Fillable Form Texas DBA Application

What is the Texas DBA Application form?

The Texas DBA Application form, also known as Form 503 or Assumed Name Certificate, is used if a business wants to operate with a name that is different from the name used to form the business, it must register the new name (called a trade name).

Who needs to file the Texas DBA Application form?

In the State of Texas, those who must file a doing business as (DBA) with the Secretary of State are the following:

• domestic and foreign corporations
• limited liability companies (LLCs)
• limited partnerships (LPs)
• limited liability partnerships (LLPs)
• out of state companies that regularly conduct business in Texas under a name other than its legal name

The trade name must be filed with the county clerk office in the county where the company operates.
Those who don’t need to file at the state level, need to file for a DBA in the relevant county clerk offices if they are using a name other than the legal name of their owners are:

• sole proprietorships
• general partnerships
• estates
• real estate investment trusts

How to fill out the Texas DBA Application form?

Before filling out the form, make sure that the information given is correct. Write as legible as possible to avoid errors because there is no procedure for correction for an assumed name certificate. If there is a need for a material change in the information on the certificate, a new certificate should be filed.
Provide all the required information for the following:

• Item 1—Assumed Name:
  • Enter the name of your choosing.
  • The assumed name certificate must state the assumed name under which the business or professional service is or is to be conducted.
  • An entity may conduct business or professional services under multiple assumed names, but a separate assumed name certificate must be filed for each assumed name.
    • Please note that if the name entered as the assumed name in item 1 is exactly the same as the legal name of the entity on file with the secretary of state, the certificate will be rejected for failing to provide an assumed name.
• Item 2—Entity Name:
  • The assumed name certificate must contain the legal name of the entity as contained in its certificate of formation or comparable document filed with the secretary of state.
  • Do note that an incorporated entity, such as a bank or trust company, whose organizational documents are not filed with the secretary of state, would set forth the legal name of the entity as contained in its organizational documents.
• Item 3 – Type of Entity:
  • Check the box that identifies the type of entity that is filing the assumed name.
    • If there is not a check box that applies to the entity, check “other” and then specify the type of entity in the space provided.
• Item 4 – File Number:
  • It is recommended that the file number, if any, assigned by the secretary of state be provided to facilitate processing of the document.
• Item 5 – Jurisdiction:
  • The certificate must state the jurisdiction of formation of the entity filing the assumed name certificate.
• Item 6 – Principal Office Address:
  • Provide the street or mailing address of the entity's principal office.
• Item 7 – Period of Duration:
  • Check the applicable box to specify the duration which the entity determines should be the duration of the filing of the assumed name certificate.
    • An assumed name certificate is effective for a term not to exceed a period of ten years from the date of filing the certificate.
    • The entity may opt to make the duration the maximum period of ten years, a period of less than ten years or until a date certain which date is not more than ten years from the date of filing.
• Item 8 – County or Counties in which the Assumed Name Used:
  • The assumed name certificate is required to state the counties in which the assumed name will be used.
  • If the entity will potentially use the assumed name in all counties in Texas, check the box for “All.”
  • If the entity wishes to exclude certain counties but will use the assumed names in most counties, check the box for “All counties with the exception of the following counties” and list the excluded counties.
  • If the entity will only conduct business in specific counties, check the box for “Only the following counties” and list those specific counties.

How to file the Texas DBA Application form?

A certificate filed with the secretary of state shall be executed by an:

• officer
• general partner
• member
• manager
• representative of or attorney in fact for the:
  • corporation
  • limited partnership
  • limited liability partnership
  • limited liability company
  • foreign filing entity.

A certificate executed by an attorney in fact shall include a statement that the attorney in fact has been duly authorized in writing by the principal to execute the certificate.
Also put the date and signature of a person authorized by law to sign on behalf of the identified entity.

Reminders:
Please review the form carefully. Pursuant to section 71.203, a person commits an offense under section 37.10, Penal Code, if the person intentionally or knowingly signs or directs the filing of an assumed name certificate that the person knows contains a materially false statement.

Do not submit instruction pages with filing.

How to pay for the Texas DBA Application?

The filing fee for an assumed name certificate filed with the secretary of state is $25. Fees may be paid through :

• personal checks
• money orders
• LegalEase debit cards, or American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards
  • Fees paid by credit card are subject to a statutorily authorized convenience fee of 2.7 percent of the total fees.
• Checks or money orders must be payable through a U.S. bank or financial institution and made payable to the secretary of state

Where to file the Texas DBA Application form?

Submit the completed form in duplicate along with the filing fee. The form may be:

• mailed to P.O. Box 13697, Austin, Texas 78711-3697; faxed to (512) 463-5709
• or delivered to the James Earl Rudder Office Building, 1019 Brazos, Austin, Texas 78701
• If a document is transmitted by fax, credit card information must accompany the transmission (Form 807)

On filing the document, the secretary of state will return the appropriate evidence of filing to the submitter together with a file-stamped copy of the document, if a duplicate copy was provided as instructed.