Maryland Annual Report for LLCs: Form 1, Due April 15

Does Maryland require an LLC annual report?

Yes, every year, with no carve-out for small or dormant companies. The filing is Form 1, the Business Entity Annual Report, and it goes to SDAT, the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, since Maryland routes business filings there rather than through a Secretary of State. Foreign LLCs registered in the state file it too, property or no property.

When is it due?

April 15, annually. The window opens each January 1, and a free 60-day extension pushes the deadline to June 15 for anyone who requests it online through Maryland Business Express in time. The legal framework comes from Md. Code Tax-Property § 11-101 together with Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-203.

How much is the fee?

$300 flat, per entity, regardless of size. Paying online adds a 3% technology fee, so the card charge comes out around $309. One quirk worth checking: participation in the MarylandSaves retirement program can qualify a business to have the $300 waived.

Why does Form 1 keep mentioning personal property?

Because Form 1 is two filings sharing one document. The annual report portion is mandatory for every LLC. The Business Personal Property Return portion switches on only when Section III gets a yes: yes to owning, leasing, or using personal property in Maryland, or yes to holding a trader's or other local license. Two nos means the report portion stands alone. A single yes brings Sections IV through VIII into play. Section II, the officers-and-directors block, exists for corporations, and an LLC leaves it blank.

If property does get reported, the eventual tax bill is local. SDAT certifies an assessed value to your county, the county bills you separately, and the only payment riding with Form 1 remains the $300. One more oddity: financial institutions file Form 5 in place of Form 1.

What are the steps to file?

1. Pull up your SDAT ID and confirm the resident agent record still matches reality, since the report confirms what is on file.
2. Open Maryland Business Express, or print the paper package from SDAT's forms page if you prefer mail. Paper moves slower, with expedited paper handling taking around 7 to 10 business days.
3. Answer the two Section III property questions honestly; they alone decide whether the property return sections apply to you.
4. Submit with the $300 payment, plus the online technology fee if paying by card, or $325 for same-day online handling before 2:30 PM.
5. Keep the stamped confirmation somewhere you will find it next January.

What happens if it goes in late?

No flat state late fee is waiting for you. The financial sting arrives through the county assessment instead: an initial penalty equal to 1/10 of 1% of that assessment, with interest at 2% of the penalty accruing per 30 days. The existential sting is worse. Keep not filing and Maryland forfeits the charter, good standing evaporates, and a foreign LLC forfeits its right to do business here at all.

Anything else on the yearly checklist?

Three things that never appear on Form 1 but matter as much: keep a resident agent continuously on record with SDAT, keep company money separate from personal money, and keep up with federal obligations, from income tax to quarterly estimates if you expect to owe. Our registered agent customers get reminders before each April deadline, which is the cheapest insurance the compliance calendar offers.

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