How to change an LLC name in Texas: Form 424, $150, and the IRS step people miss
If you want to change a Texas LLC's legal name, the state wants a real amendment, not just a new logo and a new domain. Texas uses a Certificate of Amendment for this job, usually on Form 424, and the filing fee is $150. The new name must still clear Texas naming rules. After that, you usually keep the same EIN, but you still need to update the IRS name record.
The short answer
A Texas LLC changes its legal name by approving an amendment internally and then filing a Certificate of Amendment with the Secretary of State. Texas says the standard form is Form 424, and domestic entities can file name change amendments through SOSDirect.
If you do not actually want to rename the legal entity, slow down for a second. Texas also says a business can keep its legal name and operate under a different public-facing name by filing an assumed name certificate instead. That is a different move. It helps with branding, but it does not replace a legal name change.
| Texas LLC name change item | Official rule |
|---|---|
| Main filing | Certificate of Amendment, usually Form 424 |
| State filing fee | $150 |
| Name standard | Must be distinguishable in the Secretary of State's records |
| Approval rule | All members approve the amendment unless the governing documents and Texas law provide the needed path |
| Online filing | Texas says domestic entities can file name change amendments through SOSDirect |
| EIN rule | The IRS says an LLC does not need a new EIN just because the name changes |
Step 1: make sure the new name actually works
Texas does not let you pick any name that sounds good. The Secretary of State says the name of a filing entity has to be distinguishable in its records from existing entities, registered foreign entities, registered series names, and active name reservations or name registrations. That is the real screening rule.
Texas also warns that a preliminary clearance is not final approval. The state says a final determination cannot be made until the filing is received and processed, and it specifically tells businesses not to spend money or sign documents based on a preliminary clearance. That is worth taking seriously. A search result is helpful, but it is not the same as an accepted amendment.
Step 2: approve the name change inside the LLC
The public filing is only part of the job. Texas says a filing entity changes its legal name by following the applicable provisions in its governing documents and the Texas Business Organizations Code for amending the formation document.
The Form 424 instructions get more specific for LLCs. Under Chapter 101 of the Business Organizations Code, an amendment to the certificate of formation must be approved by the affirmative vote of all members, unless the company is in the narrow manager-run pre-initial-member situation described by the statute. For most ordinary LLCs, that means you should check the company agreement, document the vote, and make sure the signer is authorized before you file anything.
The state filing should come after the LLC has properly approved the change, not before.
Step 3: file Form 424 with the $150 fee
Texas uses Form 424 for a Certificate of Amendment. The instructions say that if the amendment changes the entity's name, the filing should list the current legal name exactly as it appears on the Secretary of State's records, then state the new name in the amendment section. The form also recommends including the file number and date of formation to help processing.
The filing fee is $150. Texas says the form can be paid by check, money order, debit card, or major credit card, with a convenience fee on credit card payments. If you file online through SOSDirect, the system handles the online payment side for you.
The instructions also note that the new legal name must include the proper organizational designation for the entity type. In plain English, your LLC still needs its LLC-style ending.
When an assumed name is the better move
A full legal name change is not always the smartest answer. Texas says that if an entity wants to keep its legal name but conduct business under another name, it can do so by filing an assumed name certificate. That is often enough when the real goal is branding, a cleaner customer-facing name, or a product line name.
The difference matters. An assumed name does not rewrite your certificate of formation. It gives you a usable alias. If you need the legal entity name itself changed for contracts, banking, licensing, or ownership records, use the amendment. If you only need a different market-facing label, a DBA-style filing may be simpler.
What happens with the EIN
The IRS says an LLC does not need a new EIN if it only changes its name or location. That saves people from a common mistake. A name change is not the same thing as creating a new entity.
But the IRS also says you still have to update the name on the federal side. If the LLC files as a partnership, the current-year Form 1065 includes a name change box, and if the return was already filed, the partnership can send written notice to the IRS address where it files. If the LLC files as a corporation, the same idea applies through the appropriate Form 1120 return or a signed written notice. So the clean rule is simple: same EIN in most cases, but do not skip the IRS follow-up.
What to update after Texas accepts the amendment
Once the Secretary of State accepts the filing, you have evidence that the legal name changed. That is usually the moment to update the bank, payment processor, contracts, invoices, licenses, insurance, and tax accounts. Many private systems want the state-stamped amendment before they will touch the legal name on the account.
If you roll out the rebrand before the state record is updated, you can create an annoying mismatch between your contracts, tax records, and bank documents. It is fixable, but it wastes time.
Bottom line
Changing a Texas LLC name is a formal amendment process. You make sure the new name is distinguishable, approve the change under the LLC's governing rules, and file Form 424 with the $150 fee. If you only want a new public brand, an assumed name filing may be enough. After the state accepts the amendment, the LLC usually keeps the same EIN, but you still need to update the IRS and the rest of your admin stack so everything matches.