Wyoming LLC vs Texas LLC (2026)
Compare Wyoming LLC vs Texas LLC — filing fees, taxes, privacy laws, and annual costs. Find out which state is actually better for your business.
By Edmond Hui · Last updated: July 14, 2026
Verdict: Wyoming wins for most businesses
For most Wyoming-based businesses, forming locally in Wyoming is the smarter choice — you avoid paying fees in two states and managing compliance in both. Texas only makes sense if your business genuinely operates there, and even then the total costs deserve a hard look.
| Factor | Wyoming | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $100 | $300 |
| Processing Time | 1 day | 3 days |
| Annual Report Fee | $62 | $0 |
| Annual Report Due | Anniversary month | May 15 |
| State Income Tax | No | No |
| Anonymous LLC | Yes | No |
| Publication Requirement | No | No |
| Foreign LLC Cost (if forming out-of-state) | N/A — you're in your home state | $150 + registered agent ~$150/yr |
Business Climate: Wyoming vs Texas
| Factor | Wyoming | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| 5-year business survival rate | 47.5% (#42 of 51) | 52.5% (#20 of 51) |
| Business application growth (2026 YTD (Jan–Jun) vs 2025 YTD (same months)) | +13% YoY (#22 of 51 by volume) | +11.5% YoY (#3 of 51 by volume) |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics · U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (BFS)
Compare LLC Costs: Wyoming vs Texas
Wyoming
Texas
Costs include mandatory state fees: filing fees, annual report fees, California's $800/yr franchise tax, and Nevada's $550/yr (annual list $350 + state business license $200). New York's formation fee includes an estimated $500 publication cost (required by law; NYC counties typically run $1,500–$2,000+). Excludes registered agent fees and legal fees. For informational purposes only — not legal or tax advice.
Filing Fees & Formation Costs
Wyoming charges $100 to form an LLC, while Texas charges $300. Wyoming is $200 cheaper upfront. The cost that usually gets overlooked: if you form in Texas but operate in Wyoming, you must also register as a foreign LLC in Wyoming — a $150 filing — and maintain a registered agent in Texas (typically around $150 per year). That puts the realistic first-year cost of the Texas route at roughly $600, versus $100 for simply forming in Wyoming. Timing differs more than cost here: Wyoming approves standard online filings in about 1 business day, while Texas takes about 3 business days.
Taxes: Wyoming vs Texas
Neither Wyoming nor Texas levies a personal income tax, so there is no income-tax advantage to forming in either state. Wyoming charges an annual report license tax of $60 minimum ($62 filed online), based on in-state assets; no franchise or privilege tax otherwise. Texas imposes a franchise tax; LLCs under the no-tax-due threshold ($2,650,000 total revenue for 2026-27 reports) owe $0 but must still file an annual Public Information Report.
Privacy & Asset Protection
Wyoming — your home state — actually offers more formation privacy than Texas: Wyoming allows anonymous LLC formation, while Texas requires owner or manager information on public filings. The Certificate of Formation (Form 205) must name at least one governing person (member or manager), a public record; the annual Public Information Report also discloses management. Both states provide charging-order protection for LLC members, and for most small businesses the practical difference in asset protection between the two is minimal. Wyoming's charging-order statute (W.S. 17-29-503) makes the charging order a creditor's exclusive remedy — including for single-member LLCs — and is widely regarded as the strongest in the country. From a privacy standpoint there is no reason for a Wyoming-based business to form in Texas.
Annual Maintenance Costs
Wyoming LLCs file an annual report ($62, due in the anniversary month), and Texas LLCs file a free annual report (due May 15). If you form in Texas while operating in Wyoming, you maintain filings in both states — Texas's report plus Wyoming's equivalent for your foreign registration — and pay a Texas registered agent roughly $150 per year. That brings ongoing costs of the Texas route to roughly $212 per year, versus about $62 to keep a domestic Wyoming LLC in good standing. There are also recurring state taxes to weigh on each side. Wyoming charges an annual report license tax of $60 minimum ($62 filed online), based on in-state assets; no franchise or privilege tax otherwise. Texas imposes a franchise tax; LLCs under the no-tax-due threshold ($2,650,000 total revenue for 2026-27 reports) owe $0 but must still file an annual Public Information Report.
When Texas Actually Makes Sense
Forming in Texas makes sense in a few specific situations: your business genuinely operates in Texas — with a real office, employees, or property there, or you are relocating to Texas in the near future. For a typical small business based in Wyoming, none of these usually apply — and the extra formation, foreign-registration, and maintenance costs of the Texas route buy little in return. When in doubt, form where you actually do business.
Frequently Asked Questions
More State Comparisons
Embed this comparison — free
Add the Wyoming vs Texas cost calculator to any page. Works in WordPress, Squarespace, Webflow, and any HTML site.
<iframe src="https://www.mystatellc.com/tools/compare-states?embed=1&stateA=WY&stateB=TX" width="100%" height="720" frameborder="0" style="border:0;max-width:900px;display:block;margin:0 auto;" title="Wyoming vs Texas LLC Cost Comparison" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="text-align:center;font-size:.8125rem;color:#6b7280">Source: <a href="https://www.mystatellc.com/llc/compare/wyoming-llc-vs-texas-llc">MyStateLLC — Wyoming vs Texas LLC Comparison</a></p>