File Maryland Articles of Organization with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). File an Annual Report each year. Form 1’s property questions determine whether you must also report business personal property, such as equipment and inventory.

This guide covers forming a new Maryland LLC. If your LLC already exists in another state or country, use the foreign-registration process instead.

Maryland LLC at a glance

Business name check
Search business namesA name search does not reserve or approve the name.
Formation document
Articles of Organization
State filing fee
$100The base LLC filing charge is $100. Expedited or rush service and the online payment technology charge can add to the total.
Processing time
OnlineNon-expedited: 6–8 weeksPaperNon-expedited: within 8 weeksAgency processing information. Expedited review is generally 7–10 business days; rush options and charges differ. Mail transit is additional. Check the live processing page.
Ongoing report or tax
Annual Report / applicable personal-property filing
Report / renewal charge
$300SDAT describes a $300 standard annual-report fee for most entities. Check approved MarylandSaves waivers and the personal-property return requirements for the business.
Frequency / due date
Annually, generally April 15
Sales tax base rate
6%July 1, 2026 snapshot; not an address-specific rate. General rate for ordinary taxable sales; exemptions, special products and local rules can change the result.Official tax agency ↗
Names in formation records
No management roster requiredThe standard articles require the resident agent and authorized-person signatures, not a membership roster. Review later annual filings separately. Other filings and private bank/tax records may identify owners.

Before you file in Maryland

Prepare the name, Maryland principal office, consenting resident agent and authorized signer.

Search business names ↗

File the Articles of Organization

Maryland business filings ↗

  1. Start domestic LLC articles in Maryland Business Express or download the SDAT form.
  2. Enter the office and agent details and complete the required signatures.
  3. Choose standard or faster processing, review the full charge and submit. Save the approved articles and SDAT department ID.
Hand-drawn path from choosing a name to filing the LLC and organizing the next steps.
Prepare, file, then complete the post-approval tasks.

What to enter in the form

Principal office
Use the Maryland office address requested by the articles.
Resident agent
Name the eligible Maryland agent and get the required consent.
Signature
An authorized person signs the articles; the agent’s consent is a separate part of the form.
Online total
Expedited/rush handling and the online technology charge can add to the base fee.

Formation form or legal requirements ↗

After approval in Maryland

  • Add the usual April 15 annual-report deadline to your calendar and keep records of business property used in Maryland.

Annual Report / applicable personal-property filing

2026 Maryland Form 1 ↗

  1. Open the LLC’s annual filing in Maryland Business Express or use that year’s Form 1.
  2. For 2026 Form 1, Section IV asks whether the business owns, leases or uses Maryland personal property, including inventory, with an original cost of $20,000 or more. If yes, include the property sections the form requires.
  3. If below that amount but the business disposed of property previously reported or assessed, complete the disposal schedule required by Section IV. If both answers are no, follow the form’s instructions for omitting the property portion.
  4. Sign and submit the annual filing and fee. A MarylandSaves fee waiver does not remove the filing requirement.

Compare the filing cycles in our annual report and recurring-fee table.

Next steps: operating agreement · get an EIN · starting checklist.

Sources and filing links

Sources checked . Confirm the state’s current fees and instructions before filing.

Research and walkthrough references

These references provide background and filing walkthroughs. Follow current state instructions if an older walkthrough differs.

See our editorial policy for the research process and contact page for correction information.