Maryland LLC Annual Report: Due Date, Fee and What Happens If You Miss It
Maryland LLCs file a Annual Report with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), every year. The state fee is $300. File Form 1 and pay the $300 fee by April 15 each year, or by June 15 if SDAT granted a timely extension request. Late filing penalties under Md. Tax-Property 14-704 are based on the county assessment (up to 1/10 of 1%), with a minimum of $30 (1 to 15 days late), $40 (16 to 30 days late) or $50 (more than 30 days late), a $500 cap on the initial penalty, and an extra 2% of the penalty for each 30-day period it stays unfiled. SDAT may abate for good cause.
How the Annual Report works in Maryland
Maryland does not send LLCs to the Secretary of State for their yearly filing. Instead, every LLC files Form 1, the Annual Report and Business Personal Property Return, with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) by April 15. The $300 fee is due even if the LLC owns nothing, earns nothing in Maryland and was inactive all year. Form 1 also serves as the personal property tax return: if the LLC has furniture, equipment or inventory in Maryland, SDAT assesses it and the county later bills the tax. If the answer to every property question is no, only the annual report portion is needed. An extension to June 15 is available but must be requested by April 15 online. Late penalties are calculated from the property assessment, with minimums of $30 to $50. An LLC that still has not filed the prior year's report after September 30 is forfeited by proclamation.
First report: The first Form 1 is due April 15 of the year after formation, because the report covers entities in existence on January 1 of the filing year.
When your Annual Report is due: worked examples
| If the LLC was formed | The report is due |
|---|---|
| March 15, 2026 | April 15, 2027 (first), then every April 15 |
| August 20, 2026 | April 15, 2027 (first), then every April 15 |
| December 5, 2026 | April 15, 2027 (first), then every April 15 |
Next statewide deadline after October 30, 2026: April 15, 2027. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, check whether Maryland moves it to the next business day.
If you miss the deadline
- Late filing penalties under Md. Tax-Property 14-704 are based on the county assessment (up to 1/10 of 1%), with a minimum of $30 (1 to 15 days late), $40 (16 to 30 days late) or $50 (more than 30 days late), a $500 cap on the initial penalty, and an extra 2% of the penalty for each 30-day period it stays unfiled. SDAT may abate for good cause.
- An LLC that has not filed the prior year's annual report is certified by SDAT after September 30 and its right to do business and use its name is forfeited by proclamation. Status first shows as Not in Good Standing, then Forfeited.
- Fixing a dissolved or forfeited LLC is covered in our Maryland LLC reinstatement guide.
How to file the Maryland Annual Report
- File online through Maryland Business Express (BusinessExpress.Maryland.gov) using the LLC's SDAT Department ID (domestic LLC IDs begin with W), or mail the fillable Form 1 with a check payable to SDAT showing the Department ID.
- Filed or paid alongside it: Form 1 doubles as the business personal property return. If the LLC owns or leases business personal property in Maryland, SDAT assesses it and the county or Baltimore City bills personal property tax separately.
- Official filing page: file with the state
What Maryland charges over five years
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing fee | $100 |
| Annual Report fees, years 1-5 | $1,500 |
| State filing fees, five years | $1,600 |
Counts only the formation fee and the Annual Report fee. Form 1 doubles as the business personal property return. If the LLC owns or leases business personal property in Maryland, SDAT assesses it and the county or Baltimore City bills personal property tax separately. Registered agent service, if you use one, typically adds $100 to $300 a year.
Maryland compared with nearby states
| State | Filing | Fee | Due | Late fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | Annual Report | $300 | April 15 each year | See rules |
| Virginia | Annual Registration Fee | $50 | End of anniversary month | $25 |
| Washington, D.C. | Biennial Report | $300 | April 1 each year | $100 |
| Delaware | None | $400 tax | - | - |
| Pennsylvania | Annual Report | $7 | September 30 each year | See rules |
| West Virginia | Annual Report | $25 | June 30 each year | $50 |
Mistakes Maryland owners make
- Skipping Form 1 because the LLC had no Maryland property or income, even though the $300 fee applies regardless of activity.
- Filing the annual report with the Secretary of State instead of SDAT, which is the agency that administers it.
- Missing the April 15 cutoff for an online extension request and then owing graduated late penalties.
- Answering the personal property questions incorrectly, which can trigger an assessment and a county tax bill later.
Maryland LLC annual report: questions
Does my Maryland LLC owe the $300 fee if it did no business?
Yes. SDAT's instructions state that the annual report fee is owed whether or not the LLC owns property, earns income or conducts business in Maryland. An inactive LLC still files Form 1 and pays the $300 by April 15, and simply answers the personal property questions accordingly.
Can I get more time to file Form 1?
SDAT can extend the due date to June 15. The request must be made electronically by April 15 or on paper by March 15, and a paper request requires a $20 fee. An extension delays the filing, not the obligation, and the full $300 fee is still due with the report.
What is the penalty for filing Form 1 late?
Maryland's penalty under Tax-Property 14-704 is tied to the county assessment, but it has minimums of $30, $40 or $50 depending on whether the report is 1 to 15, 16 to 30, or more than 30 days late, capped at $500, plus 2% of the penalty for each additional 30-day period.
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gca§ion=1-203&enactm
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gca§ion=4A-911&enact
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gca§ion=4A-912&enact
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gca§ion=4A-915&enact
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gca§ion=4A-920&enact
- mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gtp§ion=14-704&enact
- dat.maryland.gov/SDAT%20Forms/PPR_Forms/2024_Form1_Instructions.pdf
- dat.maryland.gov/Documents/Accessible%20Documents/Charter%20-%20Resource%20Docs/
Related: How to start an LLC in Maryland · Reinstating a Maryland LLC · Annual report fees in every state · LLC costs compared
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Last reviewed October 30, 2026 against the sources listed above. Figures marked † could not be confirmed on an official page; check them with the state before relying on them. General information, not legal or tax advice.