In Short: Maryland LLC Annual Report
Maryland combines the LLC annual report with a business personal property tax return. Every LLC files Form 1 with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) by April 15 and pays a $300 fee.
- Who files: every Maryland LLC and every foreign LLC registered in Maryland, even with no property or activity.
- Due date: April 15 each year, for entities on SDAT’s records as of January 1.
- Fee: $300 for domestic and foreign LLCs.
- Personal property: LLCs with Maryland business personal property costing $20,000 or more also complete the property return sections.
- If you never file: the LLC forfeits its Maryland existence or its right to do business in Maryland.
Maryland’s annual report is two filings in one. Form 1 is both the Annual Report that keeps the LLC on the state’s books and the Business Personal Property Return that SDAT uses to assess tax on furniture, equipment and inventory. Every LLC files the annual report part. Only LLCs with taxable property in Maryland above the threshold complete the property part.
This guide covers who files, the April 15 deadline, the $300 fee, the personal property question, how to file through Maryland Business Express, and what happens if you file late.
Maryland LLC Annual Report at a Glance
| Official name | Annual Report and Business Personal Property Return (Form 1) |
|---|---|
| Filed with | Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) |
| Who files | Every Maryland LLC and every registered foreign LLC |
| Filing cycle | Every year |
| Due date | April 15 |
| Fee | $300 |
| Property return | Required when Maryland business personal property has an original cost of $20,000 or more |
| Late filing | Penalty and interest billed by SDAT |
| Not filing | Forfeiture of the LLC’s charter or right to do business in Maryland |
Who Must File a Maryland Annual Report?
According to the 2026 Form 1 instructions, the Annual Report is required of every entity on SDAT’s records, including LLCs that own no property and had no activity during the year. Foreign LLCs registered to do business in Maryland file it too. The filing applies to entities formed, qualified or registered as of January 1 of the filing year, so an LLC formed in 2026 files its first report by April 15, 2027.
When Is the Maryland Annual Report Due?
Form 1 is due April 15 each year. SDAT processes the annual report and the property return together, so missing the date affects both.
How Much Does the Maryland Annual Report Cost?
The filing fee for LLCs is $300, the same for domestic and foreign LLCs. It is one of the higher annual LLC fees in the country, and it does not change with the LLC’s size or income. Any personal property tax is billed separately by the county or city where the property sits, based on SDAT’s assessment.
The 2026 Form 1 includes a checkbox related to MarylandSaves, the state’s retirement savings program, that can waive the 2026 filing fee for eligible businesses. Read the form’s instructions to see whether your LLC qualifies before you pay.
Do You Need to File the Personal Property Return?
The personal property sections apply if the LLC owns or leases business personal property in Maryland, such as furniture, fixtures, tools, machinery, equipment or inventory, with an original cost of $20,000 or more. SDAT raised this threshold in the 2026 form. An LLC below the threshold, including most online and service businesses run from outside Maryland, answers the property question and skips those sections.
If an LLC that should report property does not, SDAT can issue an estimated assessment, set at twice the estimated value of the property.
What Information Does Form 1 Ask For?
- The business name, mailing address and SDAT Department ID number.
- The federal EIN and the six-digit principal business code.
- The nature of the business and an email address.
- Answers to the entity-type and diversity questions in Section III.
- Whether the LLC has Maryland business personal property with an original cost of $20,000 or more, and the property details if it does.
- The signature of an authorized person. LLCs skip the corporate officer section.
How to File the Maryland Annual Report: Step by Step
- Find your SDAT Department ID. It appears on the LLC’s record in SDAT’s business entity search.
- Sign in to Maryland Business Express. Online filing is the fastest way to file Form 1.
- Start the Annual Report for the filing year and enter the Department ID.
- Complete the business details and answer the personal property question.
- Complete the property sections only if the LLC meets the $20,000 threshold.
- Sign and pay $300, then save the confirmation.
Paper filers mail Form 1 with payment to SDAT’s Business Services Unit at the P.O. box listed on the form.
What Happens If You File Late or Not at All?
A late Form 1 draws a late filing penalty and interest, which SDAT bills after it receives the return. Do not include an estimated penalty with a late filing. Wait for the bill.
An LLC that does not file at all faces forfeiture. The 2026 Form 1 states that failure to file results in forfeiture of the Maryland charter for a domestic entity, or of the right to do business in Maryland for a foreign one. A forfeited LLC loses its good standing and cannot get a Maryland certificate of good standing until it files every missing report and pays what it owes.
Keep Your Maryland LLC in Good Standing
Filing the LLC Annual Report on time is what keeps your LLC listed as active with the state. Banks, payment processors and new partners ask for proof of that status, and the document that shows it is a Maryland certificate of good standing. For the full picture of what the state charges each year, see our breakdown of Maryland LLC costs, and if you have not formed the company yet, start with our guide on how to start an LLC in Maryland.
Most missed filings trace back to one problem: the state’s reminder went to an old address. A registered agent service that scans and forwards state mail closes that gap. If a deadline has already passed, our guide on what happens when you miss an annual report deadline walks through the fix, and our LLC annual report guide for every state covers the rules in other states where you are registered.
Form Your Maryland LLC With BusinessAnywhere
BusinessAnywhere forms your Maryland LLC for $0 plus the state filing fee, includes a free first year of registered agent service so state notices reach you, and gets the EIN for non-residents without a Social Security number for $97.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Maryland LLC annual report due?
April 15 each year. LLCs on SDAT’s records as of January 1 file Form 1, the Annual Report and Business Personal Property Return, by that date.
How much is the Maryland LLC annual report fee?
The fee is $300 for domestic and foreign LLCs. Personal property tax, if any, is billed separately by the local jurisdiction.
Does my LLC need to file a personal property return in Maryland?
Only if it has Maryland business personal property with an original cost of $20,000 or more, the threshold in the 2026 form. Every LLC still files the annual report part of Form 1.
Does an inactive Maryland LLC need to file?
Yes. SDAT requires the Annual Report from every entity on its records, even with no property or activity.
What happens if a Maryland LLC does not file the annual report?
SDAT bills a late penalty and interest for late filings, and an LLC that does not file at all forfeits its charter or its right to do business in Maryland.
Where do I file the Maryland annual report?
Online through Maryland Business Express, or by mail to SDAT’s Business Services Unit using Form 1.
This guide summarizes rules published by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation and Maryland law as of October 2026. It is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees and forms change, so confirm the current figures on the official site before you file.
