The Texas Bar Annual Membership Fee Statement is the yearly invoice every Texas-licensed attorney must complete and pay to the State Bar of Texas by June 1 to keep an active law license. It combines mandatory bar dues, the legal services fee, an occupation tax for attorneys licensed under twelve years, optional section dues, voluntary contributions, and the trust-account (IOLTA) compliance certification into one statement issued under Texas Government Code Chapter 81 and the State Bar Rules, Article III.
Missing the deadline triggers a late fee, and continued nonpayment results in administrative suspension of your license under State Bar Rules Article III, Section 5. The State Bar reports that roughly 110,000+ active and inactive attorneys receive this statement each spring, and the agency processes more than 90% of payments through the online My Bar Page portal. The current statement carries a revision date of March 2026 printed in the lower-left footer, and readers should confirm that date matches the form in their hand.
Here is what you will learn:
- 📋 Exactly what every box, line, and checkbox on the statement asks and how to answer it
- 💰 The current fee schedule, optional add-ons, and which voluntary contributions are deductible
- 🏦 How to certify your IOLTA trust-account status without triggering a compliance audit
- 🖥️ Step-by-step filing through My Bar Page, by mail, and by phone, with proof-of-payment tips
- ⚠️ The ten most common mistakes attorneys make and the suspension, penalty, or audit each one causes
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Texas Bar Annual Membership Fee Statement is the single billing document the State Bar of Texas sends every licensed Texas attorney each May, covering the bar year that runs June 1 through May 31. It is authorized under Texas Government Code § 81.054 and implemented through the State Bar Rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Texas. The statement is not optional, and an attorney cannot pick and choose which mandatory line items to pay.
Every person on the active or inactive rolls of the State Bar receives a statement, including private-practice lawyers, in-house counsel, government attorneys, judges, military lawyers, emeritus members, and out-of-state Texas-licensed attorneys. New attorneys licensed mid-year receive a prorated first statement based on the month of admission, calculated by the Membership Department. Judicial members and attorneys aged 70 or older pay reduced or waived bar dues but still must return the statement so the Bar can record their status.
The statement also serves a second purpose beyond billing. It is the once-a-year compliance certification for the Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program administered by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, and it captures any change in your contact, employment, or practice information that drives the Bar’s public directory. Failing to return the statement, even when you owe zero dollars, can therefore trigger both a financial penalty and a separate IOLTA noncompliance referral.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filling out the statement takes about ten minutes if you have everything in front of you and an hour or more if you have to hunt for trust-account numbers or MCLE records. Gather these items before you open the My Bar Page portal or the paper form.
- Bar Card number (Texas Bar Number). This is the six-digit number on your bar card and on the top right of the mailed statement, and the portal will not open the correct account without it.
- My Bar Page login credentials. Your username is your bar number and your password is whatever you set; if you have never logged in, you must reset it before June 1 to avoid late fees.
- Current mailing address, principal practice address, and email. The Bar publishes one address in the public directory under Section 81.115, so an outdated address can cause you to miss disciplinary notices.
- Employer name and employment status. Active, inactive, judicial, government, in-house, military, or retired — each status sets a different fee tier.
- IOLTA trust-account bank name, account number, and routing number. The certification box asks whether you maintain a trust account and where it is held, and a blank answer flags you for a Texas Access to Justice Foundation audit.
- MCLE compliance status. You do not pay MCLE fees on this statement, but the Bar cross-checks compliance against the Minimum Continuing Legal Education records, and a deficiency frozen at renewal can block your reinstatement.
- Date of Texas licensure. Attorneys licensed fewer than twelve years owe the attorney occupation tax on top of bar dues, so this date drives whether you pay it.
- Section memberships you want to keep or add. The Bar offers more than 45 practice sections, each with its own dues line.
- Payment method. Credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover), e-check, or paper check made payable to “State Bar of Texas.”
- Last year’s statement. Comparing year-over-year helps catch fee changes and avoids accidentally dropping a section you meant to keep.
If any item is missing, fill in what you can, save, and return — the portal saves a draft for up to 30 days. Do not guess at trust-account numbers, because a wrong IOLTA entry is treated as a misrepresentation under Rule 1.14 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The State Bar mails a paper statement to the address of record during the first week of May each year, and it simultaneously posts the electronic version inside My Bar Page under the “Dues and Fees” tab. The paper statement and the electronic statement are interchangeable, but the State Bar prefers electronic filing because it cuts processing time from roughly three weeks to under 48 hours.
If you never received a paper copy, log into the portal and download the PDF, or call the Membership Department at (800) 204-2222, ext. 1383, and request a duplicate mailed copy. Duplicates are free, but they add about a week to processing time. Do not attempt to recreate the statement on a blank piece of paper, because the Bar’s scanning system reads the pre-printed barcode at the top of the official statement to route your payment.
The form is also available at the State Bar Annual Dues page, which posts the current fee schedule, the revision date, and a downloadable PDF of the blank statement for reference. Out-of-state and military attorneys can request an emailed version by contacting membership@texasbar.com. Attorneys whose statements were returned as undeliverable mail are flagged in the system and cannot file electronically until they update their address with the Member Services team.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Texas Bar Annual Membership Fee Statement Line by Line
The statement is organized into six titled sections plus a signature block. Work top to bottom, because later sections (especially the total) depend on entries you make earlier. Use the exact field names below, which are printed verbatim on the March 2026 revision of the statement.
Section 1, Box A: Bar Card Number
What the field asks in plain English. Your unique six-digit Texas Bar number, the same number on the front of your bar card.
How to answer it. Print six digits with no dashes, spaces, or letters, right-justified in the box. Maria Lopez writes 24087421 in Box A.
A specific example answer. Marcus Reed, licensed in 2018, enters 24095310.
A nuance or edge case. If you were admitted before 1980 your number may be only five digits — add a leading zero so the box reads as six digits total.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers sometimes enter their Social Security number instead, which causes the Bar’s scanner to reject the statement and mail it back unprocessed, eating two weeks of your deadline runway.
A misconception people hold about this field. Many attorneys believe the bar number changes when they move or change firms — it does not, and it stays with you for life across status changes.
Section 1, Box B: Full Legal Name
What the field asks in plain English. Your legal name as it appears on the Bar’s official roll.
How to answer it. Print last name, first name, middle name, suffix, exactly as it appears on your bar card. Maria Concepción Lopez-Hernandez enters LOPEZ-HERNANDEZ, MARIA CONCEPCIÓN.
A specific example answer. Janet Whitfield, who married in 2024 and changed her name, enters her old name and files a separate name-change request — she does not write her new name here.
A nuance or edge case. Name changes require a separate Name Change Form and a certified copy of the court order or marriage certificate; you cannot change your name by overwriting Box B.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Writing a nickname or shortened form creates a mismatch with the Bar’s roll, which delays processing and flags your statement for manual review by the Membership Department.
A misconception people hold about this field. Filers assume that simply checking the “Information Update” box on the statement is enough to legally change their name; it is not, because Texas requires documentary proof.
Section 2: Membership Status
What the field asks in plain English. Whether you are active, inactive, emeritus, judicial, or claiming an exemption for the new bar year.
How to answer it. Check exactly one box. Options are Active, Inactive, Emeritus (age 70+ with 50+ years of practice), Judicial, Military Deployment Exemption, or Disability Exemption.
A specific example answer. Carlos Vega, a 71-year-old retired litigator with 46 years on the rolls, checks “Inactive” — he does not yet qualify for Emeritus because he is short on years.
A nuance or edge case. Switching from Active to Inactive mid-year does not refund the active-dues differential; the change takes effect at the start of the next bar year on June 1.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Attorneys leave the box blank assuming their status carries over automatically, which causes the Bar to bill them at the highest tier (Active) and require an after-the-fact refund request.
A misconception people hold about this field. Some lawyers think “Inactive” means they can still give legal advice for free — it does not, and practicing law as an inactive member violates Rule 5.05.
Section 3, Line 1: Bar Dues
What the field asks in plain English. The base annual State Bar membership fee tied to your status and years of practice.
How to answer it. Use the pre-printed amount on your statement. For the 2026–2027 bar year, active dues are $235 for attorneys licensed 6+ years, $148 for years 4–5, $74 for years 1–3, and $50 for inactive members.
A specific example answer. Aisha Patel, licensed in 2022 (4 years in), writes $148 on Line 1.
A nuance or edge case. Attorneys aged 70 and older pay $0 in bar dues but still must complete the line and write “EXEMPT — AGE 70+” beside it.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Overwriting the pre-printed amount with a lower figure you believe is correct triggers a short-pay flag, and the Bar treats your statement as unpaid until the difference is collected.
A misconception people hold about this field. Filers think bar dues are tax-deductible as a charitable contribution — they are not; they are deductible only as an ordinary business expense under IRS Publication 535.
Section 3, Line 2: Legal Services Fee
What the field asks in plain English. A mandatory $65 fee that funds legal aid through the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.
How to answer it. Copy the pre-printed amount onto Line 2. Active attorneys pay the full fee; inactive members pay a reduced $25.
A specific example answer. Marcus Reed enters $65.
A nuance or edge case. Judicial members and attorneys on the Emeritus roll are exempt, and their statement will show $0 pre-printed; do not write in a number.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Crossing out the legal services fee because you object to it creates a partial payment, and the Bar will not process your renewal until you remit the full amount.
A misconception people hold about this field. Many attorneys believe this is the same as the voluntary access-to-justice contribution on Line 7 — it is not, and the two are separately required and tracked.
Section 3, Line 3: Attorney Occupation Tax
What the field asks in plain English. A $200 state occupation tax owed to the Texas Comptroller by every attorney licensed in Texas, except those in their first year or licensed 12+ years ago.
How to answer it. If you were licensed between 1 and 11 years ago, enter $200. First-year attorneys and attorneys licensed 12+ years enter $0.
A specific example answer. Aisha Patel, licensed 4 years ago, enters $200 on Line 3.
A nuance or edge case. The tax is owed by judicial and inactive members too, unless they have been on the rolls 12+ years total; status does not exempt you, only tenure does.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers count their years of practice from when they started a law firm rather than the bar admission date, which leads to underpayment and a comptroller-issued delinquency notice.
A misconception people hold about this field. Some attorneys think the occupation tax is rolled into bar dues — it is not, and the State Bar collects it on behalf of the Comptroller as a separate line item.
Section 4: IOLTA Trust Account Certification
What the field asks in plain English. Whether you hold client funds in a trust account, and if so, the name of the financial institution.
How to answer it. Check one: I maintain an IOLTA account, I do not handle client funds, or I am exempt (judicial, inactive, government). If the first box is checked, write the bank name and account number on the lines provided.
A specific example answer. Carlos Vega checks “I do not handle client funds” because his solo practice handles only flat-fee transactional work paid in advance and earned on receipt under Rule 1.14(a).
A nuance or edge case. Even unearned flat fees must sit in an IOLTA account until earned, so attorneys who collect retainers cannot truthfully check the second box.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Leaving the section blank is treated as a refusal to certify, which the Texas Access to Justice Foundation flags for a compliance audit and possible grievance referral.
A misconception people hold about this field. Attorneys think they can park client funds in their operating account “for just a few days” — doing so is commingling under Rule 1.14 regardless of duration.
Section 5: Section Dues (Optional)
What the field asks in plain English. Whether you want to join or renew any of the State Bar’s practice sections and pay their dues.
How to answer it. Check each section you want and enter the dues amount printed next to it. Common picks include Litigation ($50), Family Law ($35), Real Estate ($40), and Tax ($35).
A specific example answer. Janet Whitfield, a family-law solo, checks Family Law ($35) and Alternative Dispute Resolution ($30) for a Section 5 total of $65.
A nuance or edge case. Section dues are not refundable, so do not check a section you are unsure about; you can join mid-year directly through the section’s website at any time.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers accidentally uncheck last year’s sections without realizing it, which drops their section membership and cuts off access to the section’s listserv and CLE discounts.
A misconception people hold about this field. Many attorneys believe section membership is required for certain practice areas — it is not, and sections are voluntary professional groupings.
Section 6: Voluntary Contributions
What the field asks in plain English. Tax-deductible voluntary gifts to the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, the Texas Bar Foundation, and the Lawyer Wellness Program.
How to answer it. Enter any dollar amount you wish to donate on each line. These are 100% optional and do not affect your license status.
A specific example answer. Marcus Reed adds $150 to the Texas Access to Justice Foundation line.
A nuance or edge case. Contributions on this line are deductible as charitable gifts under IRC § 170, unlike mandatory dues, so keep your receipt.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers accidentally write the voluntary amount on the mandatory legal-services line above, inflating the wrong total and creating a refund headache.
A misconception people hold about this field. Some attorneys assume skipping voluntary contributions hurts their standing with the Bar — it does not, and these gifts are never reported in any disciplinary or membership record.
Section 7: Total Amount Due and Payment Information
What the field asks in plain English. Add Lines 1 through 6 and enter the grand total, then provide payment details.
How to answer it. Sum each line carefully. If paying by credit card, enter the card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing ZIP code; if paying by check, write the check number on the line.
A specific example answer. Aisha Patel totals $148 (dues) + $65 (legal services) + $200 (occupation tax) + $0 (IOLTA) + $65 (sections) + $150 (voluntary) = $628.
A nuance or edge case. Partial payments are not accepted; the Bar will return any check that does not match the statement total to the penny.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Math errors on the total line are the single most common reason for return-mail rejections, eating up to two weeks of deadline runway.
A misconception people hold about this field. Attorneys think a postmark of June 1 counts as on-time — it does, but only if the envelope is postmarked by June 1, not merely dropped in a mailbox that day.
Section 8: Signature and Attestation
What the field asks in plain English. Your signed certification, under oath, that the information on the statement is true and complete.
How to answer it. Sign in blue or black ink, print your name, and write the date as MM/DD/YYYY. Electronic filers click the “I certify” checkbox and type their name as an e-signature.
A specific example answer. Carlos Vega signs and dates 05/15/2026.
A nuance or edge case. A spouse, paralegal, or office manager cannot sign on your behalf even with a power of attorney — bar dues attestations are personal under State Bar Rules, Article III.
A common mistake on this field and its direct consequence. Filers forget to date the signature, which makes the statement legally incomplete and forces the Bar to mail it back for re-signature.
A misconception people hold about this field. Attorneys treat the signature as a formality, but it is sworn certification, and a knowingly false answer can support a grievance under Rule 8.04(a)(3).
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Aisha Patel, 4-Year Active Solo Attorney in Austin
Aisha runs a small family-law practice and handles client retainers, so she must certify her IOLTA account.
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Box A: Bar Card Number | 24112004 |
| Box B: Full Legal Name | PATEL, AISHA NEELAM |
| Section 2: Status | Active |
| Line 1: Bar Dues | $148 |
| Line 2: Legal Services Fee | $65 |
| Line 3: Occupation Tax | $200 |
| Section 4: IOLTA | Maintains account at Frost Bank #XXXXXX4421 |
| Section 5: Sections | Family Law $35 + ADR $30 = $65 |
| Section 6: Voluntary | $150 to TAJF |
| Line 7: Total Due | $628 |
| Signature | Aisha Patel, 05/15/2026 |
Scenario 2: Carlos Vega, 71-Year-Old Inactive Member in Florida
Carlos retired from practice but keeps his Texas license to remain available for occasional pro bono mediation.
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Box A: Bar Card Number | 07654321 |
| Box B: Full Legal Name | VEGA, CARLOS ANTONIO |
| Section 2: Status | Inactive |
| Line 1: Bar Dues | $50 |
| Line 2: Legal Services Fee | $25 |
| Line 3: Occupation Tax | $0 (12+ years licensed) |
| Section 4: IOLTA | Does not handle client funds |
| Section 5: Sections | ADR $30 |
| Section 6: Voluntary | $0 |
| Line 7: Total Due | $105 |
| Signature | Carlos Vega, 05/10/2026 |
Scenario 3: Marcus Reed, Newly Licensed Attorney in Houston (Year 1)
Marcus was admitted in November 2025 and receives a prorated first-year statement.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Box A: Bar Card Number | 24145501 |
| Box B: Full Legal Name | REED, MARCUS DEANDRE |
| Section 2: Status | Active |
| Line 1: Bar Dues | $74 (prorated, years 1–3) |
| Line 2: Legal Services Fee | $65 |
| Line 3: Occupation Tax | $0 (first year exempt) |
| Section 4: IOLTA | Maintains account at Wells Fargo #XXXXXX9087 |
| Section 5: Sections | Litigation $50 + Young Lawyers $0 |
| Section 6: Voluntary | $25 to Lawyer Wellness |
| Line 7: Total Due | $214 |
| Signature | Marcus Reed, 05/20/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
You have three filing channels, and each one is treated as equally valid as long as it lands by the June 1 deadline.
Online via My Bar Page. Log into My Bar Page using your bar number and password, click Pay Annual Dues, complete each section on screen, and submit by credit card (a 3% processing fee applies) or e-check (no fee). Expected processing is 24–48 hours, and you should download the PDF receipt and save it as proof of filing.
By Mail. Send the completed paper statement with a check or money order payable to “State Bar of Texas” to P.O. Box 12487, Austin, TX 78711-2487. There is no separate filing fee beyond what the statement shows, but mailed payments take roughly 2–3 weeks to clear; keep a photocopy of the signed statement and your USPS Certified Mail receipt as your proof of timely filing.
In Person. Drop the statement and payment at the State Bar headquarters at 1414 Colorado Street, Austin, TX 78701, open Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Front-desk staff will time-stamp a copy for you on the spot, which is your proof of filing.
By Phone. Call (800) 204-2222, ext. 1383 with a credit card in hand; the Membership Department will process payment, but you still must submit the signed statement (mailed or electronic) within 7 days to complete the IOLTA certification. Processing time matches the online channel at 24–48 hours.
Late payments add a $50 late fee after June 1, a $100 fee after August 1, and trigger administrative suspension after September 1 under the State Bar Rules. Reinstatement after suspension requires a separate application and an additional $100 reinstatement fee.
What Happens After You File
The Bar acknowledges electronic submissions instantly with an emailed receipt and posts your renewed status to the public attorney directory within 48 hours. Paper filings appear after the check clears, which is typically 10–15 business days. If you do not see your renewed status in the directory by the third week of June, call the Membership Department to investigate.
A successful filing means your active status, IOLTA certification, MCLE compliance window, and section memberships are all renewed for the new bar year. The Bar separately sends you a new digital bar card you can print, and any voluntary contributions are receipted by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation or the Texas Bar Foundation for tax purposes.
If your statement is rejected — usually for a math error, missing signature, short payment, or unclear IOLTA box — the Bar mails it back with a corrections letter. You then have until June 1 (or 14 days from the letter, whichever is later) to fix and resubmit before late fees attach. Repeated rejections can flag your file for a compliance review with the Chief Disciplinary Counsel.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Leaving the IOLTA certification blank. The Foundation treats this as nondisclosure and refers it for audit.
- Writing your Social Security number in Box A. The scanner rejects the form and mails it back unprocessed.
- Math errors on Line 7. Short or over-payments trigger a return and burn deadline time.
- Forgetting to sign or date the attestation. An unsigned statement is legally incomplete.
- Using a nickname in Box B. A name mismatch flags the statement for manual review.
- Paying with a third-party check. The Bar only accepts checks drawn on the attorney’s account.
- Checking “I do not handle client funds” while holding unearned retainers. This is a misrepresentation under Rule 1.14 and supports a grievance.
- Ignoring the prorated dues amount on a first-year statement. Paying the full $235 creates a refund request that takes 60+ days.
- Counting occupation-tax years from law-school graduation. It runs from the date of bar admission, and miscounting causes an underpayment notice from the Comptroller.
- Mailing the statement without certified mail tracking. If the envelope is lost, you have no proof of timely filing.
- Submitting both an online and paper statement. Duplicate filings cause double-billing and a refund delay.
- Using an outdated address in the public directory. You can miss disciplinary or grievance notices, which are deemed served when mailed to the address of record.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Do file online whenever possible, because processing is dramatically faster.
- Do download and save your PDF receipt immediately after submission.
- Do confirm your years-of-practice tier before filling in Line 1.
- Do update your contact information in the same session, since the Bar uses one record.
- Do keep voluntary contributions on Line 6 separate from the mandatory legal-services fee on Line 2.
- Do verify the revision date in the form’s footer matches the current bar year before signing.
Don’ts
- Don’t let a paralegal or spouse sign for you — the attestation is personal.
- Don’t cross out or alter pre-printed fee amounts.
- Don’t submit two channels simultaneously, because duplicate processing causes double-billing.
- Don’t ignore a corrections letter from the Membership Department; respond within 14 days.
- Don’t pay with a business check that names a non-attorney entity, because it can be rejected.
- Don’t rely on a June 1 mailbox drop without certified-mail tracking.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most attorneys file this statement themselves, but some firms route it through a billing administrator or paralegal. Here is how those approaches compare.
Pros of self-filing
- You control every entry, including IOLTA certification, which only you can swear to.
- It costs nothing extra beyond bar dues.
- You see fee changes year-over-year and catch errors faster.
- Online filing takes under fifteen minutes.
- You retain the original receipt directly, simplifying tax records.
Cons of self-filing
- Solo practitioners juggling case deadlines often forget the June 1 cutoff.
- Math errors are common when totaling six sections by hand.
- IOLTA and section selections can be confusing the first year.
- Lost passwords on My Bar Page can delay you 24–48 hours.
- Out-of-state attorneys may miss the mailed paper copy entirely.
Pros of using a firm administrator
- A delegated admin can track deadlines for an entire firm of attorneys.
- Centralized payment simplifies expense reimbursement.
- Year-over-year recordkeeping is consolidated.
- Section memberships across the firm can be standardized.
- Errors are caught by a second set of eyes before submission.
Cons of using a firm administrator
- The attorney must still personally sign and certify; delegation has legal limits.
- IOLTA certification cannot be answered by anyone but the attorney of record.
- Firm payment may flag the statement if the check name does not match the attorney.
- The administrator may miss section preferences specific to one lawyer.
- Adds an internal billing step that slows reimbursement.
Filing Channels at a Glance
| Channel | Processing Time and Cost |
|---|---|
| Online (My Bar Page) | 24–48 hours, 3% card fee, free e-check |
| Mail (P.O. Box 12487) | 2–3 weeks, no extra fee, certified mail recommended |
| In Person (1414 Colorado St.) | Same-day stamp, no extra fee |
| Phone ((800) 204-2222 x1383) | 24–48 hours, card only, paper signature still required |
FAQs
Is the State Bar Annual Membership Fee Statement mandatory for every Texas attorney?
Yes. Every active and inactive Texas-licensed attorney must complete and return the statement each year by June 1, regardless of whether dues are owed, exempted, or waived.
Can I pay only part of the total now and the rest later?
No. The State Bar does not accept partial payments, and any underpayment is returned, leaving your statement unpaid and exposing you to late fees after June 1.
Do I write my maiden name or married name in Box B?
No new name without paperwork. Write the name currently on the Bar’s roll and file a separate Name Change Form with a certified court order or marriage certificate.
Is the legal services fee on Line 2 tax-deductible as a charitable gift?
No. The Line 2 fee is mandatory and deductible only as a business expense, not as a charitable contribution; voluntary gifts on Line 6 are charitable.
Do I have to fill out the IOLTA box if I never touch client funds?
Yes. You must affirmatively check the “I do not handle client funds” box, because leaving Section 4 blank triggers a compliance referral to the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.
What if I was licensed mid-year and my dues feel too high?
No worries — your statement is prorated automatically based on the month of admission. If the amount looks wrong, call the Membership Department before paying.
Do judges have to file this statement?
Yes. Judicial members file the statement, check the Judicial status box, and pay reduced fees, but they remain on the rolls and subject to the State Bar Act.
Can I deduct bar dues on my federal tax return?
Yes. Mandatory bar dues are deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense under IRS Publication 535, though they are not charitable contributions.
Will my license be suspended if I miss June 1 by a few days?
No immediate suspension. A $50 late fee attaches first, a $100 fee after August 1, and administrative suspension kicks in after September 1 for nonpayment.
Do I check the occupation-tax box if I am inactive?
Yes, if you were licensed fewer than 12 years ago. Tenure, not active status, drives the occupation tax, and inactive members still owe it during years 1–11.
Can my paralegal sign Section 8 for me if I am out of the country?
No. The attestation is a personal, sworn certification, and a non-attorney signature renders the statement legally incomplete and subject to rejection.
Do I need to attach proof of MCLE compliance to the statement?
No. MCLE compliance is tracked separately, but the Bar cross-checks it during renewal, and an MCLE deficiency can freeze the renewal even if you paid.
What if I sent both a paper statement and an online payment by mistake?
Yes, you will be double-billed temporarily. Call the Membership Department immediately to cancel the duplicate, and expect 30–60 days for the refund.
Does the statement renew my section memberships automatically?
No. You must affirmatively check each section in Section 5 each year, and unchecked sections lapse on June 1 with no automatic renewal.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Florida Bar Annual Membership Fee Statement + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Bar Inactive Status Application (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Michigan Annual Bar Dues Statement (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the State Bar of Arizona Annual Registration + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Missouri Bar Enrollment & Annual Statement + FAQs
- How to Fill Out the Wisconsin State Bar Dues Statement (w/Examples) + FAQs