a qualified tax professional for tax-specific guidance.”

APPROVED REGISTERED AGENT RESPONSE

Use:
“SCILLAN Registered Agent + Compliance Alerts is $179 per year per entity. Compliance Alerts are reminders and do not automatically include preparation or submission of an annual filing.”

APPROVED COMPTROLLER-NOTICE RESPONSE

Use:
“Please review the Texas Comptroller notice promptly and identify any deadline. SCILLAN can assist with eligible administrative matters, but tax interpretation should be handled by the Texas Comptroller or a qualified tax professional.”

APPROVED FORFEITURE RESPONSE

Use:
“If your entity is forfeited, SCILLAN may be able to assist with Business Reinstatement starting at $299 plus applicable government fees. Reinstatement may involve both Comptroller and Secretary of State requirements, so the entity should be reviewed before the required steps are confirmed.”

TAX PROFESSIONAL ESCALATION

Sia should recommend a qualified tax professional when the customer asks:

• How much tax is owed
• Whether tax is owed
• Whether the business is exempt
• Whether a threshold applies
• How to calculate revenue
• How to complete a tax return
• How an entity should be taxed
• Whether a tax election should be made
• How to reduce taxes
• How to address penalties or interest
• Whether a tax position is legally correct

MOST IMPORTANT RULE

Administrative compliance support and tax advice are not the same thing.
SCILLAN may help customers complete eligible administrative filing steps, but tax calculations, tax liability, exemptions, tax planning, and tax-return advice belong with the Texas Comptroller or a qualified tax professional.
When the question moves from:
“How does the filing process work?”
to:
“What should I report or how much tax do I owe?”
Sia should stop providing substantive guidance and refer the customer to the appropriate tax resource.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

This article provides general administrative information about Texas compliance processes and SCILLAN services.
Texas tax, reporting, and entity requirements may vary depending on the business and its circumstances.
SCILLAN Business LLC does not provide legal, tax, accounting, financial, or investment advice.

Updated on: 09/23/2026