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How to Change Your Registered Agent in Texas
The form, the fee, and how to file it.
Filing details
- Form name
- Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Office (Form 401)
- Filing fee
- $15
- Online filing
- Yes
- Processing time
- 3-5 business days; expedited next-business-day processing available for $25 extra
- Filing agency
- Texas SOS ↗
Note: File online via SOSDirect, by mail, by fax, or in person. Mail filings require Form 401 submitted in duplicate; SOSDirect online filings do not require a duplicate copy. SOSDirect charges a $1 per-session login fee plus a 2.7% credit card surcharge on top of the $15 filing fee. Submit mail filings to Secretary of State, P.O. Box 13697, Austin, TX 78711-3697.
Open online filing portal ↗
How to change your registered agent in Texas
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Choose your new registered agent first.
Do not file the change form until you have a new agent lined up. The new agent has to consent to the appointment, and most states will not process the change without that consent in hand. If you let coverage lapse, the Texas SOS can administratively dissolve your LLC.
Two ways to go. Name yourself or someone you know. Nothing to pay beyond the state filing fee above, but your address goes in the public record and somebody has to be there during business hours to accept legal mail.
Or use a service at $125/year. That keeps your address private and prepares the change form for you. If you are here because your current agent resigned, missed a delivery, or raised its price, this is usually the reason. See what Northwest charges, or compare what the major agents cost first.
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Get the Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Office (Form 401). Download the form ↗
You can file this online through the Texas Secretary of State portal. The form requires your LLC name, the new agent name and address, and a signature. The new agent must consent to the appointment.
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Pay the $15 filing fee.
Pay by credit card during the online filing. A small processing surcharge usually applies. Mail filings accept check or money order; confirm the exact payee on the form before you send it, because it is not the Secretary of State in every state.
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Notify your old agent.
Once the change is processed, your old agent's responsibility ends. If you are paying them an annual fee, cancel that subscription so it does not auto-renew. Most agents do not refund the unused portion, so time the cancellation against your renewal date.
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Verify the change in state records.
Search your LLC name on the Texas SOS business search and confirm the new registered agent is listed. Processing typically takes 3-5 business days; expedited next-business-day processing available for $25 extra, so check back after that window.
Important to know about Texas
- Texas requires Form 401 submitted in duplicate if filing by mail. The duplicate requirement does not apply to online SOSDirect filings.
- SOSDirect charges a $1 login fee per session plus a 2.7% credit card surcharge on top of the $15 filing fee.
- The new registered agent must consent to the appointment (written or electronic) before you sign the form. Filing a false statement is a Class A misdemeanor under Texas Business Organizations Code section 4.008.
Have a service handle the change for you
Northwest will prepare and file the Statement of Change of Registered Agent/Office (Form 401) for you when you sign up. The state filing fee is yours to pay. The change is usually filed the same business day.
Get Northwest Registered Agent ↗
$125/year · All 50 states · Privacy included
Harbor Compliance
$99 first year, then $149/year · Full-service compliance option
Registered Agents Inc
$200/year · Report filing included, state fees extra
Choosing a replacement agent? Our full Northwest Registered Agent review and Harbor Compliance review compare pricing, renewals, and service before you file.
This page provides general information based on publicly available Texas Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Forms, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the Texas SOS before filing.