Maryland business entity search and name check

In Maryland the business registry belongs to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), not a Secretary of State, and records are searched in Maryland Business Express. That search requires a bot-protection check, so we don't query it; we link you to it instead. Every Maryland LLC owes a $300 annual report by April 15, filed together with the Business Personal Property Return, even if the company has no Maryland property or activity.

Registry: Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Charter Division
Official search: Maryland Business Express - Business Entity Search
How we search Maryland: Official site only (we hand you off). Maryland Business Express asks every searcher to pass a bot-protection check, which we don't try to get around, so we link you to the official search.
What a result can tell you: Searching the official site shows names on record. Maryland decides acceptance when you file.
State fee to form an LLC: $100 (Articles of Organization)
Ongoing LLC filing: Annual Report & Business Personal Property Return (Form 1), $300. Due April 15 (the next business day if that falls on a weekend). A free 60-day extension is available for the personal property return

What the Maryland search covers

Corporations, limited partnerships, LLCs, LLPs, statutory trusts and trade names on file with SDAT.

Each record has a Department ID (SDAT ID) (for example W12345678). Search by number on the Maryland Business Express - Business Entity Search.

How to read Maryland results

Maryland uses its own status labels. We always show the official wording; here is what the common ones mean according to the state:

Status	What it means
Forfeited	The entity lost its right to do business in Maryland, for example because it didn't file its annual report. Source: dat.maryland.gov

A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.

Maryland business name rules

An LLC name must include one of: Limited Liability Company, LLC, L.L.C., LC, L.C..

The name must be distinguishable from the names of other active businesses on file with SDAT. (SDAT Articles of Organization instructions (Rev. 05/2026)) Source: dat.maryland.gov

Maryland doesn’t publish a list of the differences it ignores, so our check treats only capitalization and punctuation as insignificant and flags other close names as similar for you to judge.

Reserving a name in Maryland

Maryland lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $25.

File a Reservation of Name with SDAT, on paper or through Maryland Business Express.

Maryland name reservation

Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only SDAT can.

Forming an LLC in Maryland

Document: Articles of Organization
State filing fee: $100
Optional expedited review costs $50 more (7-10 business days). Same-day rush service costs $325 online or $425 on paper. Filing through Business Express adds a 3% service fee.
File online: SDAT filing
Processing: Standard online filings are reviewed within 6-8 weeks and paper filings within 4-6 weeks. Expedited filings take 7-10 business days, and same-day rush service is available.
Registered agent: A Maryland LLC needs a resident agent with a Maryland street address (not a P.O. box). The agent can be an individual or a business on file with SDAT, and must sign a consent to serve.
Out-of-state LLC registering here: $100 (Registration of a foreign LLC)

Fees change. Confirm them on the official Maryland fee schedule before you file.

File it yourself or use a service

File directly with Maryland

$100 state fee

You fill in the Articles of Organization yourself and pay only the state. You’ll need a registered agent with a Maryland street address; that can be you if you have one.

File with SDAT

Use a formation service

A service prepares and files the paperwork, and most can act as your registered agent and send compliance reminders. You still pay the state fee on top of their price, and the state still decides whether to accept your name.

Bizee: $0 plus the state fee (Basic); Standard $199, Premium $299, plus state fee
LegalZoom: $0 plus state fees (Basic); Managed Service $249 plus state fees
Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee
ZenBusiness: $0 plus the state fee (Starter); Pro $199 plus state fee, renews $199/yr

We don’t currently earn commissions from these providers. Prices from each provider’s site on Oct 30, 2026. We never send them your proposed name. Compare what each includes · Disclosure

An EIN (federal tax ID) is free from the IRS; you don’t need to pay anyone for one.

Keeping a Maryland LLC in good standing

Annual Report & Business Personal Property Return (Form 1): $300. Due April 15 (the next business day if that falls on a weekend). A free 60-day extension is available for the personal property return. Source: dat.maryland.gov

Business personal property reported on Form 1 may be subject to local personal property tax.

Every entity must file the annual report 'regardless of whether the business owns property, generates income or has conducted business activity in Maryland.' Late filings are charged a penalty after filing: for example, at least $30 and up to $500 if 1-15 days late, rising the later it is. Non-stock corporations pay no fee, and SDAT Certified Family Farms pay $100.

Proof of status: Certificate of Good Standing ($20). Source: dat.maryland.gov

Assumed names (DBAs)

Trade names are registered with SDAT. Filing costs $25, and amending or cancelling one also costs $25. Source: dat.maryland.gov

Good to know about Maryland

Maryland's business registry is run by the state tax assessor (SDAT), and the annual report is filed together with the Business Personal Property Return (Form 1). Source: dat.maryland.gov
Every LLC and stock corporation pays a $300 annual report fee due April 15, even if it has no Maryland property or business activity. Source: dat.maryland.gov
SDAT Department IDs are a letter plus 8 digits, and the letter shows the entity type: D for a Maryland stock corporation, F for an out-of-state corporation, W for a Maryland LLC, Z for an out-of-state LLC, M or P for limited partnerships, and A or E for LLPs. Source: dat.maryland.gov
A stock corporation pays $100 to file plus a $20 organization and capitalization fee when its total par value is $100,000 or less. Source: dat.maryland.gov
Standard online review can take 6-8 weeks. If you need it sooner, same-day rush filing costs $325 online or $425 on paper. Source: dat.maryland.gov

Sources and accuracy

We checked this page against official Maryland sources on October 30, 2026. Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.

Items we couldn’t confirm on an official page (3)

We couldn't confirm how long a Maryland name reservation lasts.
We couldn't confirm the full list of required corporation endings in state law (Corporations and Associations §2-106).
A 2022 proposal would have dropped the $300 annual report fee for online filers. We couldn't confirm whether it was enacted; the 2024 filing instructions still show $300.

See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only SDAT can change an official record.