How to Fill Out and Submit the TDLR Complaint Form

To file a complaint with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, complete the TDLR complaint form online or by mail with details about yourself, the person or business you’re reporting, and what happened. There is no filing fee, but you must submit the complaint within two years of the incident.1Cornell Law Institute. Texas Administrative Code 16-60.201 – Filing a Complaint

File Within Two Years of the Incident

Under 16 Texas Administrative Code § 60.201, you have two years from the date of the incident to file. TDLR’s enforcement director has discretion to accept a late complaint, but there’s no guarantee.1Cornell Law Institute. Texas Administrative Code 16-60.201 – Filing a Complaint If the deadline is close, submit what you have now. You can add supporting documents after the initial filing.

What to Gather Before You Start

The form asks for information about you and about the person or business you’re reporting (the “respondent”). Pull these together first:

  • Respondent details: full legal name, company or facility name, physical address, and the TDLR license or registration number if you can find it through the agency’s license search. You don’t need the license number to file, but it helps route the complaint to the right team.
  • Your own contact information: name, mailing address, phone, and email. If you provide an email address, TDLR will use it as its primary way to reach you. If you leave the mailing address blank, the agency can’t send periodic status updates.2Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation – Forms – File a Complaint
  • Supporting documents: contracts, invoices, receipts, photographs, text messages, and any other records showing what happened and when. The online form accepts BMP, DOC, DOCX, GIF, JPEG, JPG, PDF, PNG, TIFF, XLS, and XLSX files.2Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation – Forms – File a Complaint

Filling Out the Form

TDLR offers two versions: an interactive online form at ga.tdlr.texas.gov and a downloadable PDF on the agency’s forms page.3Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. TDLR Complaint Form They collect the same information. The online version is faster because you can attach files directly and get an immediate electronic confirmation.

Complainant Section

Enter your name, address, phone numbers, and email. TDLR uses this information to send updates as the investigation progresses.3Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. TDLR Complaint Form

Respondent Section

Enter the respondent’s full name, company or facility name, address, phone, and license or registration number. The more identifying details you include, the easier it is for TDLR to confirm the respondent is someone the agency regulates. If your complaint is about unlicensed work — someone performing a job that requires a TDLR license without holding one — say so in the description field and include whatever identifying information you have.2Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation – Forms – File a Complaint

Incident Description

This field carries the complaint. Stick to what happened, when it happened, and what standard or rule you believe was broken. Plain, factual language works better than emotional description. Dates and dollar amounts help. The online form limits the field to 1,000 characters, roughly 150 to 200 words; if your account runs longer, attach a separate document with the full narrative.2Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation – Forms – File a Complaint

Attachments

Upload or include copies (never originals) of receipts, contracts, invoices, photos, and any written communication with the respondent. Order them chronologically if you can. Solid evidence lets investigators confirm what happened without needing to circle back to you.

Filing Anonymously

You can file without identifying yourself by leaving the complainant section blank. The trade-off is real: TDLR isn’t required to investigate an anonymous complaint, and you won’t receive status updates.1Cornell Law Institute. Texas Administrative Code 16-60.201 – Filing a Complaint The enforcement director decides whether to pursue anonymous filings at their discretion. Providing at least an email address substantially improves the chance of a full investigation.

How to Submit

Two options, no fee for either.

Online

The portal at ga.tdlr.texas.gov walks you through each section and lets you drag and drop supporting files before submitting. TDLR encourages this method, and it produces an electronic confirmation to save.2Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation – Forms – File a Complaint Your complaint enters the system immediately.

Mail

Print and complete the PDF, attach photocopies of your evidence, and mail everything to:

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
Enforcement Division
P.O. Box 12157
Austin, TX 78711-21573Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. TDLR Complaint Form

Use a tracked mailing service so you have proof of delivery. Mailed complaints take longer to reach an investigator because of transit and processing time.

What Happens After You File

Intake Review

Every complaint goes first to the Enforcement Division’s intake section. A legal assistant checks whether TDLR has jurisdiction over the respondent and whether the facts suggest a violation may have occurred.4Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Complaint Investigation and Resolution If the respondent isn’t regulated by TDLR — plumbers, for example, are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners — the complaint is closed and you’re told why.

Case Opening and Investigation

When intake finds jurisdiction and a possible violation, the complaint becomes a formal case with a tracking number and gets assigned to an investigator.4Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Complaint Investigation and Resolution The investigator may interview you, the respondent, and witnesses, and may request additional records. TDLR sends non-anonymous complainants a letter when a case opens.5Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. How TDLR Handles Consumer Complaints

Resolution

If investigators confirm a violation, TDLR issues a Notice of Alleged Violation to the respondent. Cases without sufficient evidence of a regulatory breach are closed without action against the respondent.

What TDLR Cannot Do

Filing a complaint isn’t a lawsuit. TDLR’s enforcement authority runs to fines, suspension, and revocation of the respondent’s license, not to making you whole financially. The agency doesn’t have general authority to order damages or a refund. Licensees sometimes provide refunds or restitution voluntarily during the enforcement process, and TDLR has reported consumers recouping money this way, particularly in service contract cancellations.6Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Texas Consumers Recoup From TDLR Enforcement Actions If getting your money back is the goal, expect to also pursue small claims court or consult an attorney about a civil action.