For immediate release:
October 7, 2021
SDAT Releases Enhanced Processing Speeds for Online Business Filings
Customers Able to Choose Processing Speeds including Same Day Service; Upgrades Support Surge in Maryland Entrepreneurial Growth
BALTIMORE, MD -
The Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) today announced the release of an upgraded online filing system that gives customers even greater flexibility when submitting their business filings on the award-winning
Maryland Business Express website. Certain filing types will now allow for either one, two, or three different processing speeds – Rush, Expedited, and Non-expedited – giving a more customized approach to the online filing process, and when requested, immediate review of important business documents.
“Filing online continues to be the most convenient option for our customers, and SDAT is pleased to offer these latest upgrades to Maryland Business Express as we continue to identify new and exciting ways to deliver the best service possible to the public,” said SDAT Director Michael Higgs. “Customers can now request immediate review, or a less expensive filing speed, matching all of the options they have when filing by paper but with the added efficiency of filing online.”
As a result of the online filing system upgrade, Rush filings may now be submitted online for an additional $425 fee. All Rush Filings received by 2:30 p.m. on business days will be reviewed within three hours of submission. Rush filings submitted after 2:30 PM or during non-business hours, or that are resubmitted after a rejection, will be reviewed the next business day, if not sooner. Expedited filings can be submitted for an additional $50 fee and will be reviewed within 10 business days. Non-expedited filings may now be submitted online as well for no additional filing fee and will be reviewed within 6-8 weeks of submission. Once approved, acknowledgement emails will be sent and customers can see the approval in their online account. In some instances acknowledgement letters will not be sent until the following business day.
Over the past year, the department has witnessed a dramatic surge in Maryland business activity, and these options provide a greater level of service for those customers. Compared to the prior year, from July 2020 through June 2021 there has been a 57% increase in new business registrations and a 39% increase in total business filings. May 2021 marked a new milestone with 470,784 legal entities being registered and in good standing with SDAT. The use of online services also increased dramatically, and now more than 94% of all business transactions are completed online. Today’s new online service offerings address one of the final reasons why customers may want to file online, but previously could only do so by paper.
“These impressive numbers show that despite hardships that were unfortunately faced by businesses as a result of the pandemic, entrepreneurship is booming, and Maryland is open for business,” said Director Higgs. Although many more filings have two of the three services available, the following filings are able to be made using Rush, Expedited, and Non-expedited options:
- Registering a Close Corporation
- Registering a Maryland Stock Corporation
- Registering a Maryland Tax-exempt Non-stock Corporation
- Registering a Maryland Religious Corporation
- Registering a Foreign Corporation
- Reinstating a Maryland Limited Liability Company
- Cancelling a Maryland Limited Liability Company
The department expects to make all three services available for all filing types in the near future.
In addition to the new processing speed upgrade, Maryland Business Express launched
15 new features in April 2020 that made it significantly easier for businesses to get back into “good standing” status, a requirement necessary for many types of Coronavirus-related relief.
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