Texas has the second-largest economy in the U.S. (after California), with a state gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.6 trillion in 2023. Much of that money is made in the oil and gas industry, though farming, steel, banking, and tourism are also big contributors. Part of the reason for the size of its e꧟conomy may be that Texas, in the 21st century, has a very pleasant business climate.

Taxes in Texas: Overview

Compared to most states, business taxes are extremely low in Texas, and there is no personal income tax. This gives Texas two distinct competไitive advantages over many other states—businesses keep more of the money they make, and they can recruit top talent by citing the lack of personal income taxes.

The news is even better for small businesses. The business tax rate, which is already low, shrinks or drops to zero for businesses wh🔴ose revenues do not exceed certain thresholds. For a small business just starting out, this can ease the strain of the early years of the business.

Texas does not have a corporate income tax. Instead, it imposes a 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:franchise tax on some businesses. The difference between a corporate income tax and a corporate franchise tax is that income taxes apply to profit while franchise taxes do not. A franchise tax is, essentially, a fee that a company must pay for the privilege of doing business in a particular state or city.

This is a tax on gross receipts—not on net corporate inc💮ome. Texas is one of only four state♛s with this type of system. The .

Texas Business Taxes by Size and Nature of Bus🌺iness

Small businesses with annual receipts below a certain level 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:pay no franchise tax at all. This is known as the no-tax-due threshold. For the tax years 2024 and 2025, that threshold is $2,470,000.

Businesses with annual revenues over the threshold—but not greater than $20 million—pay 0.331% on the portion of their revenue that is attributable to Texas (known as apportionment). They can file using an E-Z Computation Report form (a one-page form). Note: The EZ Computation form does not allow certain deductions and credits that businesses may otherwise be eligible for—specifically deductions for 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:cost of goods sold (COGS) or compensation, economic development, or temporary credits.

Businesses that cannot file the E-Z Computation form are taxed at different rates, depending on the nature of the business. The tax for wholesalers and retailers is 0.375%. The tax rate for businesses other than retail and wholesale is 0.75%. In these cases, the tax is applied to their taxable margins. The state of Texas defines "taxable margins" as the lowest of the following: 70% of total revenue, 100% of revenue minus cost of COGS, 100% of revenue minus total compensation, or total revenue minus $1 million.

Texas Business Taxes by Structure of Business

Regardless of how they are structured, nearly all businesses in the state are subject to the franchise tax. The only exceptions are 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:sole proprietorships and certain types of 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:general partnerships.

C Corporations

Most small businesses are not corporations, but they sometimes switch from LLCs and S corporations to 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:C corporations when their growth reaches a certain level. Like most states, Texas subjects corporations to its🎐 standard business tax: in this case, the franchise tax. As with all businesses, the no-tax-due threshold and E-Z Computation rules apply to corporati♔ons.

S Corporations

The 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:S corporation is a popular designation for small businesses. It provides many of the benefits of incorporating but, unlike the C corporation, it is not subject to separate 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:federal income tax or, in most states, a separate 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:state income tax. Instead, the corporation's income is 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:passed through to 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:shareholders, who are then taxed on it individually.

Texas, however, still subjects S corporations to its franchise tax based on the business's annual revenue. Individual shareholders in the company do not have to pay Texas state taxes on their portions of the company's income.

This benefit is especially attractive to small S corporations whose annual reve🧜nues do not exceed the no-tax-due threshold. They operate essentially tax-free because tax is n𒊎ot assessed on the business itself—or on the individuals who earn income from the business.

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)

A 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:limited liability company (LLC) is the other common designation for small businesses. In most stat🌳es, LLCs are ꦑentities that protect business owners from certain legal liabilities—while passing their income through to those owners, who then pay personal income tax on it.

As with S corporations, Texas (unlike many other states) charges the franchise tax to LLCs, with the sꦍame rules that apply to other business types. However, the income that passes to the owners as personal income is not subject to state income tax in Texas (because Texas has no personal income tax).

Partnerships and Sole Proprietorships

Most Texas small businesses that are partnerships pay the franchise tax, while sole proprietorships 🦂do not. The litmus test in a partnership is whether the business is directly owned by individuals, with the business income distributed directly to those individuals. In these situations, Texas treats partnerships like sole proprietorships and does not impose the♐ franchise tax.

In suc🧜h cases, the business owners must pay federal income tax o💟n this income but not state tax, (because Texas does not tax personal income).

The majority of partnerships in Texas, including 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:limited partnerships (LPs) and 澳洲幸运5官方ꦓ开奖结果体彩网:limited liability partnerships ཧ(LLPs), are subject to the franchise tax.

For business owners in Texas considering forming a partnership, a qualified tax 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:accountant can help deter🐼mine how to st⛎ructure the partnership for the most favorable tax treatment.

The Bottom Line

Texas has relatively 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:low tax rates on businesses, and some small businesses pay no tax at all. In addition, it has no personal income tax,🔯 which can save business owners money. This combination of favorable tax conditions has made Texas an attractive state in which to start and run a small business.