In Maryland, like in almost all the other states, you need a registered agent to receive the various official documents, tax forms, and even summons that may be sent to your corporation. It’s a crucial job, which is why it’s mandatory in most states. You can’t start and run a business in Maryland without a registered agent.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent in Maryland?
Before you replace your current agent, you need to think about the replacement so you enjoy a smooth transition. For the agent you need, several requirements must be met. First of all, they can be any of the following:
- An individual adult (at least 18 years old) who is a resident of Maryland
- A business entity (such as a professional registered agent service) based in Maryland.
- A foreign registered agent business entity that’s authorized to do business in Maryland.
Whether it’s an individual or a business entity, the agent must also have a Maryland street address. This means a physical location, in which there will always be someone to receive the official documents for your corporation during business hours. It can’t be just a P.O. box.
Steps to Change Registered Agent
To change your registered agent in the State of Maryland, you’ll start the process by visiting the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation office to request a Resolution to Change Principal Office or Resident Agent Change of Agent form or you can visit the Maryland Business Express website.
You’ll be required to make a payment of 25 dollars alongside the documents you’ll submit.
Info to Put In
You will be required to enter the following information:
- Login (or create an account).
- The Entity number issued to your LLC by the State of Maryland when you formed your LLC.
- Name of your LLC as it is registered with the Secretary of the State of Maryland in its Articles of Organization.
- The complete street address, city, state, and zip code of your main business office.
- The name and complete business or residential address of the new registered agent for your business, and its entity number if your new agent is an entity.
The form has guides and tips to help make sure you put in the exact information asked for. Just read the directions carefully and follow them exactly.
Submission Options
You can submit the files online, through postal mail, or in person. The best and fastest way to submit this form once you’ve completed it is to submit it online through the Maryland Business Express Website.
The printed forms and the check for the fee are to be mailed to the address:
State Department of Assessments and Taxation, Charter Division
301 W. Preston Street
8th Floor Baltimore, MD 21201‐2395
You can also choose to submit the documents in person to the same address above.
Keep in mind that the State of Maryland will take between 8 weeks to process the change of your agent. However, you can choose to go for the expedited service if you wish to process the change faster (within 8 days). The expedited service costs 50 dollars only.
Should You Hire a Professional?
This will actually be a lot easier if you’re planning on sifting to a professional registered agent service. The best ones offer exemplary service at extremely reasonable rates. Often, you’re able to download the needed forms with pre-filled information about the service to save time and effort. Northwest Registered agent is one of the most popular companies for this job.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Pricing: $125/year Who Should Use It: If you are willing to pay a little more for top-notch customer support and want to combine virtual office and mail forwarding services with registered agent service. Pros
Cons
| Get Best PriceFull Review | |
 | Pricing: $99/year Who Should Use It: If you need a basic reliable registered agent service at a great price, ZenBusiness is a good choice. Pros:
Cons:
| Get Best PriceFull Review | |
 | Pricing: $119/year. Free for the first year if you use their incorporation service. Who Should Use It: If your objective is to minimize the startup costs in the first year, Incfile is a decent choice. Pros:
Cons
| Get Best PriceFull Review | |
 | Pricing: $299/year
| Get Best PriceFull Review | |
 | Pricing: $99/year. It is reduced to $89/year if you opt for a 3+ years package. Who Should Use It: If you are looking for reliable registered agent services that help track regulatory requirements and promptly notify about lawsuits, Harbor Compliance is a good choice. Pros:
Cons:
| Get Best PriceFull Review | |
 | Pricing: $150/year Who Should Use It: Medium-sized or Start-up Business owners who want to take advantage of Rocket Lawyer’s legal subscription services and don’t mind paying to pay a little extra to get their legal needs fulfilled in one place. Pros
Cons
| Get Best PriceFull Review |
With professionals, you know for sure the job gets done right. They usually have online storage for all the official documents. When they receive the documents for the corporation, the service will immediately scan them so they can send you the digital copies right away. The documents will also be conveniently stored in the same online location as your other business documents, like your formation documents.
Professionals may even maintain a compliance calendar, warning you way ahead of time when you should file a report or comply with some requirement with a deadline. That means you virtually eliminate the risk that you’ll fail to comply with any sort of compliance requirement. Such a failure may lead to fines and penalties, and perhaps even to the dissolution of your corporation. Reinstating your LLC can be a huge hassle, and it’s like starting the formation process for your LLC all over again.
So, if you’re going to change your registered agent in Maryland, you may as well do yourself a favor and switch to a good registered agent service. With the benefits you get with the low costs, you’re able to focus more on growing your business instead.
