Form a Business in Maryland

What makes Maryland different

• MD filings go to SDAT, NOT to a Secretary of State. Maryland is one of the few US states where business entity filings are handled by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) rather than the Secretary of State (which in MD handles only notaries,…
• Annual Report is $300. Among the highest in the US (tied with MA LLC at $500, NC LLC at $200). Same $300 fee applies to LLC, Corp, LP, LLP, LLLP, REIT, and Statutory Business Trust. Due Apr 15 every year. 60-day extension to Jun 15 available.
• MarylandSaves enrollment WAIVES the $300 Annual Report fee. Maryland's state-run retirement savings program. If your business enrolls (or claims exemption from), you get a $300 annual filing fee waiver. Major cost savings. Wizard MUST surface…
• Form 1 combines Annual Report + Personal Property Return. If business owns, leases, or uses personal property in MD with total original cost ≥ $20,000, must also file Personal Property Tax Return (which is the Form 1 PPR section). Below $20K…
• Articles of Incorporation $100 + $20 Organization & Capitalization Fee = $120 minimum for stock corps with aggregate par value ≤ $100K. Larger corps pay additional capitalization fees. LLCs pay flat $100 (no capitalization fee).
• 501(c)(3), (c)(4), (c)(6) nonprofits pay $50 extra at formation. Extra $50 goes to the Maryland Not-For-Profit Development Center Program Fund. Total nonprofit formation: $100 + $20 + $50 = $170.
• Standard processing is 4-6 WEEKS. Slowest in the US for non-expedited filings. Expedite is essentially mandatory for any time-sensitive filing: - Paper expedite (dropbox): +$50, reviewed 7-10 business days - Online expedite: automatic when filing online (~7-10…
• Online filings include a 3% service/convenience fee on top of statutory fees. This is in addition to expedite fees. Wizard cost displays must compute this properly.