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Maryland Business Express provides you with all the resources you need to start a business in Maryland. Select from the following:
Form the legal entity for your business with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
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What types of business filings can I create?
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Filing types currently accepted:
- Sole Proprietorship
- General Partnership
- Maryland Limited Liability Company
- Foreign (Non-Maryland) Limited Liability Company
- Maryland Stock Corporation
- Maryland Tax-Exempt Nonstock Corporation
- Maryland Close Corporation
- Foreign (Non-Maryland) Corporation
- For business filing types not currently accepted online, please visit the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation website for assistance.
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Filing types currently accepted:
Register a business ‘Trading As’ name with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
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Do I need to register a Trade Name?
- A Trade Name is a “doing business as” name, which may be different from the legal name of the business as registered with the State of Maryland. Registering a Trade Name is not mandatory, but is recommended if you are a Sole Proprietor or Partnership using a name other than the full legal name of the owner or owners, or a Corporation, Limited Partnership, or Limited Liability Company operating under a name other than the name registered with the State of Maryland.
- Please note that a Trade Name is not the same as a Trademark. For more information on how to register a Trademark in Maryland, refer to the Trademarks and Servicemarks FAQ.
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If you can answer YES to ANY of the following questions, then you may proceed to apply for a Trade Name.
1. Is the Trade Name needed for a specific license?
2. Will the Trade Name serve as a “doing business as” name under the legal entity name?
3. Will your trade name be different from your legal entity name?
» Business Entity Search, Certificate of Status & Document Order
Search business entities and order business documents, including Certificates of Status
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What type of documents filed online can be ordered?
- Documents may be Certified only, and may include Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization and Trade Names only. Receive documents immediately via email.
- A Maryland Certificate of Status may be required for loans, to renew business licenses, or for tax or other business purposes in Maryland or other states.
- Certificates of Status are NOT available for trade names, name reservations, sole proprietorships, government entities and some other business entities.
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What type of documents filed in-person, by postal mail or fax can be ordered?
- Documents may be Certified or Non-Certified, and may include Amendments, Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, Revivals, Trade Names, etc.
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Can I order a Certificate of Status?
- Yes. A Maryland Certificate of Status is a document issued by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation that provides evidence that a Maryland business (Corporation, LLC or LP) is authorized to transact business in the state of Maryland, and complies with all state business requirements.
- A Maryland Certificate of Status may be required for loans, to renew business licenses, or for tax or other business purposes in Maryland or other states.
- Certificates of Status are NOT available for trade names, name reservations, sole proprietorships, government entities and some other business entities.
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What do I need to download and print a Certificate of Status?
You will need:- The Business Name or Department ID number issued by SDAT for a registered business
- A credit card
- Verify Certificate(s) of Status
- Verify Authentication of Certified Copies
» File Personal Property Returns
File returns for any business, even those not registered through Maryland Business Express
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Do I need to file a personal property return?
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If any of the following conditions apply to your business, you will NOT be able to file your Personal Property Return online. You will need to submit paper forms:
- You created your business this year
- You have a foreign (out of country) mailing address
- Your business has multiple locations
- Your business had a location correction in the previous year
- Your business is not in good standing (a status of dissolved, merged or consolidated)
- Your business has a status of ‘Forfeited’, and the date the forfeiture took effect is beyond the current year or three years prior)
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If your business falls into one of the following categories, you will NOT be able to file your Personal Property Return online. You will need to submit paper forms:
- Government Entity
- General Partnership
- Financial Institution (Bank, Building & Loan, Credit Union etc.)
- Public Utility (Railroad, Utility Cooperative, Non-utility generator etc.)
- Co-operative (Non-stock)
- Cable company
- Rental Property in Worcester County (Unincorporated)
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If any of the following conditions apply to your business, you will NOT be able to file your Personal Property Return online. You will need to submit paper forms:
Establish your necessary tax accounts with the Comptroller of Maryland
Service Fee
This electronic government service includes a $3 eCheck fee or 3% service/convenience fee for filings with payment processed through Maryland Business Express. This fee is assessed by NICUSA, Inc., Maryland's eGovernment service provider, a third party working under a contract administered by the Maryland Department of Information Technology (DoIT). The service fee is used to develop, maintain, and expand the online service offerings of the state and is non-refundable. Accepted credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Customers not wishing to pay the service fee may file by paper with the Department of Assessments of Taxation.