Form 638—General Information
(Certificate of Conversion of a Limited Liability Company Converting to a
Real Estate Investment Trust)
The attached form is designed 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 limited liability company may convert into a real estate investment trust (hereinafter REIT) by
adopting a plan of conversion in accordance with section 10.101 of the Texas Business Organizations
Code (BOC) and filing a certificate of conversion with the secretary of state in accordance with sections
10.154 and 10.155 of the BOC. As defined in section 1.002 of the BOC, conversion means the
continuance of a Texas entity as a foreign entity of any type, the continuance of a foreign entity as a
Texas entity of any type, or the continuance of a Texas entity of one type as a Texas entity of another
type. As used in the BOC and in this form, converting entity means the entity that existed before the
conversion; converted entity means the entity resulting from a conversion. This form should be used
when a domestic limited liability company is the converting entity and the converted entity is a domestic
or foreign REIT.
Formation of the REIT: If a Texas REIT is formed under a plan of conversion, the certificate of
conversion, along with the certificate of formation of the REIT, must also be filed with the county clerk
of the county in Texas in which the principal place of business of the REIT is located (BOC §
10.155(c)).
Instructions for Form
Converting Entity Information: The certificate of conversion is filed by the converting entity and
should set forth the legal name of the converting entity as part of the certificate. It is recommended
that the date of formation and file number assigned by the secretary of state be provided to facilitate
processing of the document
.
Plan of Conversion/Alternative Statements: A plan of conversion conforming to the requirements
of section 10.103 of the BOC should be attached to the certificate of conversion. As an alternative to
attaching the complete plan of conversion, the converting entity may opt to certify and complete the
alternative statements in the form.
Approval of the Plan of Conversion: The certificate of conversion must include a statement that
the plan of conversion has been approved as required by the laws of the jurisdiction of formation and
the governing documents of the converting entity. Section 101.356(c) of the BOC sets forth the
requirements for approval of the plan of conversion by a Texas limited liability company.
Effectiveness of Filing: A certificate of conversion becomes effective when accepted and filed by
the secretary of state (option A). However, pursuant to sections 4.052 and 4.053 of the BOC the
effectiveness of the instrument may be delayed to a date not more than ninety (90) days from the
date the instrument is signed (option B). The effectiveness of the instrument also may be delayed on
the occurrence of a future event or fact, other than the passage of time (option C). If option C is
selected, you must state the manner in which the event or fact will cause the instrument to take effect
th
and the date of the 90 day after the date the instrument is signed. In order for the certificate to take
effect under option C, the entity must, within ninety (90) days of the filing of the certificate, file a
Form 638
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statement with the secretary of state regarding the event or fact pursuant to section 4.055 of the
BOC.
On the filing of a document with a delayed effective date or condition, the computer records of the
secretary of state will be changed to show the filing of the document, the date of the filing, and the
future date on which the document will be effective or evidence that the effectiveness was
conditioned on the occurrence of a future event or fact.
In addition, at the time of such filing, the
status of a converting Texas filing entity will be shown as “conversion” on the records of the
secretary of state.
Tax Certificate: When a Texas limited liability company is the converting entity, the certificate of
conversion must be accompanied by a certificate of account status from the Texas Comptroller of
Public Accounts indicating that all taxes under title 2 of the Tax Code have been paid and that the
entity is in good standing for the purpose of conversion. Please note that the Comptroller issues
many different types of certificates of account status. Do not attach a certificate or print-out
obtained from the Comptroller’s web site as this does not meet statutory requirements. You need to
attach form #05-305, which is obtained directly from a Comptroller of Public Accounts
representative.
Requests for certificates or questions on tax status should be directed to the Tax Assistance Section,
Comptroller of Public Accounts, Austin, Texas 78774-0100; (512) 463-4600; toll-free (800) 252-
1381; (TDD) (800) 248-4099. You also may contact tax.help@cpa.state.tx.us.
In lieu of the tax certificate, the certificate of conversion may provide that the converted entity is
liable for the payment of the required franchise taxes
.
Execution: Pursuant to section 4.001 of the BOC, the certificate of conversion must be signed by a
person authorized by the BOC to act on behalf of the converting entity in regard to the filing
instrument. Generally, a governing person or managerial official of the entity signs a filing
instrument.
A certificate of conversion filed by a limited liability company should be signed by an authorized
manager if the company has managers. If the company does not have managers and is managed by
its members, an authorized managing-member must sign the certificate of conversion.
The certificate of conversion need not be notarized. However, before signing, please read the
statements on this form carefully. A person commits an offense under section 4.008 of the BOC if
the person signs or directs the filing of a filing instrument the person knows is materially false with
the intent that the instrument be delivered to the secretary of state for filing. The offense is a Class A
misdemeanor unless the person’s intent is to harm or defraud another, in which case the offense is a
state jail felony.
Payment and Delivery Instructions : The filing fee for a certificate of conversion of a limited
liability company into a REIT is $300.
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.
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
Form 638
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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 05/11
Form 638
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This space reserved for office use.
Form 638
(Revised 05/11)
Return in duplicate to:
Secretary of State
P.O. Box 13697
Austin, TX 78711-3697
512 463-5555
FAX: 512 463-5709
Filing Fee: $300
Certificate of Conversion
of a
Limited Liability Company
Converting
to a
Real Estate Investment Trust
Converting Entity Information
The name of the converting limited liability company is:
The jurisdiction of formation of the limited liability company is Texas.
The date of formation of the limited liability company is:
The file number issued to the limited liability company by the secretary of state is:
Plan of Conversion—Alternative Statements
The limited liability company named above is converting to a real estate investment trust. The name
of the real estate investment trust is:
The real estate investment trust will be formed under the laws of :
The plan of conversion is attached.
If the plan of conversion is not attached, the following statements must be completed.
Instead of attaching the plan of conversion, the limited liability company certifies to the following
statements:
A signed plan of conversion is on file at the principal place of business of the limited liability
company, the converting entity.
The address of the principal place of business of the limited liability
company is:
Street or Mailing Address City State Country Zip Code
A signed plan of conversion will be on file after the conversion at the principal place of business of
the real estate investment trust, the converted entity. The address of the principal place of business of
the real estate investment trust is:
Street or Mailing Address City State Country Zip Code
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A copy of the plan of conversion will be furnished on written request without cost by the converting
entity before the conversion or by the converted entity after the conversion to any owner or member of
the converting or converted entity.
Approval of the Plan of Conversion
The plan of conversion has been approved as required by the laws of the jurisdiction of formation and
the governing documents of the converting entity.
Effectiveness of Filing (Select either A, B, or C.)
A. This document becomes effective when the document is accepted and filed by the secretary of
state.
B. This document becomes effective at a later date, which is not more than ninety (90) days from
the date of signing. The delayed effective date is:
C. This document takes effect upon the occurrence of the future event or fact, other than the
passage of time. The 90
th
day after the date of signing is:
The following event or fact will cause the document to take effect in the manner described below:
Tax Certificate
Attached hereto is a certificate from the comptroller of public accounts that all taxes under title
2, Tax Code, have been paid by the limited liability company.
In lieu of providing the tax certificate, the real estate investment trust as the converted entity is
liable for the payment of any franchise taxes.
Execution
The undersigned signs this document subject to the penalties imposed by law for the submission of a
materially false or fraudulent instrument.
Date:
Signature and title of authorized person on behalf of the
converting entity
Form 638
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