Maryland calls the registered agent a resident agent, and filings go to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) rather than a Secretary of State. Every Maryland LLC must have a principal office in Maryland and a resident agent. To change agents, file a Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent with SDAT; the fee is $25 as of October 2026.
The agent can be a Maryland resident or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership, but not your own company. For most owners our recommendation is Mainstay Filing at $149 a year. Below are the rules, costs and steps.
Updated October 2026.
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Best Registered Agents in Maryland (2026)
Here are our top picks for registered agent service in Maryland, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Maryland registered agent services below it are options if you only need an agent.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Registered agent service with a flat renewal price | $149/year (renews at $149) | Registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost) |
| 2 | MD Registered Agent.org | Maryland registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Maryland Registered Agent.co | Maryland registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Maryland. It costs $149/year (renews at $149) and covers registered agent service in all 50 states; switching from another agent included (state change fee at cost). The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. MD Registered Agent.org
MD Registered Agent.org is a Maryland registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Maryland Registered Agent.co
Maryland Registered Agent.co is a Maryland registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Maryland resident agent: quick facts
| Topic | Maryland (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Official term | Resident agent |
| Filing agency | State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Charter Division |
| Who can serve | An individual residing in Maryland, or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership |
| Can the LLC be its own agent? | No |
| Address | Maryland address; no P.O. box or virtual office |
| Change of resident agent | $25 (SDAT fee schedule) |
| Articles of Organization | $100 (optional $50 expedite) |
| Annual report | $300, due April 15 (Form 1) |
What does a Maryland resident agent do?
The resident agent is the person or company authorized to accept service of process and official notices for your LLC. When someone sues a Maryland company, the papers go to the resident agent at the address on file with SDAT.
The agent’s details are public in the Maryland Business Express entity search. Keeping the agent and principal office accurate is the simplest way to make sure legal papers reach you instead of sitting at an old address.
Who can be a resident agent in Maryland?
Corporations and Associations § 4A-210 states that each Maryland LLC shall have a principal office in Maryland and a resident agent. Section 1-101 defines a resident agent as an individual residing in Maryland, or a Maryland corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership, whose designation is filed with the Department.
- An individual who lives in Maryland and is at least 18. SDAT’s form instructions describe this as a citizen of Maryland who resides in Maryland.
- A Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership in active status. SDAT’s form mentions an active Maryland corporation; the statute is somewhat broader.
Your LLC cannot serve as its own resident agent. The agent needs a real Maryland address where legal papers can be delivered, not a P.O. box or a virtual office, and should be available during normal business hours.
Foreign entities as agents
Note what the Maryland definition leaves out: a corporation or LLC formed in another state is not listed, even if it is registered to do business in Maryland. If you hire a commercial agent, confirm that the entity listed as your resident agent is a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership, or an individual Maryland resident.
How much does it cost to change a resident agent in Maryland?
SDAT charges $25 to file a Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent, according to its fee schedule. The same filing can update the principal office, the resident agent, or both.
| Maryland filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent | $25 |
| Articles of Organization (LLC) | $100 |
| Optional expedited service | $50 |
| Annual Report and Personal Property Return (Form 1) | $300 |
Online payments through Maryland Business Express add a 3% service fee.
How to change your resident agent in Maryland
- Pick a qualifying agent: a Maryland resident or a Maryland corporation, LLC or LP. Confirm its Maryland address.
- Complete the resolution using SDAT’s Change Principal Office or Resident Agent form, or file through Maryland Business Express.
- Confirm the new agent has agreed to serve and has given you its exact legal name and Maryland address.
- Sign for the LLC as an authorized person.
- Pay the $25 fee, plus $50 if you want expedited processing.
- Confirm the update in the entity search and notify your former agent.
Commercial agents usually complete and file the resolution as part of onboarding.
Questions to ask before you hire an agent
- Is the entity that will be named as resident agent a Maryland corporation, LLC or LP?
- Is the Maryland address a staffed office rather than a mail drop?
- How will served documents reach you, and how will you be told something arrived?
- What is the renewal price, and does the provider file the $25 change for you?
Clear answers to these questions matter more than a small difference in price, because the agent’s job is to make sure nothing important is missed.
Being your own resident agent in Maryland
If you live in Maryland, you can name yourself as resident agent. The decision has trade-offs worth spelling out:
| Factor | You as agent | Commercial agent |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0 | Annual fee |
| Public address | Your Maryland address | The agent’s address |
| Availability | You, during business hours | Agent staff |
| Living in DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania or Delaware | Not eligible | Works |
| Moving | $25 change filing | No change needed |
The Washington, DC metro area is the classic example: many owners of Maryland LLCs live in DC or Northern Virginia and cannot serve as their own resident agent.
Maryland’s $300 annual report and next steps
Every Maryland LLC files Form 1, the combined Annual Report and Personal Property Return, with SDAT by April 15. The fee is a flat $300. Late filers face a county property tax penalty of one-tenth of one percent of the county assessment plus 2% interest per 30 days late, and failure to file can lead to forfeiture of the company’s Maryland charter. Details are on SDAT’s annual report page.
Forming a new LLC? The Articles of Organization are filed under § 4A-202 for $100. Read our guides to starting an LLC in Maryland and starting a business in Maryland, and check names with the Maryland business name search guide.
FAQs
What is a resident agent in Maryland?
Maryland’s term for a registered agent is resident agent. It is the individual Maryland resident, or Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership, designated to receive service of process and official notices for a company. The designation is filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).
How much does it cost to change a resident agent in Maryland?
SDAT charges $25 to file a Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent, as of October 2026. Optional expedited service adds $50, and online payments through Maryland Business Express add a 3% service fee. One filing can change both the agent and principal office.
Can my Maryland LLC be its own resident agent?
No. A Maryland LLC cannot act as its own resident agent. An owner who lives in Maryland can serve personally, or the LLC can appoint another Maryland resident or a Maryland corporation, LLC or limited partnership, such as a commercial registered agent company.
Can an out-of-state company be a Maryland resident agent?
Maryland’s statutory definition lists only individuals residing in Maryland and Maryland corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships. A company formed in another state is not on that list, so if you hire a commercial agent, check that the entity named as your resident agent was formed in Maryland or is an individual Maryland resident.
When is the Maryland annual report due?
Maryland LLCs file Form 1, the Annual Report and Personal Property Return, by April 15 each year. The fee is $300. Late filers face county property tax penalties and interest, and continued failure to file can lead to forfeiture of the company’s charter.
Do I file Maryland resident agent changes with the Secretary of State?
No. In Maryland, business entity filings, including resident agent changes, go to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), not the Secretary of State. You can file online through Maryland Business Express or submit the paper resolution to SDAT.
What is the best registered agent in Maryland?
Our recommendation is Mainstay Filing at $149 per year, with renewal at the same price and the agent change handled for you. MD Registered Agent.org is an alternative at a flat $99 per year with an in-state street address and online access to scanned documents.
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