Promote:
Invest in Texas
A short guide for companies expanding into Texas: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Texas at a glance
PopulationEstimate
31.7 million
The population was 31,709,821 as of July 1, 2025.
Source: Census Bureau, state population estimates, July 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$2.93 trillion
GDP was US$2,932,343.6 million in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$92,474
GDP per person was US$92,474.3 in 2025, in current dollars, computed from BEA's GDP and the Census Bureau's population estimate.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
2.8%
Real GDP growth was 2.8 percent in 2025, as BEA publishes it.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Currency and inflation: see the United States at a glance
2. Before you set up
The body that handles foreign investment, any one-stop route, Texas’s limits on foreign ownership, the zones and other rules for investors, as the guide found them.
The Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office in the Office of the Governor is the state's economic development organization, as SelectUSA lists it.
Source: ITA, SelectUSA state development organizations, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
The Secretary of State handles entity filings, while employer and tax registrations sit with other agencies such as the Comptroller and the Workforce Commission.
Source: Texas Secretary of State, employer and tax information (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
Senate Bill 17, in force since September 1, 2025, bars buyers tied to designated countries from acquiring Texas real property such as farmland, commercial property and minerals. Check the statute's definitions and exceptions before you sign.
Source: Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 17 enrolled text, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board's 2024 annual report lists 35 foreign-trade zones in Texas.
Source: FTZ Board, annual report to Congress, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Show 5 more
Senate Bill 17 defines designated countries through the Director of National Intelligence's threat assessments, and the Fifth Circuit says the list includes China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
Source: Fifth Circuit, Wang v. Paxton opinion, December 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 11, 2025
Senate Bill 17 does not apply to United States citizens, lawful permanent residents, companies they own or control, or leases shorter than one year.
Source: Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 17 enrolled text, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
On December 11, 2025, the Fifth Circuit affirmed dismissal of a challenge to Senate Bill 17 for lack of standing, so the law stays in force. No injunction was found.
Source: Fifth Circuit, Wang v. Paxton opinion, December 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 11, 2025
On October 9, 2026, the Attorney General announced stronger proposed rules for Senate Bill 17, including a plan for an online registry of covered properties. Check whether the rules have been adopted.
Source: Texas Attorney General, Senate Bill 17 rules release, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 9, 2026
Since 2021, Texas has barred businesses from agreements giving companies owned by citizens of China, Iran, North Korea or Russia, or headquartered there, access to or control of critical infrastructure. Check whether your project's contracts are covered.
Source: Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 2116 enrolled text, 2021 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Investment rules across the United States: see Invest in the United States
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Texas
- Register your out-of-state or foreign entity with the Texas Secretary of State, using Form 301 for a for-profit corporation or Form 304 for a limited liability company.Texas Secretary of StateOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Texas Secretary of State, business and nonprofit forms (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
- File the annual franchise tax report with the Comptroller by May 15; at or below the no-tax-due threshold, file a Public Information or Ownership Information Report instead.Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Texas Comptroller, 2026 franchise tax forms (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Apply to the Comptroller for a sales and use tax permit if you sell or lease taxable goods or services in Texas.Texas Comptroller of Public AccountsThe Comptroller says to allow 2 to 3 weeks for the permit.Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Texas Comptroller, online tax registration application (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
- Register for state unemployment tax with the Texas Workforce Commission, which collects it; the Secretary of State's employer page lists it.Texas Workforce CommissionOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Texas Secretary of State, employer and tax information (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
Show 2 more set-up steps
- Check whether your trade, profession or facility needs a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation license, and which other state regulator covers your industry.Texas Department of Licensing and RegulationOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
- Ask the Economic Development & Tourism Office about state incentives before you commit to a site.Texas Economic Development & Tourism OfficeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Texas Governor EDT, incentives overview, April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Steps that apply across the United States: see Invest in the United States
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with EDT. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
State economic development organization
EDT
Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, Office of the Governor
Pursues business expansion and relocation projects in Texas and publishes guides to the state's incentives and programs for investing companies.
Visit EDT (opens in a new tab)Source: Texas Governor EDT, incentives overview, April 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State business filings office
Texas Secretary of State
Files and keeps the records of business entities, including the registration of out-of-state and foreign entities that transact business in Texas.
Visit Texas Secretary of State (opens in a new tab)Source: Texas Secretary of State, foreign or out-of-state entities (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
Texas Comptroller
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Collects franchise tax and sales and use tax, and registers businesses for sales tax permits and franchise tax accounts.
Visit Texas Comptroller (opens in a new tab)Source: Texas Comptroller, franchise tax page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
Public port authority
Port Houston
Owns and operates eight public terminals on the Houston Ship Channel, with container and breakbulk services and published rates for shippers.
Visit Port Houston (opens in a new tab)Source: Port Houston, home page, October 2026 news (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Public port authority
Port Corpus Christi
Port of Corpus Christi
Runs the seaport on the Corpus Christi Ship Channel and publishes its quarterly volumes and news for shippers.
Visit Port Corpus Christi (opens in a new tab)Source: Port of Corpus Christi, home page, October 2026 news (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Export mentoring council
Houston DEC
Houston District Export Council
Offers mentors, seminars and networking events for exporters in Houston and Southeast Texas; its members are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce.
Visit Houston DEC (opens in a new tab)Source: Houston District Export Council, home page, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
- Get advice
State chamber of commerce
TAB
Texas Association of Business
Represents Texas employers on state policy as the Texas State Chamber of Commerce and runs events for its members.
Visit TAB (opens in a new tab)Source: Texas Association of Business, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Get advice
State manufacturers association
TAM
Texas Association of Manufacturers
Advocates for member manufacturers, from startups to large enterprises, on state policy that affects Texas manufacturing.
Visit TAM (opens in a new tab)Source: Texas Association of Manufacturers, home page, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Reserved sectors
Senate Bill 17 bars certain foreign buyers from acquiring Texas real property from September 1, 2025, and the Fifth Circuit left it in force in December 2025.
What to do: Check the statute and the Attorney General's proposed rules before you buy land or minerals.
Sources: Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 17 enrolled text, 2025 (opens in a new tab); Texas Attorney General, Senate Bill 17 rules release, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
Electricity
Senate Bill 6, effective June 20, 2025, has the Public Utility Commission set ERCOT large-load interconnection standards for single-site loads above 75 megawatts, or a lower threshold it sets.
What to do: Ask the utility and the Public Utility Commission how the large-load standards apply to your site.
Sources: Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 6 enrolled text, 2025 (opens in a new tab); Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 6 history, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
State business tax
Texas charges a franchise tax of 0.75 percent of margin, or 0.375 percent for retail or wholesale, on 2026 and 2027 reports, with a US$2.65 million no-tax-due threshold.
What to do: Confirm your margin method and filing date with the Comptroller.
Sources: Texas Comptroller, franchise tax page (opens in a new tab); Texas Comptroller, 2026 franchise tax forms (opens in a new tab) · as of November 2, 2026
Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Invest in the United States
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare the United States with other countriesSet the United States beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Texas project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Promote:Texas is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 3, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.