Maryland SDAT business registration — contact & fees
Updated August 2026
Quick Answer
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.
Open Official Maryland Dept. of Assessments & Taxation Portal ↗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.
LLC — Articles of Organization
- Fee
- $100
LLC — Annual Report (due April 15)
- Fee
- $300
Stock Corporation — Articles of Incorporation
- Fee
- $120
Stock Corporation — Annual Report (due April 15)
- Fee
- $300
Nonstock Corporation (Nonprofit) — Articles of Incorporation
- Fee
- $170
Nonstock Corporation — Annual Report
- Fee
- No fee
Expedited processing, most charter documents (7–10 business days)
- Fee
- +$50
Rush same-day processing (online)
- Fee
- +$325
Rush same-day processing (in-person/dropbox)
- Fee
- +$425
Online technology fee (applied to all online transactions)
- Fee
- 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.
UCC filing, notary, and apostille services
SDAT handles UCC filings, but notary commissions and apostilles are issued by the separate Maryland Secretary of State's office, not SDAT:
- UCC search and filing — through SDAT: $25 for filings of 8 pages or fewer, $75 for 9 or more pages, plus a $2 certified search fee.
- Notary public commissions — a $25 application fee, handled by the Maryland Secretary of State (a separate office from SDAT).
- Apostilles and authentications — $5 per document, also through the Maryland Secretary of State, not SDAT.
Source: Maryland SDAT UCC page (egov.maryland.gov/SDAT) and Maryland Secretary of State notary/certification pages (sos.maryland.gov).
Key Maryland state licensing agencies
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
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Maryland's annual report fee?
Maryland charges $300 for most business entities' annual report — among the highest in the country. Nonprofits (nonstock corporations) file at no charge, and online filings add a 3% technology fee on top of the total.
How can I waive Maryland's $300 annual report fee?
Businesses that register for the state-run MarylandSaves retirement savings program, or 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. Confirm eligibility directly with MarylandSaves.
How much does rush same-day filing cost in Maryland?
Rush same-day processing costs $325 if filed online by 2:30 p.m., or $425 for hand-delivered or in-person filing. SDAT now also requires an appointment for in-person charter services, though no appointment is needed for the same-day rush dropbox.