A Maryland Certificate of Good Standing is issued by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, usually shortened to SDAT. Its Charter Division keeps company records, and orders go through Maryland Business Express, the same site that holds the entity search.
SDAT sets a wider test than many states. To be in good standing, a company must have every document and fee the law requires on file. On top of that, no other government agency can have told SDAT that the company is behind on taxes. For SDAT's other services, see the Maryland office guide.
What the Maryland certificate costs
The certificate costs $20. You order it online through Maryland Business Express, which links from the table below.
| What the state calls it | Certificate of Good Standing (dat.maryland.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Fee | $20 (dat.maryland.gov, checked ) |
| Where to order | businessexpress.maryland.gov (businessexpress.maryland.gov, checked ) |
SDAT also sells faster handling for an extra charge. Walk-in expedited service runs at the Baltimore office from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, at 301 West Preston Street, Room 801.
Ordering through Maryland Business Express
- Search the company in Maryland Business Express by business name, Department ID or EIN.
- Read the status line. It must say Good Standing.
- Copy the Department ID from the record, so the order matches the right company.
- Choose the Certificate of Good Standing and pay $20.
- Save the certificate and note its date for the person who asked for it.
Maryland status words and what they mean for you
SDAT uses three plain terms. Only the first lets you order a certificate.
Every status word Maryland uses is explained in our Maryland office guide.
Good Standing means the documents and fees are in, and no agency has flagged unpaid taxes. Not in Good Standing usually means the annual report, or an extension, was not filed. Forfeited follows when the company still does not catch up: its charter, or its right to do business in Maryland, is lost.
Getting back to good standing
Start with the annual report. Maryland combines it with the business personal property return on Form 1, due April 15 each year, or the next Monday when the date lands on a weekend.
A late personal property return adds a penalty of one tenth of one percent of the county assessment, plus interest. If the problem is a tax debt with another agency, settle it with that agency, then search the record again. Once it shows Good Standing again, place your order. For a forfeited company, ask the Charter Division at 410-767-1330 what it needs before you pay anything.
Who asks for a Maryland certificate
Banks use it when you open an account or take out a loan. Another state wants one when your Maryland company registers there as a foreign business. Buyers in a sale may ask too. Our general certificate of good standing guide explains what each of them checks.
Sources
- dat.maryland.gov/businesses/Documents/FEES.pdf: good standing certificate. Checked .
- dat.maryland.gov/businesses/documents/fees.pdf: certificate fee. Checked .
- businessexpress.maryland.gov/: certificate ordering. Checked .