How To Fill Out The Maryland Articles of Organization
The Maryland Articles of Organization is the official document filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation to establish a Limited Liability Company (LLC). After the filing is approved by the state, the business can officially begin operating and register for the necessary business licenses and permits.
To file the Maryland Articles of Organization, you will need to submit the completed LLC Articles of Organization Form SDAT to the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. The form can be completed and sent by mail or filed online.
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Let’s go over how to fill out the LLC Articles of Organization in Maryland. To get started, visit the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation’s website to download the Articles of Organization.
Step 1: Pick a Name for the LLC
The first step in filling out the Maryland Operating Agreement is to pick a business name.
There are a couple of requirements when choosing a Maryland LLC name.
1. The name of your LLC must not be too similar to the name of another business entity already registered with the state of Maryland. You can verify name availability by doing a Maryland LLC name search with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation to be sure the LLC name is available.
2. The name of the LLC must include one of the following entity identifiers at the end of the business name:
– Limited Liability Company
– L.L.C.
– LLC
– L.C.
– L C
Enter the LLC name including the identifier to continue. If you choose a name that is taken, the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation will return your application.
Step 2: Describe the LLCs Purpose
In this section, enter a brief description of what the business will do.
It is generally recommended that the business purpose is somewhat generic because if the business significantly changes over time, an amendment is supposed to be made to the Articles of Organization.
Step 3: Enter the LLC’s Address
The business address may be, but is not required to be, the actual place of the business to the physical street address, or the main location where the business records are kept.
A physical address must be used as P.O. Boxes are not allowed.
Step 4: Appoint a Resident Agent
One requirement to have an LLC in Maryland is to appoint a Maryland resident agent (called a registered agent in many states). The resident agent is a party that is physically located in the state of Maryland that will receive important notices and service of process (which means to accept papers that start a lawsuit) on behalf of the LLC.
Provided the LLC member lives in the state of Maryland, they may act as the resident agent or the agent can be an adult resident of the state or resident agent service.
To complete the filing of the LLC, the resident agent must also sign the Articles of Organization.
Related: Should you be the resident agent?
Step 5: Enter the Filing Party’s Return Address
Enter a mailing address for the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation to return the filed Articles of Organization.
This address can be a PO Box.
You’ve filed your Maryland LLC Articles of Organization! Now what?
After the LLC is officially filed with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, there are a few additional things to follow up on. Below is a list of some of the tasks to consider.
Prepare a Maryland LLC Operating Agreement
The operating agreement is an internal document that covers items like ownership rights, profit and loss distribution, member responsibilities, and more.
Maryland Statute § 4A–402 states that an LLC Operating Agreement is optional. Despite the Operating Agreement not being required, it is recommended to have one as it can help to prevent disputes among members and protect the LLC’s legal status.
Related: How to Create a Maryland Operating Agreement
Obtain an EIN
The EIN or Employer Identification Number (also called a Federal Employer Identification Number or FEIN) is a unique 9-digit tax identification number that is assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The EIN will be needed before filing business tax returns, opening a bank account, hiring employees, registering for business licenses and permits, and more.
Related: How to Apply for an EIN
