To change an LLC name in Maryland, you file Articles of Amendment with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), pay a $100 filing fee, and then update the IRS, your bank, your insurers, and anyone else who has your business on file under the old name. The state filing is the easy part. The follow-through is where most owners lose time.
Do You Actually Need a Legal Name Change?
Your LLC’s legal name is the one on file with SDAT, and it has to include a designator like “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” If you only want a different name for signage, advertising, or invoices, a trade name (sometimes called a DBA) may be all you need. A Trade Name Application costs $25, runs for five years, and can be renewed during the last six months of that period.1Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. Trade Name Application
A trade name will not change the name on your contracts, tax returns, bank accounts, or Articles of Organization. For that, you need the amendment described below.
Pick a Name That Will Clear SDAT
Two rules govern the new name. It has to include an LLC designator, and it has to be distinguishable from every other entity already registered in Maryland.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Corporations and Associations 4A-208 – Name Check availability for free through the Maryland Business Express name search before you commit.3Maryland Business Express. Select a Business Name
If you found a name you want but aren’t ready to file, you can lock it in for 30 days by submitting a Corporate Name Reservation Application with a $25 fee.4Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. Corporate Name Reservation Application An LLC proposing a name change is expressly eligible to reserve a name this way.5Justia Law. Maryland Corporations and Associations Code 4A-209 – Reservation of Name; Transfer of Reserved Name
Get the Members to Approve It
Under Maryland law, amending the articles of organization requires unanimous consent of the members unless your operating agreement sets a different threshold.6Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Corporations and Associations 4A-204 – Amendment of Articles of Organization Single-member LLCs clear this automatically. Multi-member LLCs need every member’s signature or a specific operating-agreement provision that permits a lesser vote.
Put the approval in writing and note the exact date. SDAT’s form asks for the date members approved the change, and a rejected filing over a missing date or the wrong signer is a delay you don’t need.
Prepare and File the Articles of Amendment
Download the Articles of Amendment form from SDAT or complete it through Maryland Business Express.7Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. Articles of Amendment for a Limited Liability Company Instructions The form asks for:
- The current LLC name, exactly as it appears in SDAT’s records. A small mismatch will get the filing kicked back.
- The new LLC name, with the required designator.
- The date the members approved the amendment.
- The signature of an authorized person certifying that the amendment was properly adopted.6Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Corporations and Associations 4A-204 – Amendment of Articles of Organization
Confirm the new name matches your availability search and any reservation you filed. SDAT will reject the filing if the name lacks a designator or isn’t distinguishable from an existing entity.
You can file online through Maryland Business Express, which is faster, or by mail. If mailing, make the check payable to “SDAT” and send it to:
Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation
700 East Pratt Street, Suite 2700
Baltimore, MD 212028Maryland Business Express. Make Changes to Your Business
The standard fee is $100.9Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Corporations and Associations 1-203 – Fees Expedited processing adds $425. SDAT will either acknowledge the filing or return it with a note explaining what needs to be fixed.
Tell the IRS About the New Name
You keep your existing EIN. The IRS is clear that a name change alone does not require a new one.10Internal Revenue Service. When To Get a New EIN You do have to report the new name, and how you do that depends on how your LLC is taxed:11Internal Revenue Service. Business Name Change
- Multi-member LLCs taxed as partnerships check the name change box on the next Form 1065. If the current year’s return is already filed, a partner has to send a written notification to the IRS office where the return was filed.
- LLCs taxed as S-corps or C-corps check the name change box on the next Form 1120 or 1120-S. If the return is already filed, a corporate officer signs a written notification.
- Single-member LLCs treated as sole proprietorships send a written notice to the IRS office where the return is filed, signed by the owner or an authorized representative.
One thing not to do: don’t use Form 8822-B for a name change. That form covers business address changes and responsible-party changes, and while it’s required when your responsible party changes, it does not report a name change.12Internal Revenue Service. About Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party – Business
Update Everything Else That Carries the Old Name
State approval is the beginning. Anywhere your LLC does business under a name, that name has to be corrected, or you invite confusion, contract disputes, and coverage gaps.
Operating Agreement
Amend the operating agreement to reflect the new legal name and have all members sign the updated version. This is the document you’ll reach for in a contract dispute, a bank matter, or a lawsuit, and it should match the state record.
Banks and Insurance
Banks, credit card issuers, and payment processors will want a certified copy of the approved Articles of Amendment. Some also ask for the amended operating agreement or a resolution, so call ahead. Notify every insurance carrier promptly. A policy issued to your old name can create a coverage fight if a claim comes in under the new one.
Licenses and Permits
Every state and local agency that issued a license or permit to the LLC needs to be updated. Business licenses, professional licenses, health permits, and zoning approvals all reference the legal entity name, each agency has its own process, and some charge a fee.
Contracts and Vendor Agreements
Read your leases, vendor agreements, and loan documents for notice clauses. Many require written notice of material business changes within a set number of days, and a legal name change qualifies. Missing the deadline won’t void the contract, but it creates avoidable friction with landlords and lenders.
USPTO Filings
If your LLC owns federal trademarks, record the name change with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office through the Assignment Center. The USPTO charges $40 for the first mark in a filing and $25 for each additional mark in the same document.13United States Patent and Trademark Office. USPTO Fee Schedule – Current You’ll also update the owner name on pending applications and registered marks using the appropriate TEAS form for where the mark is in the process.14United States Patent and Trademark Office. Correcting the Owner Name in Online Forms Failing to record the change can delay prosecution and trigger an office action.
Stay in Good Standing After the Change
An LLC that files an amendment but falls behind on annual reports can still be forfeited by SDAT. After the name change is approved, use the new name consistently on your next annual report and any other state filings. If a bank, landlord, or out-of-state registration asks for a Certificate of Good Standing in the new name, you can request one from SDAT once the amendment has been processed.