Maryland Business Express
 
 
 
 
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POP-UPS FROM THE SITE. ​ 
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 Departmental Forms & Applications

​​​News and Announcements

Maryland Business Express - The Maryland Business Express site makes it easier for business owners and entrepreneurs to planstartmanage, and grow their business! This website combines information previously spread across many state agencies into one, easy-to-navigate site, while also providing a clear outline of the steps involved in starting a business.

  • Nearly all charter and personal property filings can be made online, and to do so please visit Maryland Business Express' Registrations and Filings Portal to register your business, order business documents, and file annual reports and personal property tax returns.
    • ​Any transaction that cannot be completed online can still be mailed in to to SDAT's offices. You may download those fo​rms using the links below.​
  • A $425 expedited service dropbox is available for Charter Filings. For more information please visit our business information​ page.​

NOTE: The applications and forms below are in PDF format. In order to use any of the individual forms, you must first download to your computer the form you wish to complete and open it using a PDF reader. Adobe offers a free PDF Reader here. If you do not download the form first and access it using a PDF reader program, your form will not save properly and you may lose all of your information. Opening a form in a browser window is not the same as​ downloading it first. Completing a form without first downloading it will not save your information.

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BUSINESS SERVICE FORMS

 

Note: Due to the fact that the laws governing the formation and operation of business entities and the effectiveness of a UCC Financing Statement involve more than filing documents with our office, we suggest you consult an attorney, accountant, or other professional. Our staff cannot act as consultants.

Most of the filing fees for these documents are included in the instructions. You may also view the filing fee schedule online.  

AFFIDAVIT FORM FOR ALLEGEDLY PROHIBITED CHARTER FILINGS 

AFFIDAVIT FORM FOR IMPROPER OR OUTDATED ADDRESSES CHARTER FILINGS

Create or Start a Business in Maryland 

Maryland Business Express is SDAT's award-winning online platform for registering and establishing businesses, making annual filings, and requesting document copies. Click here to see if the legal entity for your business can be created online.
 
Note: All entities are required to make annual filings in order to legally operate in Maryland (see below). Sign up here to receive timely email reminders to file these important documents.

Make Changes to an Existing Business 

 

End Cancel or Revive a Business 

 

Foreign (non-Maryland) Businesses

 When a non-Maryland corporation, LLC, LLP, LP, etc. makes an initial filing with SDAT that creates or reactivates an account, that filing must be accompanied by written proof of existence from the home state, generally the equivalent of a Certificate of Status.
 
Note: ​All entities are required to make annual filings in order to legally operate in Maryland (see below), including foreign (non-Maryland) businesses. Sign up here to receive timely email reminders to file these important documents.
 
 

UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE FILINGS

Email: SDAT.UCC@Maryland.Gov for questions regarding UCC filings.

Note: Under Maryland Criminal Law, a person who files in public records of the Department of Assessments and Taxations a lien or encumbrance against the personal property of another that is based on a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both for the first offense.

AFFIDAVIT FORM FOR ALLEGEDLY FRAUDULENT UCC FILINGS

 For more information, visit the UCC Financing Statement page.​
 

ANNUAL REPORTS & PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RETURNS

Email: SDAT.PersProp@Maryland.gov for questions regarding Personal Property Tax Return

The simplest and easiest method to file both the Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return is through Maryland Business Express (MBE), SDAT’s award-winning platform for creating a business, making annual filings, and requesting document copies online.  As you answer the prompts in filing the Annual Report electronically, MBE will automatically identify whether a Personal Property Tax Return is required.
Business owners may continue to submit their Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Returns by mail or file in person at our West Preston Street office in Baltimore City.

Note: Download these forms to your computer and open them using the free ​Adobe Reader, available online. You cannot use the extra features on these forms unless you do, and they may not print correctly if you do not. The forms below are coded to open in a new window, your browser may consider this action a pop-up. ​​

All business entities formed, qualified, or registered to do business in Maryland MUST file an Annual Report and, if they answer ‘Yes’ to either of the following questions, MUST ALSO file a Personal Property Tax Return. If this applies to your business entity, please file both the Annual Report and Business Personal Property Return together.

  • Does the business own, lease, or use personal property located in Maryland?
  • Does the business maintain a trader’s license with a local unit of government in Maryland?
Domestic & Foreign Corporations - LLC, LLP, LLLPs L​P, REIT and Statutory Business Trust, must file Form 1, (See Form 1 instructions below)

Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships must file a Form 2 Personal​ Property Tax Return 

Credit Unions must file a Form 3 Annual Report​

Financial Institutions, Banks, Savings Banks, Savings & Loans, and Trust Companies must file a Form 5 Annual Report​

Note: For entities with multi locations, only complete Section VI of Form 5 with the initial location reported. An additional Section V should be completed when reporting multi locations or branches. 

Rental Property (Condominiums, Townhouses, Cottages, Room Rentals, etc.) in Ocean City/Worcester County (Unincorporated) must file a Form 7 Personal Property Tax Return 

Form SD-1 – Supplemental Detail (NEW), used to report exemptions, expensed property, transfers in/out of Maryland​


To report the Transfer, Sale or Disposal of personal property, please download the form below
 Form 21 – Transfer, Sale or Disposal of ALL Tangible Personal Property


2023 Filings

​Please use the forms below to file 2023 annual reports and business personal property returns. You may also file most of these documents online Maryland Business Express.


2022 Filings

Please use the forms below to file 2022 annual reports and business personal property returns. You may also file most of these documents online Maryland Business Express.


2021 Filings

Please use the forms below to file 2021 annual reports and business personal property returns. You may also file most of these documents online Maryland Business Express.


2020 Filings

Please use the forms below to file 2020 annual reports and business personal property returns. You may also file most of these documents online through​ Maryland Business Express.


2019 and Prior Years' Filings

 


PROPERTY OWNERS & REAL PROPERTY DIVISION


GROUND RENT

 
For more information visit the Ground Rent program page
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TAX CREDITS

For Homeowners questions e-mail: sdat.homeowners@maryland.gov
For Renters questions email: sdat.renters@maryland.gov
For Homestead program questions e-mail: sdat.homestead@maryland.gov

You may also download the applications in a PDF format. Please be certain your computer has the ​free Adobe Reader​, or other PDF reader software available.
You may also download the applications in a PDF format. Please be certain your computer has the ​free Adobe Reader​, or other PDF reader software available.

REAL PROPERTY

Note: The applications below are in pdf format. Users will need to have pdf reader software installed on their computer in order to view, fill-out, download and print an application. Please be certain your computer has the ​free Adobe Reader​, or other PDF reader software available.

For further information, or to receive a particular form or questionnaire, contact your local Department of Assessments and Taxation office. Completed forms must be returned to the appropriate local assessment office. A  complete location list of local assessment offices can be found at  

Miscellaneous Forms

Exemptions Applications

Commercial Property Income Questionnaires

Apartment Building Hotel/Motel
Assisted Living Facility Marina
Campground Mobile Home Park
Cemetery Nursing Home
Commercial/ Industrial            Section 42 Tax Credit Property
Garage and Parking Lot Subsidized Housing
Golf Course Tenant List & Rent Schedule
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