Maryland Annual Report Service & Filing Instructions

How to File Your Maryland Annual Report

In order to successfully file your Maryland Annual Report, you’ll need to complete the following steps:

1. Determine your business’s due date and filing fee.
2. Submit your report online OR download a paper form.
3. File your report and fee with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation.

Maryland Annual Report Due Dates and Fees

Late Fees: Your business will be charged 0.001% of your total property tax OR the base penalty, whichever is greater. In addition, 2% interest will continue to accrue for each month you’re late. Below, is a chart that breaks down the base penalty fee.

Filing Your Maryland Annual Report

The Maryland Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return can be filed online or by paper.

To File Online:

• Go to the Maryland Business Express login page.
• If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to create one by clicking “Create Account.”
• After logging in, click the “Start a New Filing” tab. Scroll down the drop-down menu and select “File Annual Report/Personal Property Tax Return.”

To File by Paper:

• Go to the Departmental Forms & Applications page.
• On the left side of the screen, click the “Business Personal Property” link. This can be found under the heading “Forms.”
• Click the “2020 Form 1 – Annual Report & Personal Property Tax Return” link. You can also click “2020 Form 1 – Instructions” for more detailed instructions for how to complete the report.

Here is a list of what you’ll need to include, update, and/or verify on your Maryland Annual Report:

• Business name.
• Principal address. You can’t change your business’s address by filing an annual report. If you need to update this information, you must file a Resolution to Change a Principal Office/Address form. There is a $25 filing fee.
• Department ID number. You can easily find your ID number by searching the Maryland Business Database.
• Business FEIN.
• Brief statement of purpose.
• Business email address.
• Director/officer names.
• Signature, address, email, and phone number of person filing the annual report.

To determine if you need to file a Personal Property Tax Return, you’ll also answer a few questions about business transacted and sales made in Maryland. Essentially, if your business owns, leases, or uses personal property in the state of Maryland OR maintains a trader’s license with a local unit of government, you will be required to fill out the Personal Property Tax Return – Section 5 of the annual report.

(Note that if your business has gross sales in the state but does not report personal property, you’ll be required to provide an explanation on the tax return. If using another business’s personal property, you’ll have to provide their name, location and Maryland ID number.)

On the tax return, you’ll repeat much of the contact information from your Maryland Annual Report. You’ll also need to include the following on your tax return:

• Dates business was conducted in Maryland.
• Fiscal year start and end dates, if applicable.
• Your business’s total gross sales OR amount of business transacted in Maryland during the previous year.
• The physical location of all personal property within the state of Maryland.
• The original cost of each piece of furniture, fixture, tool, and/or equipment and the year acquired.
• Average monthly inventory and inventory open/close dates
• Average monthly manufacturing and R&D inventories
• Supplies cost average

Your total personal property tax will be determined by the assessed value of your business’s property multiplied by the tax rate for the county in which the property is located.

If you choose to file online, the filing fee must be paid by credit card. All credit card payments will assessed an additional 3% of the total amount due. Mailed submissions must include a check or money order.

Need a hassle-free way of filing state-mandated reports? Want to stop worrying about late fees, potential penalties, or forgetting to file? Hire Northwest Registered Agent to file your Maryland Annual Report for you!

How Our Maryland Annual Report Service Works

For $100 plus the state-mandated report fee, we’ll file your annual report. For most domestic businesses, that’s $400 total. If you are required to file a property tax return, we will send you the completed annual report for you to add the tax information. Then, we’ll submit your report for you.

• You can sign up for this service by itself or add it on to an existing service. Compliance service is also automatically added when you hire us to provide your registered agent service or form your Maryland LLC, Maryland corporation or Maryland nonprofit.

• Once you’ve signed up for our business renewal service, you’ll pay nothing up front. We’ll send you a reminder 90 days before your filing due date and auto-charge your preferred method five days later.

Annual Report Service Benefits

At Northwest Registered Agent, we’re committed to protecting our clients’ privacy. Maryland Annual Reports are public record, so we’ve designed our annual report service to protect your privacy. Here’s how:

1. In order to preserve your privacy, we will list OUR contact information instead of yours.

2. Only the minimum required information will be included.

3. We will list our IP address – limiting the connection between your cell phone, personal computer, and work computers – this makes it harder for advertisers to follow you.

4. We will list our bank and credit card information – not yours.

We believe everyone has the right to keep their information private. That’s why privacy is our guiding principle when we create every service and product.

Maryland Annual Report FAQ

Are there initial reports in Maryland?

No, new businesses in Maryland are not required to file initial reports.

How long does it take to process a Maryland Annual Report?

• Annual reports from businesses in good standing: 3-5 business days.
• Business Personal Property Tax Returns with no or minimal personal property: 7-10 business days.
• Complex and/or first time online filings: Up to 90 days.

Who can file a Maryland Annual Report?

Anyone who is authorized may sign your Maryland Annual Report. This could be someone within your Maryland business (such as a director or manager) or someone outside the business that you hire to file on your behalf. When you hire Northwest Registered Agent for business renewal service, we complete and file the Maryland Annual Report for you.

Do Maryland Annual Reports need original signatures?

Yes! The state of Maryland requires all annual reports and tax returns to be filed with original signatures and documents.

Where can I get more information about the State of Maryland Annual Report filing?

Department of Assessments and Taxation, Charter Division
PO Box 17052
Baltimore, MD 21297-1052
T: (410) 767-1340
Email: [email protected]

Hire Us To File Your Maryland Annual Report