Maryland SDAT business registration — contact, fees, and licensing

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 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
Charter filings phone	(410) 767-1340
Certificates of Status phone	(410) 767-1344
Trade names phone	(410) 767-1801
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

Entity formation and filing fees

Fees below are from the SDAT fee schedule, last revised May 2024. Online filings carry an additional 3% technology fee on the total amount. Rush same-day processing is $325 online or $425 for in-person submissions. Non-expedited online filings process in approximately 6–8 weeks. 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
Rush same-day processing (online)	+$325
Rush same-day processing (in-person)	+$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.

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

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, May 2026.