Maryland Corporation Foreign Qualification

What is a Maryland Foreign Corporation?

A foreign Maryland Corporation is an INC originally formed in another state that registers to do business in Maryland. The process of registering a foreign Corporation in Maryland is called foreign qualification. Foreign qualification is used to register a foreign company so that it may transact business in the state of Maryland. There are a few requirements when filing an application for registration in Maryland.

 

How to Register A Foreign Corporation in Maryland

Foreign Corporation Requirements

  1. Corporation Name
  2. Original Formation
  3. Addresses
  4. Resident Agent
  5. Business Begin Date
  6. Certificate of Good Standing

Corporation Name

The Corporation name that matches your Certificate of Good Standing will be used to file for Foreign Corporation Qualification.

Original Formation

List the home state of original formation of the Foreign Corp applying to do business in Maryland.

Addresses

Record the current address of the Foreign Corporation.

Resident Agent

A name and address of a Resident Agent or also known as a Registered Agent in Maryland is mandatory. The agent will accept service of process in Maryland and notices from the Department of Assessments and Taxation.

Business Begin Date

State whether the business has or has not done business in Maryland before this filing was turned in for processing.

Certificate of Good Standing

The filing for Foreign Corporation Qualification must include a Certificate of Good Standing from the original state no older than 60 days of issued document life.

 

How to File a Maryland Foreign Corporation Qualification Document

Steps to Maryland Corporation Foreign Qualification:

  1. Your first step is selecting a name for your corporation to use within the State. The name you choose must be distinguishable from all other entity names already registered. You can do a business entity name search to check for current availability of corporate names.
  2. To register a foreign corporation, you file a Foreign Corporation Qualification form with the Department of Assessments and Taxation. There is a $100 filing fee (plus $50 for online filings). You can file this form online, or you can mail it or fax it to the DAT. You must include with the filing a copy of a current Certificate of Existence from your home jurisdiction.
  3. A resident agent in Maryland must be appointed on your Qualification. A resident agent accepts official business mail on behalf of your corporation, such as service of process and tax notifications.
  4. Once the Qualification is delivered, processing will take up to eight weeks or more. You can expedite the filing by paying an additional $50 expedite fee. Online filings are automatically expedited. For mailed or faxed filings, expedite will ensure the document is processed within seven business days.

 

Foreign Corporation Registration Quick Facts

 

Can I Conduct Business in Maryland Before Qualifying?

No. Any entity transacting business in the state with first qualifying with the DAT will be fined $200. This includes any business done after a qualification/registration has been cancelled.

 

What is a Certificate of Existence?

A Certificate of Existence (also called a Certificate of Good Standing) is a document issued by your home state or jurisdiction, usually by the Secretary of State. It serves as proof that your corporation exists in another jurisdiction and is currently in good standing (has paid all of its taxes).

 

Maryland Resident Agent Responsibilities

A Maryland resident agent is required to:

  • Have a physical street location within the State, known as a registered office
  • Maintain regular business hours throughout the year
  • Accept service of process and official business mail on behalf of clients
  • Contact clients when documents are accepted
  • Forward all documents to clients in a timely manner

 

Annual Personal Property Tax Return

After registration, you will need to submit an Annual PPT each year. The deadline is April 15. The filing fee is $300. Corporations filing late will be charged a fine. Failure to file a PPT can result in a loss of authority to conduct business in Maryland.

 

Why Hire Corporate Filing Solutions to Form Your Maryland Foreign Corporation?

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