Form 503 PDF Details

When businesses or professionals in Texas choose to operate under a name other than their officially registered legal name, the Form 503—General Information (Assumed Name Certificate) becomes an essential document. This form facilitates compliance with state legal requirements by formalizing the use of an assumed or "doing business as" (DBA) name. It serves a crucial role by providing public notice of the name under which the business intends to operate, thereby ensuring transparency and aiding in the protection of consumer and business interests alike. An important point of note is that the form does not establish or confer any ownership or exclusive rights to the assumed name; rather, it functions as a public declaration of the name's usage. The form also sets out specific filing requirements, such as the necessity for the assumed name to be distinct from the entity's legal name, and delineates the conditions under which the certificate may need to be renewed or altered, with changes requiring the filing of a new certificate rather than amendments to the existing one. Additionally, the document highlights the legal implications of non-compliance with these regulations, including both civil and criminal penalties. Recent legislative changes have streamlined the process by eliminating county-level filing requirements for certain entities, further emphasizing the state's role in maintaining a coherent system for the registration and use of assumed business names. Designed to be straightforward in its completion and submission, the form nevertheless underscores the importance of seeking professional legal and tax advice to navigate the complexities of business operation under an assumed name.

QuestionAnswer
Form NameForm 503
Form Length5 pages
Fillable?No
Fillable fields0
Avg. time to fill out1 min 15 sec
Other namesform 503 assumed name certificate texas, form 503 assumed name certificate, texas form 503, texas sos dba form

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Form 503—General Information

(Assumed Name Certificate)

The attached form is drafted to meet minimal statutory filing requirements pursuant to the relevant code provisions. This form and the information provided are not substitutes for the advice and services of an attorney and tax specialist.

Commentary

A domestic or foreign corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or other foreign filing entity that regularly conducts business or renders a professional service in this state under a name other than its legal name (the name stated in its certificate of formation or comparable document) must file an assumed name certificate with the secretary of state. (Texas Business & Commerce Code [TBCC] § 71.103).

Effect of Filing: The effect of filing is to give notice to the public that the entity is conducting business under that name. The filing of an assumed name shall not constitute actual use of the assumed name for determining priority of name; nor does the filing of assumed name give the registrant any right to use the name when contrary to the common law or statutory right of unfair competition, unfair trade practices, common law copyright or similar law (TBCC § 71.157). Since the filing is a notice filing, the secretary of state does not have the authority to review the name of the certificate to determine if the filing conflicts with another name on file with this office.

Changes to Information: There is no procedure for an amendment to or correction of an assumed name certificate. If there is a material change in the information on the certificate, a new certificate should be filed (TBCC § 71.152). The new certificate should be filed within 60 days after the occurrence of the events which necessitate the filing. An event that causes the information contained in a certificate to become materially misleading includes a change in the name or form of business of the assumed name registrant.

Duration: The assumed name certificate shall be effective for a term not to exceed ten years from the date the certificate is filed and may be renewed by filing a new certificate within six months of the expiration of the original certificate (TBCC § 71.151). A registrant may abandon the assumed name certificate before the expiration of the period of duration by filing an abandonment of the certificate (Form 504).

Noncompliance: The TBCC in sections 71.201 through 71.203 provides both civil and criminal penalties for failure to file the assumed name certificate.

Legislative Change: HB 3609, effective September 1, 2019, was enacted by the 86th Legislature and amended chapter 71 of the Business & Commerce Code to eliminate the county-level filing requirement for a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or other foreign filing entity that conducts business under an assumed name.

Instructions for Form

Item 1—Assumed Name: 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

Form 503

Instruction Page 1 – Do not submit with filing.

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. 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.

Items 3 and 4—Type of Entity and File Number: Identify 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. 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 entity’s principal office.

Item 7—Period of Duration: An assumed name certificate is effective for a term not to exceed a period of ten years from the date of filing the certificate. Check the applicable box to specify the duration which the entity determines should be the duration of the filing of the assumed name 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.

Execution: 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, or 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. 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.

Payment and Delivery Instructions: The filing fee for an assumed name certificate filed with the secretary of state is $25. Fees may be paid by personal checks, money orders, LegalEase debit cards, or American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards. Checks or money orders must be payable through a U.S. bank or financial institution and made payable to the secretary of state. Fees paid by credit card are subject to a statutorily authorized convenience fee of 2.7 percent of the total fees.

Form 503

Instruction Page 2 – Do not submit with filing.

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.

Revised 08/19

Form 503

Instruction Page 3 – Do not submit with filing.

Form 503 (Revised 08/19)

Return in duplicate to: Secretary of State P.O. Box 13697 Austin, TX 78711-3697

512463-5555 FAX: 512 463-5709

Filing Fee: $25

This space reserved for office use.

Assumed Name Certificate

Assumed Name

1.The assumed name under which the business or professional service is, or is to be, conducted or rendered is:

Entity Information

2. The legal name of the entity filing the assumed name is:

State the name of the entity as currently shown in the records of the secretary of state or on its organizational documents, if not filed with the secretary of state.

3.The entity filing the assumed name is a: (Select the appropriate entity type below.)

For-profit Corporation

Limited Liability Company

Nonprofit Corporation

Limited Partnership

Professional Corporation

Limited Liability Partnership

Professional Association

Cooperative Association

Other

Specify type of entity. For example, foreign real estate investment trust, state bank, insurance company, etc.

4.The file number, if any, issued to the entity by the secretary of state is:

5.The state, country, or other jurisdiction of formation of the entity is:

6.The entity’s principal office address is:

Street or Mailing Address

City

State

Country

Postal or Zip Code

Period of Duration

7a. The period during which the assumed name will be used is 10 years from the date of filing with the secretary of state.

OR

 

 

 

7b. The period during which the assumed name will be used is

 

years from the date of filing

with the secretary of state (not to exceed 10 years).

 

 

 

OR

 

 

 

7c. The assumed name will be used until

 

 

(not to exceed 10 years).

 

mm/dd/yyyy

 

 

 

Form 503

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County or Counties in which Assumed Name Used

8.The county or counties where business or professional services are being or are to be conducted or rendered under the assumed name are:

All counties

All counties with the exception of the following counties:

Only the following counties:

Execution

The undersigned signs this document subject to the penalties imposed by law for the submission of a materially false or fraudulent instrument and also certifies that the person is authorized to sign on behalf of the identified entity. If the undersigned is acting in the capacity of an attorney in fact for the entity, the undersigned certifies that the entity has duly authorized the undersigned in writing to execute this document.

Date:

Signature of a person authorized by law to sign on behalf of the identified entity (see instructions)

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Form 503

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