Maryland SDAT business registration — contact, fees, and licensing

Official Resource

Maryland's business entity registrations are handled by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), not the Secretary of State. SDAT's Business Services unit registers all entity types, issues Certificates of Status, and administers annual reports. The Secretary of State's office is a separate agency responsible for notaries, elections administration, and state archives — it does not register businesses. SDAT now requires an appointment for in-person charter services; no appointment is needed to use the same-day rush dropbox or to drop off Annual Reports and Business Personal Property Returns.

Updated August 2026

SDAT office contact

Street address: 123 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202
Mailing address: SDAT Business Services, 700 East Pratt Street, 2nd Floor, Suite 2700, Baltimore, MD 21202
Business Customer Service Contact Center: (410) 767-1330
Business Customer Service email: sdat.cscc@maryland.gov
Certificates of Status phone: (410) 767-1344
Certificates of Status email: sdat.goodstanding@maryland.gov
Trade names phone: (410) 767-1801
Trade names email: sdat.tradenamehelp@maryland.gov
Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Online filing portal: egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress
SDAT Business Services homepage: dat.maryland.gov — Business Services

MarylandSaves annual report fee waiver

Businesses that register for the state-run MarylandSaves retirement savings program (or that certify an exemption) can qualify for a waiver of the $300 SDAT Annual Report fee for each year they remain in good standing with the program. SDAT does not administer eligibility — MarylandSaves does. Businesses should confirm their status directly with MarylandSaves at admin@marylandsaves.org or (410) 403-2782, or check the eligibility list SDAT publishes on its Annual Report page, before assuming the waiver applies.

Entity formation and filing fees

Fees below are from the SDAT fee schedule, last revised May 2024, and the 2026 Form 1 Annual Report instructions. Online filings carry an additional 3% technology fee on the total amount. Rush same-day processing is $325 online or $425 for in-person/dropbox submissions; a mid-tier 7–10 business day expedited option costs $50 for most charter documents. Non-expedited processing runs about 4–6 weeks for hand-delivered paper filings and 6–8 weeks for online filings. Verify current amounts at dat.maryland.gov before filing.

Filing	Fee
LLC — Articles of Organization	$100
LLC — Annual Report (due April 15)	$300
Stock Corporation — Articles of Incorporation	$120
Stock Corporation — Annual Report (due April 15)	$300
Nonstock Corporation (Nonprofit) — Articles of Incorporation	$170
Nonstock Corporation — Annual Report	No fee
Expedited processing, most charter documents (7–10 business days)	+$50
Rush same-day processing (online)	+$325
Rush same-day processing (in-person/dropbox)	+$425
Online technology fee (applied to all online transactions)	3% of total

Maryland's $300 annual report fee for for-profit entities is among the highest in the country. Nonprofits pay no annual report fee — a substantial advantage for registered nonstock corporations. The formation fee for nonstock corporations ($170) is higher than the LLC ($100) or stock corporation ($120) rate. Businesses enrolled in MarylandSaves may qualify for a full waiver of the $300 annual report fee — see below.

Key Maryland state licensing agencies

Agency	What it covers	Website
Maryland Comptroller — Revenue Administration Division	State tax registration, sales and use tax, income tax withholding, business tax accounts	marylandtaxes.gov
Maryland Department of Labor	Unemployment insurance registration, workers' compensation, contractor licensing, wage payment	dllr.state.md.us
Maryland Department of Commerce	Business permits, trade licenses, economic development programs, foreign investment	commerce.maryland.gov
Maryland Department of Health — Office of Health Care Quality	Healthcare facility licensing, provider certification, long-term care	health.maryland.gov/ohcq

Maryland Comptroller — Revenue Administration Division

What it covers: State tax registration, sales and use tax, income tax withholding, business tax accounts
Website: marylandtaxes.gov

Maryland Department of Labor

What it covers: Unemployment insurance registration, workers' compensation, contractor licensing, wage payment
Website: dllr.state.md.us

Maryland Department of Commerce

What it covers: Business permits, trade licenses, economic development programs, foreign investment
Website: commerce.maryland.gov

Maryland Department of Health — Office of Health Care Quality

What it covers: Healthcare facility licensing, provider certification, long-term care
Website: health.maryland.gov/ohcq

This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation or any state agency listed above. Contact information and fees verified against official Maryland SDAT sources, August 2026. The published charter fee schedule was last revised May 2024 — confirm all current amounts at dat.maryland.gov before filing. Verify current fees at the official state website. Last verified: August 2026.

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