Form 643
1
Form 643—General Information
(Certificate of Conversion of a Limited Partnership Converting to a Corporation)
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 partnership may convert into a corporation 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 limited partnership is the
converting entity and the converted entity is a for-profit corporation, professional corporation, or a
nonprofit corporation.
Withdrawal of Registration as a Limited Liability Partnership: On conversion, a limited partnership that
has registered as a limited liability partnership should file a withdrawal notice to terminate the status of
the partnership as a limited liability partnership (BOC § 152.802(f)).
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, its organizational form and jurisdiction of
organization as part of the certificate. It is recommended that the date of its formation and file
number assigned by the secretary of state be provided to facilitate processing of the document.
Converted Entity Information: The entity following the conversion is the converted entity. The
certificate of conversion should set forth the legal name of the converted entity and its jurisdiction of
formation.
Converted Entity Name: If the converted entity is a Texas filing entity, the name of the converted
entity will be checked for availability in accordance with section 5.053 of the BOC. If the converted
entity name is the same as, deceptively similar to, or similar to the name of an existing domestic or
foreign filing entity, or any name reservation or name registration filed with the secretary of state,
the document cannot be filed. However, if the conflicting entity name is the name of the converting
entity and the converting entity is currently in existence with the secretary of state, the converted
entity name will be accepted irrespective of the conflict with the entity name in use by the
converting entity.
Plan of Conversion: Unless the converting entity opts to complete the Alternative Statements
section of this form, a plan of conversion conforming to the requirements of section 10.103 of the
BOC should be attached to the certificate of conversion.
Alternative Statements in Lieu of Plan: 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.
Certificate of Formation for the Converted Entity: The certificate of formation of the converted
entity must be filed with the certificate of conversion if the converted entity is a Texas filing entity.
Form 643
2
If the plan of conversion is attached to the certificate of conversion, the certificate of formation
should be included as part of the plan of conversion. If the converting entity opts to set forth the
alternate statements in lieu of providing the complete plan of conversion, the certificate of formation
for the corporation must be attached to the certificate of conversion.
¾ The certificate of formation of a corporation formed under a plan of conversion must include a
statement to that effect. In addition, the certificate of formation must provide the name, address,
date of formation, prior form of organization and the jurisdiction of formation of the converting
entity.
¾ If the certificate of formation of the Texas corporation fails to comply with the applicable
provisions of chapter 3 of the BOC, the certificate of conversion cannot be filed.
¾ If the converted entity is a foreign corporation, the foreign entity must register as a foreign filing
entity under chapter 9 of the BOC before the transaction of any business in Texas.
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 (1) the laws of the jurisdiction of formation
and (2) the governing documents of the converting entity.
¾ A domestic limited partnership that is converting must approve the plan of conversion in the
manner provided in its partnership agreement (BOC § 10.107(c)).
¾ A foreign entity that is the converting entity must comply with the laws of the jurisdiction of its
formation.
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
and the date of the 90
th
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
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” and the status of a converted
Texas filing entity will be shown as “in existence” on the records of the secretary of state.
Tax Certificate: The secretary of state may not accept a certificate of conversion for filing if the
required franchise taxes have not been paid (BOC § 10.156). The certificate of conversion must be
accompanied by a certificate of account status from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
indicating that the converting entity is in good standing having no franchise tax reports or payments
due. The certificate of account status must be valid through the effective date of filing of the
conversion. Please note that the Comptroller issues many different types of certificates of account
status. A certificate of account status for purposes of conversion obtained from the Comptroller’s
web site will be accepted only when the converted entity is subject to franchise tax under Texas law.
Requests for certificates or questions on tax status should be directed to the Tax Assistance Section,
of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Austin, Texas 78774-0100; (512) 463-4600 or toll-free
(800) 252-1381. 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 partnership should be signed by a general partner of the
partnership, but it does not need to 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 is $300 plus the
fee for filing the certificate of formation when the converted entity is a domestic filing entity.
¾ The fee for conversion of a Texas or foreign limited partnership to either a Texas for-profit
corporation or professional corporation is $600 ($300 for the certificate of conversion and $300
for the certificate of formation for the corporation).
¾ The fee for conversion of a Texas or foreign limited partnership to a Texas nonprofit corporation
is $325 ($300 for the certificate of conversion and $25 for the certificate of formation for the
nonprofit corporation).
¾ The fee for conversion of a Texas limited partnership into a foreign corporation is $300 for the
certificate of conversion. There is no certificate of formation filed on behalf of the foreign
entity. However, if the foreign entity is a foreign filing entity transacting business in Texas and
required to register in Texas under chapter 9 of the BOC, the foreign filing entity must register
and pay the applicable fee for registration under chapter 9.
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
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 643
3
This space reserved for office use.
Form 643
(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: See instructions
Certificate of Conversion
of a
Limited Partnership
Converting
to a
Corporation
Converting Entity Information
The name of the converting limited partnership is:
The jurisdiction of formation of the limited partnership is:
The date of formation of the limited partnership is:
The file number, if any, issued to the limited partnership by the secretary of state is:
Converted Entity Information
The limited partnership named above is converting to a corporation. The name of the corporation is:
The corporation will be formed under the laws of:
Plan of Conversion
The plan of conversion is attached.
If the plan of conversion is not attached, the following section must be completed.
Alternative Statements
In lieu of providing the plan of conversion, the converting limited partnership certifies that:
1. A signed plan of conversion is on file at the principal place of business of the limited partnership,
the converting entity. The address of the principal place of business of the limited partnership is:
Street or Mailing Address City State Country Zip Code
2. A signed plan of conversion will be on file after the conversion at the principal place of business of
the corporation, the converted entity. The address of the principal place of business of the corporation
is:
Street or Mailing Address City State Country Zip Code
3. 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.
Form 643
4
Certificate of Formation for the Converted Entity
If the converted entity is a Texas corporation, the certificate of formation of the Texas corporation
must be attached to this certificate either as an attachment or exhibit to the plan of conversion, or as an
attachment or exhibit to this certificate of conversion if the plan has not been attached to the certificate
of conversion.
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.
(Select either A, B, or C.) Effectiveness of Filing
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 certifies that the
converting entity is in good standing for purposes of conversion.
In lieu of providing the tax certificate, the corporation 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. The undersigned certifies that the statements contained
herein are true and correct, and that the person signing is authorized under the provisions of the
Business Organizations Code, or other law applicable to and governing the converting entity, to
execute the filing instrument.
Date:
Signature of authorized person (see instructions)
Printed or typed name of authorized person
Form 643
5
Print
Reset