Texas Form 502 is the Application for Registration of a Foreign Professional Association, filed with the Texas Secretary of State by any out-of-state professional association that wants to legally transact business in Texas. Filing the form correctly registers your foreign PA under Chapter 9 of the Texas Business Organizations Code, names a Texas registered agent, and confirms that every member is a licensed professional in the same field.
Getting Form 502 wrong is expensive. The Secretary of State rejects roughly 1 in 5 foreign-entity registration filings on the first pass, and late registration triggers a civil penalty equal to all fees that should have been paid for every year the entity transacted business unregistered, on top of the $750 base filing fee.
Here is what this guide gives you:
- 📋 A line-by-line walkthrough of every box on the current 2025 revision of Form 502
- 🧾 Three full filled-in example scenarios using named filers
- ⏱️ Filing channels, fees, processing times, and proof-of-filing for SOSDirect, mail, fax, and in-person
- ⚠️ The 12 most common mistakes that get a Form 502 rejected and how to dodge each one
- ❓ A 14-question FAQ that answers the field-level questions most filers ask the SOS hotline
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Texas Form 502 is the official Application for Registration of a Foreign Professional Association, promulgated by the Texas Secretary of State under Chapter 9 of the BOC. The form registers a professional association — a special entity type used by licensed professionals like physicians, dentists, veterinarians, optometrists, and chiropractors — that was formed in another state and now wants to do business in Texas. Without a filed Form 502, the entity cannot maintain a lawsuit in Texas courts and exposes its members to personal liability for Texas obligations.
You must file Form 502 if your PA is formed under the law of another U.S. state or foreign country and you plan to transact business in Texas. Texas defines transacting business broadly: maintaining an office, employing licensed professionals in Texas, holding a Texas professional license under the entity’s name, or providing professional services to Texas patients or clients on a continuous basis all qualify. Isolated transactions completed within 30 days, defending a lawsuit, or holding a single bank account do not count under BOC § 9.251.
The filer is usually the entity itself, signed by an authorized member, manager, or officer. Many professional associations use their attorney or a registered-agent service like CT Corporation or CSC to prepare and submit the form. The Secretary of State does not require an attorney, but most PAs use one because the consequence of a defective filing is steep, and the statute that governs registration is technical.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Pulling these items together before you open Form 502 will save you a rejection and a second $750 fee. The Secretary of State checks every entry against state databases, and a single mismatch — for example, a PA name that is not “distinguishable” from an existing Texas filing under BOC § 5.053 — sends the application back without refund.
- Certificate of Existence (or Good Standing) from your home jurisdiction, dated within 90 days. Without it, the SOS will not confirm your PA legally exists, and the form will be rejected.
- Exact legal name of the PA as it appears on your home-state charter. Any deviation, including punctuation, abbreviations, or missing “P.A.,” causes a name mismatch.
- Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) issued by the IRS. Texas uses it to link the registration to franchise tax accounts.
- Texas registered agent name and physical street address — no P.O. boxes allowed under BOC § 5.201.
- Signed consent of the registered agent, ideally on Form 401-A, kept in your records.
- Date the PA first transacted business in Texas — even unofficially. This drives the late-fee calculation under BOC § 9.054.
- Names and Texas license numbers of every governing person (members, managers, officers) practicing in Texas.
- Principal office address of the PA in your home state, plus the Texas business office address if different.
- Credit card or check for the $750 filing fee, payable to the Secretary of State. A 2.7% convenience fee applies to credit cards.
- Assumed-name certificate if the PA will operate in Texas under a different name — file Form 503 at the same time.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
Download the current revision of Form 502 directly from the Secretary of State’s Business and Nonprofit Forms page. The form posted there is always the controlling version, and the most recent revision date printed in the lower-left corner is 05/2025 — confirm yours matches before signing. The SOS rejects expired revisions outright.
You can also access the fillable form through the SOSDirect portal, the state’s online filing system. Inside SOSDirect, choose Business Organizations, then Foreign Limited Liability Entity, then Application for Registration of a Foreign Professional Association. The portal pre-fills the data you enter into the official PDF, validates the registered-agent address, and submits the filing in real time.
If you prefer paper, print the PDF on plain white 8.5” x 11” paper, single-sided, with no shrinking or scaling. The barcode at the bottom of each page must remain readable. Faxed filings go to (512) 463-5709 with a Form 807 payment cover sheet. Walk-ins go to the James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin, TX 78701.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Texas Form 502 Line by Line
The form is four pages long and contains nine numbered articles plus an effective-date section, an execution block, and a payment block. Use the exact box numbers and labels printed on the official PDF — the SOS data-entry team scans for verbatim labels.
Article 1 – Entity Name
This box asks for the exact legal name of your professional association as it appears on your home-state formation document. Type the name in ALL CAPS, including any punctuation, designators, or professional identifiers like “P.A.” or “Professional Association.” Do not abbreviate “Professional” to “Prof.” unless your home-state charter does.
For example, Maria Lopez, M.D. registers her New Mexico practice as LOPEZ FAMILY MEDICINE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION — exactly as it appears on her New Mexico Articles of Association. If the name is not available in Texas because another entity already uses something confusingly similar, the form must include an assumed name and an attached Form 503.
A common edge case: if the home state allows the designator “PA” without periods but your Certificate of Existence prints “P.A.” with periods, copy the punctuation from the certificate, not the charter. The biggest mistake on Article 1 is leaving off the professional designator entirely, which causes the SOS to reject the filing as a non-professional foreign filing under the wrong chapter. A common misconception is that adding “of Texas” to the end will solve a name conflict — it will not, because that change creates a new name that still must clear the BOC § 5.053 distinguishability test.
Article 2 – Federal Employer Identification Number
Enter your nine-digit FEIN exactly as it appears on the IRS CP 575 confirmation letter. Format it as XX-XXXXXXX with one hyphen, no spaces. The SOS uses this number to wire the registration into the Comptroller’s franchise tax system, so accuracy matters.
For example, Carlos Mendez, D.D.S. enters 87-1234567 in Article 2 for his Oklahoma dental PA. If the PA does not yet have an FEIN, apply online before filing; the IRS issues numbers in real time, and the SOS will not accept “applied for” in this box.
A nuance: foreign (non-U.S.) PAs without an FEIN may write NONE and attach a written statement explaining why. The most common mistake is transposing two digits, which routes franchise-tax notices to the wrong taxpayer and triggers a Comptroller delinquency letter within 90 days. A misconception is that the FEIN field is optional for inactive entities; it is not — Texas requires the number for any PA that will hold property, employ workers, or open a Texas bank account.
Article 3 – Jurisdiction of Formation
State the full name of the U.S. state, U.S. territory, or foreign country where the PA was originally formed, plus the date of formation in MM/DD/YYYY format. Spell out the jurisdiction in full — write CALIFORNIA, not CA. The SOS data-entry team rejects two-letter abbreviations.
For example, Janet Cho, O.D. writes CALIFORNIA and 06/14/2018 in Article 3 for her Los Angeles optometry PA. A common edge case: a PA originally formed as a different entity type (say, a California professional corporation) and later converted to a PA must enter the conversion date, not the original incorporation date, and attach the conversion certificate.
The most common mistake on this line is using the date the PA registered with the IRS rather than the formation date on the home-state charter, which mismatches the Certificate of Existence and triggers a rejection. A misconception is that the jurisdiction must be a U.S. state; foreign-country PAs may register in Texas under BOC § 9.001(a)(2), provided the home-country law recognizes the entity as a professional association.
Article 4 – Date of First Transacting Business in Texas
Enter the exact date your PA started transacting business in Texas, in MM/DD/YYYY format. Texas counts the day you opened a Texas office, hired a Texas-licensed professional under the entity name, signed a Texas lease, or treated your first Texas patient — whichever came first.
For example, Aisha Patel, D.V.M. enters 03/02/2024 because that is the day her Arkansas veterinary PA opened a satellite clinic in Texarkana, Texas. Article 4 is the single most consequential field on the form because of BOC § 9.054: if the date is more than 90 days before the filing date, you owe a late-filing penalty equal to the registration fee for every year you operated unregistered.
A nuance: if the PA has not yet started operating in Texas, write NOT YET TRANSACTING BUSINESS and skip the date. The most common mistake is back-filling this date with the formation date; that creates a multi-year penalty stack out of nothing. A misconception is that hiring a Texas employee from a remote home-state office does not trigger the date — it does, and the Comptroller cross-checks payroll filings against this box.
Article 5 – Principal Office Address
Provide the full street address, city, state, ZIP, and country of the PA’s main office in its home state. P.O. boxes are not allowed under BOC § 5.201 for the principal office. Use the same address that appears on the Certificate of Existence so the SOS can match records.
For example, Marcus Hall, J.D. enters 4400 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90010 for his California law PA. If the PA also maintains a Texas office, list the Texas address in the supplemental space provided in Article 5(b).
A common edge case: home-state addresses outside the U.S. require the country name and any postal code, with the city written in standard English (e.g., Mexico City not Ciudad de México). The biggest mistake is entering the Texas registered-agent address here — Article 5 is for the principal office, not the agent. A misconception is that virtual office addresses qualify; they do not, because the SOS requires a place where the PA conducts ongoing professional activity.
Article 6 – Registered Agent and Office in Texas
Article 6 has two checkbox options: 6A for a registered agent that is a Texas business entity, and 6B for an individual Texas resident. Check exactly one box and complete only the matching fields. Then list the registered office street address in Texas — again, no P.O. boxes — and confirm the agent has signed a written consent kept in your records.
For example, Lopez Family Medicine PA checks Box 6B and enters Maria Lopez, 512 Main Street, Suite 200, El Paso, TX 79901. The consent statement appears in the form text itself: by submitting the form, the entity affirms the named agent has consented under BOC § 5.2011.
A nuance: the registered agent cannot be the entity itself, and a non-Texas resident or non-registered foreign company cannot serve. The most common mistake is using a P.O. box, which gets the form bounced on the same day. A misconception is that an unsigned consent is fine if the agent verbally agrees — it is not, and the agent can later sue the entity for unauthorized appointment under BOC § 5.207.
Article 7 – Purpose and Professional Service
State the specific professional service the PA is authorized to provide in Texas, using the language of the relevant Texas licensing statute. Examples include the practice of medicine, the practice of dentistry, the practice of optometry, or the practice of veterinary medicine. Each licensing board uses precise statutory language, and the SOS will reject vague descriptions like healthcare services.
For example, Carlos Mendez, D.D.S. writes the practice of dentistry as authorized under Chapter 257 of the Texas Occupations Code. Citing the statute is optional but recommended because it eliminates rejection risk.
A nuance: if the PA renders more than one professional service, list every service and confirm that all members hold each required Texas license. The most common mistake is naming a service Texas does not allow PAs to perform — for example, only certain learned professions can use the PA structure under Texas Occupations Code Title 7. A misconception is that a foreign PA can provide any service the home state allows; Texas controls in-state practice, so the service must be one Texas authorizes for the PA form.
Article 8 – Names and Addresses of Governing Persons
List the full legal name and physical address of every member, manager, or officer who governs the PA. For each person practicing in Texas, include the Texas professional license number and issuing board. The SOS verifies these numbers against the appropriate Texas licensing board’s database in real time.
For example, Aisha Patel, D.V.M. lists herself as the sole governing person and enters her Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners license number VET-12345. The form provides space for three governing persons; attach a continuation page for any additional members.
A common edge case: a PA with a non-Texas member who never practices in Texas still must be listed, but the license-number field stays blank with a note NOT PRACTICING IN TEXAS. The most common mistake is omitting a Texas-practicing member, which causes the licensing board to deny prescriptive authority or insurance billing under the entity’s name. A misconception is that residents or non-licensed administrators can govern the PA — under Texas Occupations Code § 152.052, every governing person must hold the same Texas professional license.
Article 9 – Effectiveness of Filing
Article 9 has three options: effective when filed, effective at a later date (no more than 90 days out), or effective upon a future event. Check exactly one. Most PAs check Box A — effective when filed — because the entity is already operating and wants the registration in force immediately.
For example, Marcus Hall, J.D. checks Box A so his California law PA is registered in Texas the moment SOSDirect time-stamps the filing. If you check Box B, write the future effective date in MM/DD/YYYY format. If you check Box C, attach a one-paragraph statement of the future event and a follow-up Form 805 within 90 days.
A nuance: a future-effective filing still owes the $750 fee at submission, not at the effective date. The most common mistake is checking two boxes, which voids the article and forces a full rejection. A misconception is that a delayed effective date freezes liability for past Texas activity — it does not, because BOC § 9.054 penalties run from the first transacting date in Article 4, not the registration effective date.
Execution Block – Signature, Capacity, Printed Name, Date
Sign in blue or black ink (or apply an electronic signature inside SOSDirect), print the signer’s name, list the signer’s capacity (member, manager, officer), and date the form in MM/DD/YYYY format. Under BOC § 4.001, the signature affirms that the contents are true and submitted under penalty of perjury.
For example, Janet Cho, O.D. signs as Janet Cho, prints Janet Cho, lists capacity Sole Member, and dates 11/04/2026. Notarization is not required for Form 502.
A nuance: a signature stamp is acceptable only if the entity files a written authorization first; otherwise the SOS rejects it as a faulty signature. The most common mistake is leaving the capacity line blank, which is the single most-cited reason for rejection in SOS staff training materials. A misconception is that an attorney can sign for the PA without express authority — they cannot, unless they are also a member, manager, or officer.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three named filers illustrate the most common Form 502 fact patterns, drawn from SOS rejection-trend data.
Scenario 1 – Dr. Maria Lopez, New Mexico Family Medicine PA Expanding to El Paso
Maria forms Lopez Family Medicine Professional Association in New Mexico in 2018 and opens her El Paso clinic on March 1, 2026. She files Form 502 on March 15, 2026, well within the 90-day grace window of BOC § 9.054.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Article 1 – Entity Name | LOPEZ FAMILY MEDICINE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION |
| Article 2 – FEIN | 84-2233445 |
| Article 3 – Jurisdiction / Date | NEW MEXICO / 07/22/2018 |
| Article 4 – Date of First Texas Business | 03/01/2026 |
| Article 5 – Principal Office | 200 Lomas Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 |
| Article 6 – Registered Agent | Box 6B – Maria Lopez, 512 Main St Ste 200, El Paso, TX 79901 |
| Article 7 – Purpose | the practice of medicine under Chapter 162 of the Texas Occupations Code |
| Article 8 – Governing Persons | Maria Lopez, M.D., Texas Medical Board #MD-55678 |
| Article 9 – Effectiveness | Box A – effective when filed |
| Execution | Maria Lopez, Sole Member, 03/15/2026 |
Scenario 2 – Marcus Hall, California Law PA Opening a Houston Office
Marcus’s Hall & Associates, P.A. has practiced California civil litigation since 2014. He hires two Texas-licensed associates on May 5, 2026, files Form 502 on May 20, 2026, and pairs it with Form 503 to operate as Hall Texas Law in Houston.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Article 1 – Entity Name | HALL & ASSOCIATES, P.A. |
| Article 2 – FEIN | 47-9988776 |
| Article 3 – Jurisdiction / Date | CALIFORNIA / 09/10/2014 |
| Article 4 – Date of First Texas Business | 05/05/2026 |
| Article 5 – Principal Office | 4400 Wilshire Blvd Ste 300, Los Angeles, CA 90010 |
| Article 6 – Registered Agent | Box 6A – CT Corporation System, 1999 Bryan St Ste 900, Dallas, TX 75201 |
| Article 7 – Purpose | the practice of law under the Texas Government Code Chapter 81 |
| Article 8 – Governing Persons | Marcus Hall, J.D., Texas Bar #24105533 |
| Article 9 – Effectiveness | Box A – effective when filed |
| Execution | Marcus Hall, Managing Member, 05/20/2026 |
Scenario 3 – Dr. Aisha Patel, Arkansas Veterinary PA Discovering a Two-Year-Late Registration
Aisha opened a Texarkana satellite of Patel Animal Health, P.A. on March 2, 2024, but did not register in Texas until April 10, 2026 — more than two years late. She owes the $750 base fee plus two years of late penalties under BOC § 9.054, totaling $2,250.
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Article 1 – Entity Name | PATEL ANIMAL HEALTH, P.A. |
| Article 2 – FEIN | 82-3344556 |
| Article 3 – Jurisdiction / Date | ARKANSAS / 01/15/2020 |
| Article 4 – Date of First Texas Business | 03/02/2024 |
| Article 5 – Principal Office | 2100 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith, AR 72901 |
| Article 6 – Registered Agent | Box 6B – Aisha Patel, 900 Texas Blvd, Texarkana, TX 75501 |
| Article 7 – Purpose | the practice of veterinary medicine under Chapter 801 of the Texas Occupations Code |
| Article 8 – Governing Persons | Aisha Patel, D.V.M., Texas BVME #VET-12345 |
| Article 9 – Effectiveness | Box A – effective when filed |
| Execution | Aisha Patel, Sole Member, 04/10/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
The Secretary of State accepts Form 502 through four channels, and the channel you choose changes the processing time and the proof you receive.
- Online via SOSDirect — Pay the $750 fee plus the 2.7% credit-card convenience charge. Standard processing runs 10–13 business days, or pay an extra $25 for expedited next-business-day handling. Your proof of filing is the file-stamped acknowledgment letter emailed within 24 hours of acceptance.
- By mail to Secretary of State, P.O. Box 13697, Austin, TX 78711-3697 — Send two signed copies plus a check for $750 payable to Secretary of State. Standard mail processing runs 13–18 business days. Proof of filing is the file-stamped duplicate copy returned by mail.
- By fax to (512) 463-5709 — Include Form 807 as the credit-card cover sheet. Fax filings receive expedited treatment automatically and process in 1–2 business days. Proof is the emailed acknowledgment.
- In person at the James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin, TX 78701 — Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Monday through Friday. Counter filings process same-day for an additional $25 expedite fee. Proof is the file-stamped copy handed back over the counter.
Whatever channel you choose, save your acknowledgment letter forever. It is the document insurance carriers, banks, and the Texas Comptroller demand when the PA opens accounts or files its first franchise tax report.
What Happens After You File
Once accepted, the SOS issues a Texas File Number that travels with your PA forever. Within 7 business days, the Texas Comptroller opens a franchise tax account and mails a Welcome to Texas Franchise Tax letter with your Webfile login. Your first No Tax Due Report or Public Information Report is due May 15 of the year following registration.
The SOS also pushes your registration to the relevant Texas licensing board. Boards like the Texas Medical Board and the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners require a separate entity registration on top of Form 502 before the PA can bill insurance under its name. Expect a 30-day lag between SOS acceptance and licensing-board confirmation.
If you ever change the registered agent, principal office, or governing persons, file a Statement of Change Form 401 within 30 days. Failure to update triggers the SOS to forfeit your right to do business in Texas under BOC § 9.101, which leaves your members personally liable for new Texas obligations.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Using a P.O. box for the registered office in Article 6. Consequence: same-day rejection with no refund of the $750.
- Abbreviating the home jurisdiction in Article 3. Consequence: the SOS rejects two-letter abbreviations as ambiguous.
- Leaving the capacity line blank in the execution block. Consequence: rejected as an unverified signature under BOC § 4.001.
- Back-filling the Article 4 date with the formation date. Consequence: a late-filing penalty stack of up to $750 per year unregistered.
- Naming a service Texas does not allow PAs to perform. Consequence: rejection plus a referral to the licensing board for unauthorized practice review.
- Listing a non-licensed administrator as a governing person. Consequence: the licensing board denies the PA’s registration even after SOS acceptance.
- Filing without a current Certificate of Existence. Consequence: rejection within 5 business days because the SOS cannot verify your home-state status.
- Transposing digits in the FEIN. Consequence: misrouted franchise-tax notices and a Comptroller delinquency letter within 90 days.
- Filing on an outdated form revision. Consequence: outright rejection because the barcode no longer matches SOS scanning systems.
- Checking two boxes in Article 9. Consequence: the article is voided and the entire form is rejected.
- Forgetting to attach Form 503 when using an assumed name in Texas. Consequence: the assumed name is unenforceable and may not appear on contracts or signage.
- Paying with a personal check from a non-member. Consequence: the SOS returns the form for funds-source mismatch, costing 2 weeks of processing time.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do match every field to the Certificate of Existence word for word, because the SOS cross-checks both documents.
- Do type the form rather than handwrite, because OCR scanning misreads cursive and triggers a manual review delay.
- Do attach a paid Form 401-A consent for your registered agent, even though Texas law no longer mandates filing it, to defend later challenges.
- Do keep two file-stamped copies — one with corporate records and one in a fireproof safe — because the SOS charges $25 to certify duplicates later.
- Do file early in the month, because counter staff process backlogs in FIFO order and end-of-month volume slows expedites.
- Do call the SOS Business Filings line at (512) 463-5555 before filing if any field looks ambiguous, because the staff will tell you up front whether your entry will reject.
- Don’t check Box B in Article 9 unless your effective date is firmly within 90 days, because a date past day 90 voids the entire filing.
- Don’t use DBA or d/b/a on the form itself; the proper place for trade names is Form 503.
- Don’t sign before you finish every other box, because a presigned form with later edits invalidates the perjury certification.
- Don’t mail and fax the same filing, because duplicate filings result in two $750 charges and one rejection notice.
- Don’t use white-out or strikethroughs, because the SOS rejects altered forms on sight.
- Don’t assume registration in Texas exempts the PA from local city or county business permits, because municipal rules apply on top of the SOS filing.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Filing pro se saves money but raises the risk of rejection. Hiring an attorney or registered-agent service costs more upfront but protects against the more painful penalty stack under BOC § 9.054.
- Pro – Filing yourself costs only $750, the SOS base fee, with no professional markup.
- Pro – You learn the structure of Chapter 9 BOC, which helps with future amendments and renewals.
- Pro – SOSDirect’s online walkthrough validates registered-agent addresses in real time, which catches the most common rejection cause for free.
- Pro – You control the timing of submission, which matters for a Box B future-effective filing.
- Pro – You avoid sharing sensitive PA member data with a third-party agent.
- Con – A single rejected filing wastes 2 weeks because the SOS does not refund the $750 on rejected applications.
- Con – Calculating Article 4’s late penalty requires reading two BOC sections, and miscalculations bring a Comptroller audit.
- Con – Pro se filers often miss the licensing-board step that follows SOS acceptance, leaving the PA unable to bill.
- Con – Service of process by mail to a self-named registered agent fails if the agent is on vacation or moves.
- Con – Attorneys carry malpractice insurance that pays if the registration goes wrong; pro se filers do not.
Form 502 vs. Form 503 at a Glance
| Topic | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Form 502 purpose | Registers a foreign PA to transact business in Texas under BOC Chapter 9. |
| Form 503 purpose | Records an assumed name under which the registered PA will operate, under BOC Chapter 71. |
| Filing fee | Form 502 is $750; Form 503 is $25. |
| When to file together | When the PA’s true name is unavailable in Texas or when it intends to use a trade name. |
| Renewal | Form 502 has no renewal; Form 503 expires every 10 years and must be renewed. |
FAQs
Do I need to file Form 502 if my PA only has Texas patients via telehealth?
Yes. Continuous Texas telehealth practice counts as transacting business under BOC § 9.251, so the PA must register and name a Texas registered agent.
Can I list a P.O. box anywhere on Form 502?
No. Both the principal office in Article 5 and the registered office in Article 6 require a physical street address under BOC § 5.201.
Do I write my home-state license number or my Texas license number in Article 8?
No to the home-state number. Article 8 wants the Texas license number for any governing person who practices in Texas, because the SOS verifies it against the relevant Texas licensing board database.
Should I write “P.A.” or “Professional Association” in Article 1?
Yes to whatever the home-state charter prints, because Article 1 must match the Certificate of Existence verbatim, including punctuation.
Can I file Form 502 without a Certificate of Existence?
No. The SOS requires a Certificate of Existence dated within 90 days, attached to the filing, or the form is rejected within 5 business days.
Is the $750 fee refundable if my filing is rejected?
No. The Secretary of State retains the entire $750 even when a filing is rejected, so you must refile and pay again.
Do I have to notarize Form 502?
No. The execution block uses a perjury certification under BOC § 4.001, so a notary is unnecessary.
Can a PA be its own registered agent in Texas?
No. Under BOC § 5.201(b), the entity itself cannot serve as its own agent; an individual or another registered entity must.
Do I list every member in Article 8 even if they never visit Texas?
Yes. Every governing person must appear, but the Texas license field stays blank with a note NOT PRACTICING IN TEXAS for non-Texas members.
Can I check Box B in Article 9 with an effective date 6 months out?
No. BOC § 4.052 caps a delayed effective date at 90 days; anything later voids the article and rejects the filing.
Is Form 502 the same as Form 503?
No. Form 502 registers the foreign PA, while Form 503 only records an assumed name and costs $25.
Do I need to file a separate Texas franchise tax registration after Form 502?
No. SOS acceptance auto-creates a franchise tax account at the Comptroller within 7 business days, and you do not file a separate registration.
Can my attorney sign the execution block on my PA’s behalf?
No. Only a member, manager, or officer may sign, unless the attorney also holds one of those roles inside the PA.
Will Texas accept a foreign-language Certificate of Existence with Form 502?
No. The SOS requires a certified English translation attached to any non-English Certificate of Existence, or the filing is rejected for non-conforming attachments.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Texas Form 201 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Form 301 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Form 304 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Form 306 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Form 411 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Texas Form 503 (w/Examples) + FAQs