A Maryland Certificate of Good Standing, officially called a Certificate of Status, costs $20 and can be ordered in minutes through the Maryland Business Express portal, provided your entity is current on every filing and payment owed to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). The certificate itself is easy to get. Qualifying for it is where most businesses run into trouble.
What the Certificate Proves
The certificate is a snapshot from SDAT confirming that, as of the date and time it was issued, your business has met every filing and payment obligation required by state law. It verifies that all annual reports have been submitted, all penalties and fees paid, and a resident agent’s name and address are on file. It also confirms that no other state agency has notified SDAT that your entity is delinquent on taxes.1Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. How to Get a Certificate of Status
It doesn’t say anything about whether your business is profitable, insured, or free of private lawsuits. It only tells whoever requested it that Maryland considers your entity legitimate and compliant at that moment.
When You’ll Need One
Banks, lenders, and licensing agencies are the most common requesters. You’ll likely need one when opening a business bank account, closing on a loan, or applying for a business license or permit renewal.1Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. How to Get a Certificate of Status Companies expanding into other states need one as well, because most states require a home-state good standing certificate before registering your business as a foreign entity.
SDAT sets no official expiration date, but most banks and agencies want a certificate dated within the last 60 to 90 days. A copy you ordered six months ago for a deal that fell through will almost certainly be rejected for the next one.
Who Is Eligible
SDAT issues certificates to corporations (stock and non-stock), LLCs, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and statutory trusts. If your entity is one of these and current on its obligations, you qualify.
Some registrations are not eligible at all. SDAT does not issue certificates of status for trade names, name reservations, sole proprietorships, government entities, or special entities such as public utilities.1Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. How to Get a Certificate of Status If you operate a sole proprietorship under a trade name, this certificate simply doesn’t apply to you.
Check Your Status Before You Order
Before paying anything, look up your entity using the Business Entity Search on Maryland Business Express.2Maryland Business Express. Business Entity Search You can search by business name, Department ID, or Employer Identification Number. The General Information tab shows your current good standing status. The Filing History tab shows any actions other state agencies have taken against your business.3Maryland Business Express. Maintain Good Standing Status
Three things typically block a certificate:
- Unfiled annual reports. Every Maryland entity must file a Form 1 Annual Report with SDAT by April 15 each year. For 2026, most entity types pay a $300 filing fee; non-stock corporations file for free. If your business owns or uses personal property in Maryland with an original cost of $20,000 or more, you must also complete the personal property return sections of Form 1.4Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. 2026 Form 1 Annual Report and Business Personal Property Return
- Unpaid penalties. Late annual reports trigger penalties starting at $30 for reports 1 to 15 days late, $40 for 16 to 30 days, and $50 for anything over 30 days, with additional penalties accruing at 2% of the initial penalty for every 30 days the report remains outstanding.
- A missing resident agent. Your entity must have a current resident agent name and address on file. If your agent resigned or moved without updating the records, your request will be denied.5Legal Information Institute. Maryland Code Regs. 18.04.03.01 – Criteria to Maintain Good Standing with the Department
A less obvious block is action by the Maryland Office of the Comptroller or the Department of Labor. If either has flagged your entity for tax delinquency or another issue, SDAT can show your business as not in good standing even when your annual reports are current. The Filing History tab will show these actions. To resolve one, contact the Comptroller’s office at 410-260-7980.3Maryland Business Express. Maintain Good Standing Status
How to Order
Online
The fastest route is ordering through Maryland Business Express.6Maryland Business Express. Maryland Business Express Search for your entity, then select the option to order a Certificate of Status. If your business is fully compliant, the certificate is typically available right away as a digital document. Online authentication is built in, so anyone who receives your certificate can verify it on the SDAT website using a verification link.1Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. How to Get a Certificate of Status
By Mail
You can send a written request to SDAT’s Charter Division. Include your entity’s full legal name, Department ID, and a check or money order payable to “State Department of Assessments and Taxation.” Mail it to:
State Department of Assessments and Taxation
Charter Division
700 East Pratt Street, Suite 2700
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Standard mail processing takes several weeks. Add $20 for expedited processing if you need faster turnaround.1Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. How to Get a Certificate of Status
In Person
SDAT’s office is at 123 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202.7Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. SDAT Business Information The building lobby has drop boxes for filing submissions. Same-day service is available for a higher fee.
Fees
The base fee is $20, whether ordered online or by mail.8Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Corporations and Associations Article 1-203 Expedited processing adds another $20.1Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. How to Get a Certificate of Status Same-day service carries a higher premium. Mail requests must include a check or money order; online orders accept credit cards.
The Comptroller’s Certificate Is a Different Document
Maryland has two documents that both get called a “good standing certificate,” and confusing them is common. The SDAT Certificate of Status covers your entity’s formation and filing compliance. The Comptroller of Maryland issues a separate Good Standing Certificate confirming your business is current on state tax obligations. Some transactions, particularly loan settlements and certain license applications, require both.
The Comptroller’s certificate has its own request process and takes roughly 7 to 14 business days.9Comptroller of Maryland. State of Maryland Good Standing Certificate Request Form Unlike the SDAT version, it carries an explicit expiration date of six months from issuance. If the party asking for your “good standing certificate” wants proof of tax compliance rather than entity status, the Comptroller’s office is where to go.
If Your Business Isn’t in Good Standing
You can’t get a certificate until the underlying compliance issues are fixed. Ignoring the problem has consequences beyond a missing document. If your business stays out of compliance, Maryland will eventually forfeit your entity’s charter. A forfeited business can’t legally operate in the state and loses the right to use its business name.3Maryland Business Express. Maintain Good Standing Status For domestic corporations, forfeiture means the business has no legal existence under Maryland law.10Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. Entity Status Definitions
In practice, a forfeited entity can’t enter enforceable contracts, maintain lawsuits, or conduct business in Maryland. Owners who keep operating one may face personal liability for business debts. This happens more often than you’d expect when annual reports quietly go unfiled for a few years.
Reinstating a Forfeited Entity
If your business has already been forfeited, you’ll need to file Articles of Reinstatement (or a Certificate of Reinstatement for LLCs, LPs, and LLPs) before you can request a Certificate of Status. The reinstatement form requires the entity’s name at the time of cancellation, the name it will use going forward, a Maryland principal office address (no P.O. boxes), and a resident agent’s name and address.11Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. Guide for Reinstatement of Maryland LPs, LLCs, and LLPs
SDAT won’t process the reinstatement until whatever caused the forfeiture is resolved. That usually means filing all overdue annual reports and paying accumulated penalties. If your entity reported owning tangible personal property in Maryland, more steps apply:
- Submit any outstanding personal property returns to SDAT for assessment.
- Take those assessments to the county or city where the property is located.
- Pay the personal property tax owed.
- Obtain a tax clearance certificate from that county or city. SDAT will not accept a payment receipt as a substitute.
The base reinstatement filing fee is $100 for standard processing, which takes six to eight weeks. Expedited processing within 7 to 10 business days costs $150 total. Same-day processing is available at $325 additional for online filings or $425 additional for documents delivered to the office.11Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. Guide for Reinstatement of Maryland LPs, LLCs, and LLPs Reinstatement filings can be submitted online through Maryland Business Express, mailed to the Charter Division at 700 East Pratt Street, Suite 2700, Baltimore, MD 21202, or hand-delivered to drop boxes at 123 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202.
Once SDAT processes the reinstatement and restores your entity, you can order the Certificate of Status through the normal process.