Friday, February 10, 2012

What is a Texas Public Information Report (PIR)?


A Public Information Report in Texas is an annual report made to the Texas Comptroller under Tax Code Section 171.203 by "any corporation or limited liability company on which the franchise tax is imposed even if those businesses are not required to pay the tax". 

The report generally must contain:
  • the name of each corporation or limited liability company that the filing business owns 10% or greater interest in and the percentage owned; 
  • the name of each corporation or limited liability company that owns a 10% or greater interest in the filing business;
  • the name, title, and mailing address of officer or director of the filing business when the report is filed and the expiration date of each of the terms;
  • the name and address of the agent for the service of process for the filing business ; and
  •  the address of the business’s principal office and principal place of business.
The report must be sent to all of the filing business’s non-employee officers and directors. Finally, a person authorized by the filing business must sign the report and certify that all of the information in the report is correct and that a copy has been sent to all of the required people.

Interesting to note, a public information report is only required of LLC's and corporations (S corps and C corps), but it appears to not be required for other entities, like limited partnerships or limited liability partnership.  Also, it is filed with the Texas Comptroller's Office (not the Texas Secretary of State), for the Comptroller will forward same to the Secretary of State.  The report is mailed by the filing business to the non-employee officers and directors so that said officers have the opportunity to object to their inclusion with a sworn statement disclaiming the role (to avoid potential imposed liability).

(Drafted by Eric Rupe; Edited by Marc L. Lippincott for the firm.)