Maryland Business Express -
The Maryland Business Express site makes it easier for business owners and entrepreneurs to plan, start, manage, and grow their business! This website combines information previously spread across many state agencies into one, easy-to-navigate site, while also providing a clear outline of the steps involved in starting a business.
- Nearly all charter and personal property filings can be made online, and to do so please visit
Maryland Business Express' Registrations and Filings Portal to register your business, order business documents, and file annual reports and personal property tax returns.
- Any transaction that cannot be completed online can still be mailed in to to SDAT's offices. You may download those forms using the links below.
- A $425 expedited service dropbox is available for Charter Filings. For more information please visit our
business information page.
NOTE: The applications and forms below are in PDF format. In order to use any of the individual forms,
you must first download to your computer the form you wish to complete and open it using a PDF reader. Adobe offers a free PDF Reader
here. If you do not download the form first and access it using a PDF reader program, your form will not save properly and you may lose all of your information. Opening a form in a browser window is not the same as downloading it first. Completing a form without first downloading it will not save your information.
BUSINESS SERVICE FORMS
Note: Due to the fact that the laws governing the formation and operation of business entities and the effectiveness of a UCC Financing Statement involve more than filing documents with our office, we suggest you consult an attorney, accountant, or other professional.
Our staff cannot act as consultants.
Most of the filing fees for these documents are included in the instructions. You may also
view the filing fee schedule online.
AFFIDAVIT FORM FOR ALLEGEDLY PROHIBITED CHARTER FILINGS
AFFIDAVIT FORM FOR IMPROPER OR OUTDATED ADDRESSES CHARTER FILINGS
Create or Start a Business in Maryland
Maryland Business Express is SDAT's award-winning online platform for registering and establishing businesses, making annual filings, and requesting document copies.
Click here to see if the legal entity for your business can be created online.
Note: All entities are required to make annual filings in order to legally operate in Maryland (see below).
Sign up here to receive timely email reminders to file these important documents.
Make Changes to an Existing Business
End Cancel or Revive a Business
Foreign (non-Maryland) Businesses
When a non-Maryland corporation, LLC, LLP, LP, etc. makes an initial filing with SDAT that creates or reactivates an account, that filing must be accompanied by written proof of existence from the home state, generally the equivalent of a Certificate of Status.
Note: All entities are required to make annual filings in order to legally operate in Maryland (see below), including foreign (non-Maryland) businesses.
Sign up here to receive timely email reminders to file these important documents.
UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE FILINGS
Note: Under Maryland Criminal Law, a person who files in public records of the Department of Assessments and Taxations a lien or encumbrance against the personal property of another that is based on a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both for the first offense.
AFFIDAVIT FORM FOR ALLEGEDLY FRAUDULENT UCC FILINGS
ANNUAL REPORTS & PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RETURNS
The simplest and easiest method to file both the Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return is through
Maryland Business Express (MBE), SDAT’s award-winning platform for creating a business, making annual filings, and requesting document copies online. As you answer the prompts in filing the Annual Report electronically, MBE will automatically identify whether a Personal Property Tax Return is required.
Business owners may continue to submit their Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Returns by mail or file in person at our West Preston Street office in Baltimore City.
Note: Download these forms to your computer and open them using the free Adobe Reader, available online. You cannot use the extra features on these forms unless you do, and they may not print correctly if you do not. The forms below are coded to open in a new window, your browser may consider this action a pop-up.
All business entities formed, qualified, or registered to do business in Maryland MUST file an Annual Report and, if they answer ‘Yes’ to either of the following questions, MUST ALSO file a Personal Property Tax Return. If this applies to your business entity, please file both the Annual Report and Business Personal Property Return together.
- Does the business own, lease, or use personal property located in Maryland?
- Does the business maintain a trader’s license with a local unit of government in Maryland?
Domestic & Foreign Corporations - LLC, LLP, LLLPs LP, REIT and Statutory Business Trust must file a
Form 1 (see the Form 1 Instructions below)
Sole Proprietorships and General Partnerships must file a
Form 2 Personal Property Tax Return
Credit Unions must file a
Form 3 Annual Report
Financial Institutions, Banks, Savings Banks, Savings & Loans, and Trust Companies must file a
Form 5 Annual Report
Note: For entities with multi locations, only complete Section VI of Form 5 with the initial location reported. An additional Section V should be completed when reporting multi locations or branches.
Rental Property (Condominiums, Townhouses, Cottages, Room Rentals, etc.) in Ocean City/Worcester County (Unincorporated) must file a
Form 7 Personal Property Tax Return
To report the Transfer, Sale or Disposal of personal property, please download the form below
Form 21 – Transfer, Sale or Disposal of ALL Tangible Personal Property
2022 Filings
Please use the forms below to file 2022 annual reports and business
personal property returns. You may also file most of these documents online Maryland Business Express.
2021 Filings
Please use the forms below to file 2021 annual reports and business
personal property returns. You may also file most of these documents online Maryland Business Express.
2020 Filings
Please use the forms below to file 2020 annual reports and business
personal property returns. You may also file most of these documents online through Maryland Business Express.
Prior Years' Filings
Use the forms below to file annual reports and personal property returns for years prior to 2020. You may also file most of these documents online through Maryland Business Express
PROPERTY OWNERS & REAL PROPERTY DIVISION
GROUND RENT
TAX CREDITS
You may also download the applications in a PDF format. Please be certain your computer has the
free Adobe Reader, or other PDF reader software available.
You may also download the applications in a PDF format. Please be certain your computer has the
free Adobe Reader, or other PDF reader software available.
REAL PROPERTY
Note: The applications below are in pdf format. Users will need to have pdf reader software installed on their computer in order to view, fill-out, download and print an application. Please be certain your computer has the free Adobe Reader, or other PDF reader software available.
For further information, or to receive a particular form or questionnaire, contact your local Department of Assessments and Taxation office. Completed forms must be returned to the
appropriate local assessment office.
A complete
location list of local assessment offices can be found at
Miscellaneous Forms
Exemptions Applications
Commercial Property Income Questionnaires