For immediate release:
May 19, 2015
Contact:
Jason Davidson
jason.davidson2@maryland.gov
410-767-5754
SDAT Wins Merit Award for Business Portal
- System Streamlines Process for Businesses to Submit Required Paperwork -
Baltimore, Md. (May 19, 2015) – The State Department of Assessments and Taxation is one of five government agencies, worldwide, to receive a Merit Award from the International Association of Commercial Administrators. The award was presented to SDAT for their commitment to streamlining processes and making government operations more efficient for business owners.
In the past, businesses owners needed to visit multiple agencies’ websites to file paperwork to start their business, create legal entities, establish trade names, and create tax accounts. In 2012, the Central Business Registration and Licensing Portal was launched, streamlining the process for business owners. After the CBL was created, business owners only had to visit one website to file all their paperwork with the respective agencies.
In 2014, updates were made to the CBL to allow businesses to submit Foreign LLC and Foreign Corporation filings. It also improved filing efficiency by cutting the number of screens needed to register, in half. The reduction in screen views will reduce the time spent filling out new registration forms. And the improvements also notify owners of any mistakes made in filling out the form, so the number of rejections will go down. As well as giving the owners instant verification of rejection or approval of forms.
“We are thrilled to receive this award from the IACA,” said Michael Griffin, Associate Director with SDAT. “I know there were many submissions from all over the world. So to be picked to receive this recognition, is truly an honor.”
Griffin also says, “The portal has greatly reduced the need for SDAT staff to physically process business applications, freeing up time for us to help more customers and work on other necessary duties.”
In addition to the benefits to Maryland business owners, there are numerous benefits to the State:
- Improves agency efficiency of administering government licensing and registration programs;
- State employees spend less time on data entry and processing the registration;
- Eliminates the time, expense, and risk of managing a conventional paper and postage based registration;
- Developed at no cost to the state under the Maryland Self-Funded eGovernment Services master contract (market value of $1.4 million); and,
- More than $7.3 million agency statutory fees processed and disbursed to the Department of Assessments & Taxation
In order to qualify for the IACA Merit Award, submissions must show effectiveness, originality, significance and transferability, and any lessons learned by the agency in the creation of their product.
The CBL Portal was developed at no charge for the State of Maryland by NIC Maryland, through the self-funded eGovernment services contract with the State Department of Information Technology (DoIT).
About NIC Maryland
NIC Maryland builds, operates, maintains, and markets the official website of the state of Maryland, www.maryland.gov and its eGovernment services. NIC Maryland is a collaborative public/private partnership managed by the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) and NIC Maryland. NIC Maryland helps Maryland state and local government entities web-enable their services and operates without tax funds through a Self-funded eGovernment Services contract. NIC Maryland has developed nearly 50 eGov services for the state of Maryland since the contract was awarded in August 2011.
About NIC
Founded in 1992, NIC (NASDAQ: EGOV) is the nation's leading provider of official government websites, online services, and secure payment processing solutions. The company's innovative eGovernment services help make government more accessible to everyone through technology. The family of NIC companies provides eGovernment solutions for more than 3,500 federal, state, and local agencies in the United States. Forbes has named NIC as one of the “100 Best Small Companies in America” five times, most recently ranked at No.11 (2013), and the company has been included four times on the Barron’s 400 Index. Additional information is available at http://www.egov.com
Follow SDAT on Twitter: @MD_SDAT and Facebook: Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation.
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MEDIA CONTACT: SDAT - Kim Frum 410-767-1142 (office), 410-585-4125 (cell)
NIC – Janet Grard 443-924-7405
