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Register Your Texas LLC in North Dakota

Step-by-step foreign qualification requirements, fees, and filing instructions for Texas LLCs expanding into North Dakota.

Cost Summary

North Dakota filing fee
$135
Texas Certificate of Fact - Status
$15
Annual obligation in North Dakota
$50/year
Estimated year 1 total
$200
Note: Year 1 total includes the $135 filing fee in North Dakota, the $15 Certificate of Fact - Status fee from Texas, and $50 in first-year North Dakota state charges. Registered agent fees (typically $100-$200/year) are not included.
Texas data last reviewed Aug 1, 2026 · sos.texas.gov
North Dakota data last reviewed Aug 1, 2026 · sos.nd.gov

How to register your Texas LLC in North Dakota

1

Check name availability in North Dakota

Before filing, verify that your LLC name (or a distinguishable variation) is available in North Dakota. If your exact name is already taken, you may need to register under a fictitious or assumed name.

Search the business name register on the North Dakota Secretary of State website before you file.

2

Get a Certificate of Fact - Status from Texas

North Dakota requires a Certificate of Fact - Status from Texas to prove your LLC is in good standing. The fee is $15. Available to order online. No expiration; third parties typically require certificate dated within 60-90 days.

Order from Texas ↗
3

File the Certificate of Authority in North Dakota

Submit your application along with the Certificate of Fact - Status and the $135 filing fee. Processing time is 5-10 business days. Online filing is available.

North Dakota filing portal ↗
4

Appoint a registered agent in North Dakota

You must designate a registered agent with a physical address in North Dakota to accept legal documents on behalf of your LLC. This is required as part of the foreign qualification application.

Ongoing compliance in North Dakota

Annual report
$50/year
Report due
November 15
Processing time
5-10 business days

Important to know about North Dakota

  • Penalties reach $5,000 for the entity plus per-individual stacking based on management role, which is unusually aggressive.

Registering after you already started doing business in North Dakota? See the North Dakota late-registration penalties for the back fees and fines that can apply.

Activities that do NOT require registration in North Dakota

  • Maintaining or defending a lawsuit, administrative proceeding, or arbitration
  • Holding meetings of members or managers, or carrying on internal company affairs
  • Maintaining bank accounts
  • Maintaining offices or agencies for the transfer, exchange, or registration of the LLC's own securities
  • Selling through independent contractors
  • Soliciting or obtaining orders if orders require acceptance outside the state before becoming contracts
  • Creating or acquiring indebtedness, mortgages, or security interests in real or personal property
  • Securing or collecting debts, or enforcing mortgages or security interests
  • Owning real or personal property
  • Conducting an isolated transaction completed within 30 days that is not part of repeated similar transactions
  • Transacting business in interstate commerce

North Dakota's Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, codified at Chapter 10-32.1, lists activities at Section 10-32.1-82 ('Foreign limited liability company--Transactions not constituting transacting business'). Subsection (2) carves IN ownership of income-producing real or tangible personal property as transacting business, a deviation from the standard list.

Need a registered agent in North Dakota?

A registered agent is required for foreign qualification. These services operate in all 50 states.

Get Northwest Registered Agent ↗
Recommended · $125/year · Privacy included
Registered Agents Inc
$200/year · Report filing included, state fees extra
Visit site ↗
Harbor Compliance
$99 first year, then $149/year · Full-service compliance option
Visit site ↗

Not sure which service fits? Our full Northwest Registered Agent review and Harbor Compliance review cover pricing, renewal terms, and where each one fits.

Check your full compliance

Use our free tool to check if you need to register in additional states.

Start free compliance check ↗

This page provides general information based on publicly available state requirements. It is not legal advice. Verify all fees and requirements with the North Dakota Secretary of State before filing.