Charter Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find the resident agent and other information about a company in Maryland?
What is the fee for registering a business or other document filings?
Where do I send the documents or my request for copies?
How do I register to do business in Maryland if my company was formed in another state?
How can I find the officers and directors of a corporation?
What is a certificate of status (good standing) and how can I get a certificate?
Why is my business not in Good Standing or Forfeited
How can I get a list of new corporations?
How can I check the status of my filing?
How can I get a copy of a document filed with SDAT?
What do I need to do to start a new business?
How can I contact the Charter Division?
How can I get a Tax Id number or a FEIN?
How can I find the officers and directors of a corporation?
For officers and directors of a corporation, send $1 with a request for the most recent annual report (form 1). Add $20 for expedited service, making sure both the envelope and request letter say "Expedited Service Requested."
Make your check payable to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation and mail to:
Charter Unit
State Department of Assessments and Taxation
301 West Preston Street, Room 801
Baltimore, MD 21201You may fax requests for expedited service to (410) 333-7097. We accept MasterCard or Visa. Include your full 16-digit account number, the CRV Number from the credit card is also required, the expiration date, the name exactly as it appears on the card, and your signature to authorize the charge. Note expedited service requests will be charged the expedited fee noted above.
Where do I send the documents/request?Make your check payable to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation and mail to:
Charter Division
State Department of Assessments and Taxation
301 West Preston Street, Room 801
Baltimore, MD 21201You may fax requests for expedited service to (410) 333-7097. We accept MasterCard or Visa. Include your full 16-digit account number, the CRV Number from the credit card is also required, the expiration date, the name exactly as it appears on the card, and your signature to authorize the charge. Click here to view a schedule of fees for filings and other Charter services.
How can I get a list of new corporations?SDAT provides copies of its data sets through a contractor, Specprint, Inc. You can obtain prices, formats, production schedules, etc. from Specprint, by contacting Joe Jenkins at (410) 561-9600.
How can I check the status of my filing?We cannot provide information about the status of filings unless they are unusually late. The turn around period to receive your confirmation can take eight weeks or more. If you have not heard from us by then, and you cannot find information about your filing through our online database, please contact us again by e-mail at sdat.charterhelp@maryland.gov.
You may check the status of your filing online by searching the database before contacting the division.
Information we require to check recent submissions includes: (1) was this expedited or regular service, (2) what form was filed (Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Organization, Etc.), (3) what is the exact name of the entity (ABC, INC), (4) the date you mailed it or faxed it and( 5) was a check included and if so, what was the amount of the check? NOTE: These will not be addressed until after 5 business days for expedited work. We are not able to look up the status of regular non-expedited filings.
How can I find the resident agent and other information about a company in Maryland?
- Go to the Business Services search database
- Choose the Business Entity Information
- Select the General info link
How can I get a copy of a document filed with SDAT?Most documents filed after 2001 are available online in the Business Data Search system.
1. Go to the Business Services search database
2. Choose the Business Entity Information search link
4. Enter the name or Department ID number
5. The documents are in pdf and can be accessed under the AMENDMENTS link.
6. Select the eye icon. ( If there is a line through the eye you must order copies and they will be mailed to you. )For mailed copies of corporate documents, there is a fee of $1 per page. For expedited service, add $20 and indicate "expedited service requested" on the envelope and on the letter requesting the copies. For certified copies, add $20 for the first copy and $1 for each additional copy of the same document. Make your check payable to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (or SDAT).
Mailing address:
State Department of Assessments and Taxation
Corporate Charter Unit
301 West Preston Street, Room 801
Baltimore, MD 21201You may also have a representative use the walk-in expedited service at our office listed above. Your request will be processed the same day; this service is available from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
You may fax your requests for expedited service to (410) 333-7097. We accept MasterCard or Visa. Include your full account number, the CRV Number from the credit card is also required, the expiration date, the name exactly as it appears on the card, and your signature to authorize the charge. All faxed request are handled as expedited. You may use our Corporate Charter Fax Cover Sheet for fax request. The turnaround time for regular mailed service request is about 21 business days and within seven business days for expedited request.
What do I need to do to start a new business?Many questions about how to start a new business in Maryland can be answered by using the Department of Commerce's Business website at http://commerce.maryland.gov/start
How can I contact the Charter Division?
Email: sdat.charterhelp@maryland.gov
Outside the Baltimore Metro area