How to search Maryland records
- Search Business Express by name or Department ID; the first letter of the ID indicates the entity type (for example, W for LLCs).
- The record shows filing history and the status "Forfeited" when annual reports go unfiled.
- Download good standing certificates directly from the entity page.
Open the official Maryland search
Maryland SOS, corporation and LLC search
Maryland Secretary of State Business Search
Maryland does not keep its business register in a Secretary of State office. People who type "Maryland Secretary of State business search" are looking for the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) and its Maryland Business Express Entity Search. It is free to search by name or department ID, and the step-by-step instructions above walk through it.
Maryland Entity Search
An entity search of the Maryland business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because Maryland expects an annual report and personal property return yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Maryland Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "MD sec of state corp search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Maryland LLC Lookup
Run the Maryland LLC lookup with the exact name, then note the department ID. Forming a Maryland LLC costs $100 and the annual report and personal property return is $300. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
Maryland Business Name Search
A Maryland business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Maryland lets you hold a name for 30 days for $25. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names. Maryland trade names are filed with SDAT and appear in the Maryland Business Express search.
SDAT Business Entity Search
Maryland's register sits with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, which also receives business personal property returns. The SDAT search on Maryland Business Express is the page people mean by a Maryland Secretary of State business search. For other checks, see the business verification checklist.
Maryland Tax ID Lookup
A Maryland tax ID can mean the federal EIN from the IRS or a state account number from the Maryland tax agency for sales or payroll tax. Neither appears in the business entity record. The EIN lookup covers the federal number; the state tax agency confirms its own accounts.
Why a tax agency runs the register
Maryland is the only state where business entities are registered by its tax assessment agency, the State Department of Assessments and Taxation. That explains two Maryland quirks: the annual report is combined with a business personal property return, and every record has a Department ID that begins with a letter showing the entity type, such as W for LLCs.
Maryland filing facts
| Record number | Department ID |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $100. Articles of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report and personal property return, $300, yearly |
| Due | April 15 |
| Name reservation | $25 for 30 days |
| Agency phone | 410-767-1184 |
What a Maryland LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $100 | $0 | $100 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $300 | $300 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $300 | $300 |
| Three-year state total | $700 | ||
The $300 report and forfeiture
The annual report costs $300 and is due April 15, even for an LLC that owns no personal property, which makes Maryland one of the more expensive states to keep a small LLC. Entities that stop filing are forfeited, and the name can then be used by someone else. Good standing certificates can be downloaded directly from Maryland Business Express. Before you pay a Maryland company, use how to verify a business, and check whether its name was ever forfeited using the claiming a business name steps.
Reviving a forfeited Maryland entity
A forfeited Maryland entity can be revived by filing the missing annual reports and the articles of revival, but the name may have been taken in the meantime. If you are buying a Maryland business, download its good standing certificate from Business Express and check that the Department ID on the certificate matches the one on your contract.
How Maryland compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $100 | $300 | Yearly | $25 |
| Delaware | $110 | $300 | Yearly | $75 |
| Virginia | $100 | $50 | Yearly | $10 |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7 | Yearly | $70 |
Before you rely on a Maryland result
- The $300 annual report fee applies to most entities, including LLCs that own no personal property.
- Maryland forfeits entities after missed annual reports, and the name can then be used by others.
Bulk Maryland business data
Not offered.
Searching beyond Maryland
Registries next to Maryland: Delaware business search, Virginia business search, Pennsylvania business search.
Maryland business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maryland?
The state filing fee is $100. Articles of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $300 a year in state fees.
When is the Maryland annual report due?
Maryland calls it the annual report and personal property return. It costs $300, it is filed yearly, and it is due April 15.
Can I reserve a business name in Maryland?
Yes. A name reservation costs $25 and holds the name for 30 days.
What does the letter in a Maryland Department ID mean?
It identifies the entity type. LLC IDs begin with W, for example, which helps you confirm what kind of entity a record describes.
Is the Maryland business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Maryland Business Express Entity Search costs nothing. The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Maryland?
The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). Its business line is 410-767-1184, and its free search is the Maryland Business Express Entity Search.
What number identifies a business in Maryland?
Maryland assigns each entity a department ID. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Maryland businesses?
No bulk download is offered. Individual records can still be searched for free.
Sources
Data Updated Recently