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P.O. Box 13697
Austin, TX 78711-3697
P.O. Box 149348
Austin, TX 78714-9348
New Veteran-Owned Businesses and Texas Franchise Tax
Announcement
In the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, Senate Bill 938 reinstated the new veteran-owned business provision effective Jan. 1, 2022. Under the reinstated provision, a qualifying new veteran-owned business must be formed on or after Jan. 1, 2022, and before Jan. 1, 2026. A new veteran-owned business formed between Jan. 1, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2021 (the period during which the previous provision was expired), does not qualify.
A qualifying new veteran-owned business is not subject to franchise tax for its initial five-year period, but must file Form 05-163, Texas Franchise Tax No Tax Due Report (PDF), for each of those years. For more information, see Texas Tax Code Section Section 171.0005, Definition of New Veteran-Owned Business and Rule 3.574, Margin: New Veteran-Owned Businesses.
To be considered a new veteran-owned business, an entity must:
- be formed or organized in Texas either
- on or after Jan. 1, 2016, and before Jan. 1, 2020; or
- on or after Jan. 1, 2022, and before Jan. 1, 2026;
- be 100 percent owned by a natural person or persons, with each owner being an honorably discharged veteran from a branch of the U. S. Armed Services; and
- provide a Letter of Verification of Veteran’s Honorable Discharge issued for each owner by the Texas Veterans Commission.
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts verifies this information. If, during the initial five-year period, a new veteran-owned business no longer meets the above criteria, the entity must notify the Comptroller’s office; and the entity becomes subject to franchise tax.
Verification Process for a New Veteran-Owned Business
For your new veteran-owned business to qualify for the five-year franchise tax exemption, you must complete three steps:
Step 1 – Request a Veteran Verification Letter certifying a veteran's Honorable discharge from the Texas Veteran’s Commission (TVC)
To receive a Veteran Verification Letter (VVL) with a unique alpha-numeric identification code, visit the TVC Website and Connect with a Business Consultant.
Once complete, a Veteran Business Consultant will reach out within 72 business hours to request your DD-214 Member4 or VA Veteran Benefits Letter showing your dates of service, branch, and character of discharge.*
*Check your junk folder for an email ending in @TVC.TEXAS.GOV.
Please see the TVC VVL Qualification Guide (PDF).
Step 2 – Complete Comptroller Form 05-904
Once all owners have received their Letter of Verification of Veteran’s Honorable Discharge from the TVC, complete Comptroller Form 05-904, Certification of New Veteran-Owned Business (PDF).
You must enter each owner’s:
- name
- unique alpha-numeric identification code from their Letter of Verification of Veteran’s Honorable Discharge
- percentage of ownership in the business
- signature.
Include as many pages as needed to identify 100 percent ownership in the business.
Step 3 – Submit Required Formation/Registration and Verification Documents
A veteran-owned business must either form with the Secretary of State (SOS) or register with the Comptroller’s office. Please use the instructions below to complete Step 3.
Qualifying Entities Forming or Previously Formed With the Secretary of State
If you formed, or are forming, a new veteran-owned business as a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or professional association, you must file these documents with the SOS:
- a Letter of Verification of Veteran’s Honorable Discharge for each owner of the business;
- Form 05-904, Certification of New Veteran-Owned Business (PDF); and
- the SOS formation documents. (The formation documents are not required if your entity is already formed with the SOS.)
Mail your documents to the following address:
Secretary of StateP.O. Box 13697
Austin, TX 78711-3697
Contact the SOS at 512-463-5555 for filing assistance.
Entities Not Required to be Formed With the Secretary of State
If you formed, or are forming, a new veteran-owned business as any other entity type that is subject to franchise tax, you must file these documents with the Comptroller’s office:
- a Letter of Verification of Veteran’s Honorable Discharge for each owner of the business;
- Form 05-904, Certification of New Veteran-Owned Business (PDF); and
- Form AP-224, Texas Business Questionnaire (PDF). (This questionnaire is not required if your entity is already registered with the Comptroller’s office.)
Mail your documents to the following address:
Comptroller of Public AccountsP.O. Box 149348
Austin, TX 78714-9348
Contact the Comptroller’s office at 512-463-4402 for assistance.