Maryland business formation and filing fees

Compare the costs of creating an LLC or corporation in Maryland, or registering a company formed elsewhere. The filing office is Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Charter Division.

Starting a company in Maryland

Domestic LLC filing fee

Maryland domestic LLC Articles of Organization cost $100.00 standard, with a $150.00 expedited option and same-day filing listed at $425.00 online or $525.00 paper/drop-box. Standard processing is stated as 6–8 weeks and expedited as 7–14 business days. The filing must include a Maryland resident agent who is an adult resident or eligible Maryland entity, a physical office, organizer, and required LLC information.

Domestic corporation filing fee

Maryland domestic corporation Articles of Incorporation have a $100.00 base filing fee plus an organization and capitalization fee starting at $20.00, making the ordinary minimum $120.00; expedited filing starts at $170.00 and increases with authorized-share par value. The corporation must state authorized shares, incorporator, Maryland resident agent and office, and statutory purpose information.

Registering a company formed elsewhere

For state registration, “foreign” can mean a company formed in another U.S. state. These fees are separate from creating a new Maryland entity.

Foreign LLC qualification

A foreign LLC registration generally carries a $100.00 base SDAT fee, with $150.00 expedited service in the current fee schedule. It must include proof of existence from the home jurisdiction, Maryland resident agent and office, entity jurisdiction and name, and any required personal-property or annual-report account information. The exact fee can vary by transaction type.

Foreign corporation qualification

A foreign corporation's qualification/registration generally uses a $100.00 base fee and $150.00 expedited amount in the SDAT schedule, subject to the specific filing. A home-state certificate of existence, Maryland resident agent and office, authorized-share data, and a distinguishable or registered Maryland name are required.

Maryland processing times

Maryland SDAT states standard LLC formation processing at 6–8 weeks, expedited service at 7–14 business days, and same-day service at $425 online or $525 paper/drop-box. The long queue makes completeness critical; a payment receipt is not an accepted charter. Appointments are required for in-person services, while rush drop-box service follows separate instructions.

Expedited filing options

Maryland lists $150 expedited LLC formation, $425 same-day online or $525 same-day paper/drop-box, and a general $425 expedited fee that must be added to base filing fees for many document types. Corporate organization/capitalization fees remain additional. The live Business Express screen controls eligibility and total; do not assume every amendment or annual report qualifies for same-day service.

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