How to Form a C Corporation in Maryland

Introduction

Being your own boss is a dream many people share. But it’s also a lot of work! If you’re worried about all the legal and financial aspects of forming a corporation, you’ll be happy to know that registering a business in Maryland is fairly easy. Here’s what you need to do:

Step 1

To begin, you’ll need to register with the state. You’ll do that by filing articles of incorporation, which are essentially a business’s birth certificate. The process is fairly straightforward and can be done online from your local Secretary of State’s office website (here). Once those documents are filed, you’ll also need to file a statement of information and make your first tax payment before being granted official C-Corp status.

Once you’re ready to go, here are some other important things to keep in mind:

Step 2

• Sign and file the Articles of Incorporation with the state. The filing fee is $150, but you can file it online for a reduced rate of $100 (which we recommend). You’ll also need to submit an email address as part of this process, so be sure to have one handy!
• File the Articles of Organization with the state. This will cost you $50 and must be filed within 90 days after your initial filing date. Check out our article on “How Do C Corporations Work?” for more on how these are different from LLCs or S Corporations.
• File the Certificate of Incorporation with the state. The fee for this is only $10, so it’s worth doing right away if you already paid for all three other documents above!
• File your Certificate of Amendment when necessary, which costs just $15 per amendment (and another small fee for each shareholder who signs off).

Step 3

Once the paperwork is complete and filed, the next step is to pay your filing fee. The amount varies depending on what type of entity you’re forming, so be sure to check with the state before submitting your application. Once that’s done, you can file your certificate of incorporation with the state (if required) and move forward with forming a corporation!

Step 4

• File the Articles of Incorporation with the State of Maryland.
• File the Certificate of Incorporation with the State of Maryland.
• File a Certificate of Formation with the State of Maryland (optional).

Step 5

• File your Articles of Incorporation. You’ll need to file these with the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation (DAT).
• File your Tax Registration Certificate. This is a one-time filing that registers the business with the state, allowing it to be taxed as an entity separate from its owners for tax purposes. You can choose to have this done automatically by filling out a form at DAT’s website and giving them all of your information or you can mail in a copy with some extra paperwork.* File your Corporate Bylaws . If you’re incorporating as an LLC or limited partnership, then keep reading! Otherwise, skip down to step 5.* File your Certificate of Good Standing . This shows that your company has been active in Maryland for at least 90 days prior to completing this step

Registering your corporation is fairly simple, but you should be sure to keep all your documents in order.

Registering your corporation is fairly simple, but you should be sure to keep all your documents in order. To do so, you’ll need to file an annual report, as well as federal and state tax returns.

You’ll want to file for a Federal Tax ID number (FEIN or EIN) before registering the business. The FEIN or EIN serves as a unique identifier for your company; it’s also used on any official forms or filings that you submit to the IRS or state.

Conclusion

Forming a C corporation in Maryland can be a great way to start or expand your business. It may seem like a lot of paperwork, but if you follow the steps outlined above, it will go smoothly. The most important thing to remember is that you need to make sure your business is registered with the state before starting any operations.