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How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Maryland

Maryland calls it the Certificate of Status and charges $20. Here is how to order it and what must be current first.

At a glance

Document name
Certificate of Status
State fee
$20
Online ordering
Yes
Typical turnaround
Same-day online with $20 expedite ($40 total)
Issuing office
Maryland SOS ↗

How to order it

  1. Clear any past-due filings first. The Maryland SOS will not issue a certificate while you have unpaid tax or an unfiled report. The state-specific requirements are in the points below.
  2. Order it online. Search your LLC in the Maryland portal, request the certificate, and download it. Link in the table above.
  3. Pay the $20 fee. Pay by card at checkout. A small card surcharge usually applies.
  4. Use it inside the recipient's window. The certificate has no state expiration, but banks and other states usually want one dated within the last 30 to 90 days. Order it close to when you need it.
Full ordering details for Maryland

Maryland issues a Certificate of Status (the state term for Certificate of Good Standing) through the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), not the Secretary of State. The base fee is $20; expedited processing adds $20 ($40 total) and is strongly recommended because standard mail processing takes 3-4 weeks. Order online through Maryland Business Express (egov.maryland.gov/businessexpress) - select Business Entity Search, Certificate of Status and Document Order. The Annual Report/Personal Property Return ($300 for LLCs, due April 15) must be current. Late filing adds a $100 penalty. Maryland does not issue certificates to entities with a lapsed resident agent, missing Personal Property returns, or unpaid penalties.

Processing and expedited tiers: Same-day online with $20 expedite ($40 total); standard mail 3-4 weeks

Important to know about Maryland

  • Maryland is issued by SDAT (State Department of Assessments and Taxation), NOT the Secretary of State. This is unusual and trips up out-of-state service providers.
  • Standard (non-expedited) processing takes 3-4 WEEKS. Always pay the $20 expedite fee for a total of $40 - otherwise delays can derail foreign-filing deadlines.
  • The Annual Report/Personal Property Return fee is $300 for LLCs (due April 15), one of the highest in the country. Missing April 15 triggers $100 penalty and eventually forfeiture of good standing.
  • Maryland Business Express credit card payments add a 3% service fee. eCheck adds $3. Paying by mail (check to "State Department of Assessments and Taxation") avoids these surcharges.
  • Some businesses qualify for the MarylandSaves annual report fee exemption - check eligibility before renewing. This only waives the $300 annual report fee, not the Certificate of Status fee.

Ordering this to register in another state?

A certificate of good standing is what a new state asks for when you register your Maryland LLC to do business there. Start with the guide for where you are expanding.

Maryland foreign LLC guide · Foreign qualification by state

Related guides

This page provides general information based on publicly available Maryland Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Names, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the Maryland SOS before ordering.