Key Takeaways
- $120 Articles of Incorporation filing fee (Stock Corporation Articles (dat.maryland.gov)) paid to the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation
- Minimum 1 director required (Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 2-402)
- Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return (Form 1 (dat.maryland.gov)) due within by April 15 of the year following incorporation, $300 minimum fee; an initial penalty equal to the greater of a base charge ($30 to $50 depending on how late, capped at $500) or 0.1% of the county assessment, plus 2% interest on the penalty for each 30 days late late penalty
- Flat 8.25% Maryland corporate income tax (no graduated brackets, no franchise tax) plus a $300 minimum Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return due April 15
- Resident Agent with a physical Maryland street address required
- No publication requirement
- S-Corp election available via IRS Form 2553 within 75 days of formation; Maryland also offers a pass-through entity tax election as a SALT workaround
- Same-day filing available through LLC Attorney at no markup on state fees
Forming a corporation in Maryland means filing Articles of Incorporation with SDAT — the State Department of Assessments and Taxation, which charters entities in place of a Secretary of State — paying a $120 filing fee, naming at least 1 director, and meeting Maryland's ongoing obligations: a flat 8.25% corporate income tax and a $300 minimum Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return due every April 15. Maryland's federal-contractor, biotech, and defense economy keeps corporate formation active across the Washington and Baltimore corridors. This guide walks through every step and cost for a Maryland C-Corporation, with filing available through LLC Attorney starting at $49.
C-Corp vs LLC in Maryland
Most first-time business owners in Maryland choose an LLC. A Maryland corporation earns its keep in narrower cases — when you intend to raise outside equity, issue stock options, or take on shareholders who expect a board and formal governance rather than a member-managed structure.
Choose a Maryland corporation when:
- You plan to raise venture capital or institutional investment. VC firms, angels, and most institutional investors require a C-Corp structure before they write a check. Preferred stock, convertible notes, SAFEs, and board governance by class are native to corporations, not LLCs.
- You want to issue stock options to employees (ISOs). Corporations issue stock; LLCs issue membership interests. ISO and NSO option plans are available to corporations but not to LLCs.
- You expect to eventually go public or sell to a public company. Public markets operate on corporate stock mechanics.
- You are in a regulated industry where corporate structure is required or expected by licensing boards, government contracts, or institutional counterparties.
Stick with an LLC when:
- You are a small business with one or a few owners who will not need institutional investment.
- Pass-through taxation without payroll complexity is the priority.
- You do not need stock option plans or institutional investment mechanics.
Why and when to incorporate in Delaware vs your home state
Delaware is the default for startups on a venture track. Institutional investors expect it, term sheets assume it, and the Court of Chancery resolves corporate disputes faster than any general trial court. If you are raising a priced round or structuring for QSBS eligibility, incorporate in Delaware.
If you are not raising outside capital, Maryland is usually the better choice. A Delaware corporation operating in Maryland still has to register as a foreign corporation there, pay Maryland fees, and file a Delaware franchise tax return each March 1. That is duplicate overhead with no benefit for a business that will not seek institutional investment.
What's Unique About Corporations in Maryland?
Maryland routes all corporate filings through SDAT — the State Department of Assessments and Taxation — instead of a Secretary of State, a quirk that surprises founders who go looking for a Maryland Secretary of State online. SDAT both charters entities and assesses business personal property, which is why Maryland's annual filing is a combined Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return rather than a simple report. The state's concentration of federal contractors, biotech, healthcare, and defense employers around the Washington and Baltimore corridors keeps corporate formation steady despite a higher ongoing cost than neighboring states.
Key Maryland-specific requirements:
- Articles of Incorporation (not "Articles of Organization" — that is the LLC filing document)
- At least 1 director, who must be named in the Articles of Incorporation (Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 2-402)
- Flat 8.25% Maryland corporate income tax (no graduated brackets, no franchise tax) plus a $300 minimum Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return due April 15
- April 15 Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return ($300 minimum) — a free extension to June 15 is available if requested electronically by the original deadline
- Combined Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return — SDAT assesses business personal property on the same return that keeps the corporation in good standing
Selecting a Name for Your Maryland Corporation
Your corporation's name must comply with Maryland naming requirements:
- Must include "Corporation," "Incorporated," "Inc.," "Corp.," or another Maryland-approved designator (Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-502)
- Must be distinguishable from all existing Maryland entities in the Maryland Business Express entity search
- the name must contain Company, Corporation, Incorporated, or Limited, or an abbreviation of one of those words, and may not imply a purpose the corporation is not authorized to pursue under Maryland law
- Names implying government affiliation or banking activity are restricted
Search the Maryland Business Express entity search at egov.maryland.gov/businessexpress before filing. Your name search is not a reservation — the name can be registered by another filer while you prepare your Articles of Incorporation.
Name reservation: file a name reservation with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, $25 fee, holding the name for 30 days. Recommended if your paperwork takes more than a few days to prepare.
Directors, Officers, and Shareholders in a Maryland Corporation
A Maryland corporation has three distinct roles:
Shareholders own the corporation. They hold stock and vote on major decisions — electing directors, approving mergers, authorizing major asset sales. Shareholders do not manage day-to-day operations.
Directors govern the corporation through a Board of Directors. They set strategic direction, authorize major transactions, and oversee management. Maryland's director requirements: Maryland requires at least 1 director (Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 2-402), and a corporation with one stockholder may have a single director. Directors must be adult individuals but need not be Maryland residents or U.S. citizens. The Articles of Incorporation must name the initial directors, who serve until the first annual meeting of stockholders. Maryland separately requires the corporation to maintain a president, a secretary, and a treasurer (§ 2-412).
Officers (CEO, CFO, Secretary, etc.) manage day-to-day operations. Officers are appointed by the Board of Directors. Maryland requires a president, a secretary, and a treasurer, and the same person may hold more than one of those offices. One person can be the sole director and simultaneously serve as president, secretary, and treasurer, which is the standard single-owner Maryland corporation setup.
Designating a Resident Agent
Every Maryland corporation must designate a Resident Agent — a person or entity with a physical Maryland street address who receives legal notices, lawsuits, and official state correspondence on behalf of your corporation.
Maryland law requires every corporation to keep a Resident Agent with a physical Maryland street address; a P.O. box does not qualify. The Resident Agent must be either an adult individual residing in Maryland or a Maryland corporation, LLC, or limited partnership authorized to act, and must be available during business hours to accept service of process and SDAT correspondence. The Resident Agent's name and Maryland address are listed in the Articles of Incorporation.
If the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation cannot deliver legal notices to your Resident Agent, Maryland can administratively forfeit the charter of your corporation. LLC Attorney's Maryland Resident Agent service is $125/year.
Maryland Corporation Costs and Compliance
How to Form a Corporation in Maryland
If You Do It Yourself
Step 1 — Choose a corporate name that complies with Maryland's requirements.
Your corporate name must be distinguishable from all existing Maryland entities and include an approved corporate designator ("Inc.," "Corp.," "Corporation," "Incorporated," or as specified in Md. Code, Corps. & Ass'ns § 1-502). Search the Maryland Business Express entity search at egov.maryland.gov/businessexpress before preparing any documents. Run your name through the Maryland Business Express search at egov.maryland.gov/businessexpress before filing; that check confirms entity-name availability with SDAT but not trademark rights, so clear the name against the USPTO database separately if you are building a brand.
Step 2 — Reserve your corporate name (recommended).
File a name reservation with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, $25 fee, good for 30 days. If you are not filing immediately, this prevents another entity from taking your name while you prepare documents.
Step 3 — Decide your director structure before opening the formation form.
Maryland requires 1 director at formation. Set your board size to match ownership today. A single founder can name themselves as the sole initial director in the Articles; closely held Maryland corporations frequently run with one to three directors. Because Maryland requires the initial directors to be listed in the charter, decide who serves before you file rather than after, and amend the bylaws if you later add board seats. Write down your director names and Maryland addresses before you open the form — most state portals cannot save a partially completed filing.
Step 4 — Designate your Resident Agent.
Every Maryland corporation must have a Resident Agent with a physical Maryland street address. P.O. boxes are not accepted. Maryland uses the term Resident Agent rather than registered agent, but the function is identical. LLC Attorney can serve as your Maryland Resident Agent and route all SDAT and legal mail to your client portal.
Step 5 — Complete the Articles of Incorporation (Stock Corporation Articles (dat.maryland.gov)).
Go to dat.maryland.gov and use the current version of the Articles of Incorporation. Always file directly through the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation — outdated forms are rejected without refund. Complete it with:
- Your exact corporate name including designator
- Your Resident Agent — full legal name and physical Maryland street address
- Your authorized share structure — keep the aggregate par value at or below $100,000 (or authorize 5,000 or fewer no-par shares) so your filing stays at the base fee tier rather than triggering Maryland's graduated capitalization surcharge
- Director names and addresses
- Incorporator signature (the person submitting the form; need not be a director or shareholder)
- The number of authorized shares, their par value (or a statement that they have no par value), and the corporation's principal Maryland office address
Step 6 — File the Articles of Incorporation and pay the $120 fee.
File online at egov.maryland.gov/businessexpress or by mail to the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation in Baltimore. Online processing is roughly 4 to 6 weeks by mail, or 1 to 2 weeks for routine online filings under normal volume.
- 24-hour service: $50 additional (total: $170)
- Same-day online service: $325 additional (total: $445)
- The $50 expedite tier shortens online review to a few business days; SDAT's same-day option is $325 online or $425 for hand-delivered documents. Expedite fees are paid to SDAT on top of the formation fee.
Step 7 — Wait for your approved Articles of Incorporation.
Your corporation does not legally exist during the review period. You cannot open bank accounts, sign contracts as the corporation, or issue stock until the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation approves your filing. Standard processing is roughly 4 to 6 weeks by mail, or 1 to 2 weeks for routine online filings; 6 to 8 weeks by mail during the winter and spring filing crunch ahead of the April 15 return deadline during peak filing season. Keep your approved Articles of Incorporation — every bank, licensing board, and counterparty will request it.
Step 8 — Hold your organizational meeting and adopt bylaws.
After approval, your Board of Directors must hold an organizational meeting (or sign a written consent in lieu of meeting) to adopt bylaws, elect officers, authorize the bank account, authorize stock issuance, and set the fiscal year. Maryland does not require bylaws to be filed with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) — keep them with your corporate records. Maryland bylaws are adopted by the board or stockholders and govern day-to-day operation under Title 2 of the Corporations and Associations Article. Tailor quorum, officer, and meeting provisions to your actual ownership rather than leaving a stock template in place. A generic template may omit Maryland-specific provisions and may not align with your share structure.
Step 9 — Issue stock to founders.
Authorize and issue shares to founders immediately after your organizational meeting. Document the issuance in your stock ledger and issue stock certificates (or maintain uncertificated share records). Each founder's share count and issuance price must be documented. Maryland scales its capitalization fee to authorized stock. As long as aggregate par value stays at or under $100,000, or you authorize no more than 5,000 no-par shares, the organization and capitalization fee is the flat $20 baked into the $120 total. Authorizing more pushes you into higher fee brackets, so size your share count to current needs and amend later if a raise requires it.
Step 10 — File your initial Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return (Form 1 (dat.maryland.gov)) within by April 15 of the year following incorporation.
After your Articles of Incorporation is approved, you have by April 15 of the year following incorporation to file Form 1 (dat.maryland.gov) with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation. This filing confirms your Resident Agent address, principal office address, and director and officer contact information. Filing fee: $300 minimum. Missing the deadline triggers a an initial penalty equal to the greater of a base charge ($30 to $50 depending on how late, capped at $500) or 0.1% of the county assessment, plus 2% interest on the penalty for each 30 days late penalty.
Step 11 — Apply for your federal EIN.
Your corporation needs an EIN to open a bank account, hire employees, and handle tax filings. Apply at irs.gov/ein. Free, no government filing fee. Available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern. 15-minute inactivity timeout — have all information ready before starting. International incorporators without a U.S. SSN or ITIN must apply by phone (IRS Form SS-4, 267-941-1099).
Step 12 — Open a corporate bank account.
Required documents: your approved Articles of Incorporation, your EIN confirmation letter (IRS Form CP 575 or SS-4 approval), your adopted bylaws, a board resolution authorizing the account, and personal ID of authorized signers. Call ahead — bank requirements for corporations are more involved than for LLCs.
Step 13 — Register for Maryland state taxes.
Your federal EIN does not automatically register you with Maryland state agencies. Depending on your business type:
- Maryland sales and use tax (Comptroller of Maryland (6% sales and use tax), if you sell taxable goods or services) — marylandtaxes.gov
- Maryland employer payroll taxes (Maryland Department of Labor, if hiring Maryland employees) — labor.maryland.gov
- Maryland sales and use tax registration (Comptroller, 6%) — required if the corporation sells taxable goods or services in Maryland
Step 14 — Pay your Maryland annual tax.
Maryland does not levy a corporate franchise tax, so there is no annual franchise bill to calculate. What a C-Corp owes instead is the flat 8.25% corporate income tax, reported on Form 500 filed with the Comptroller of Maryland, with estimated payments due quarterly once liability is expected to exceed $1,000. Separately, the corporation pays the $300 minimum Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return to SDAT by April 15. Keep the two obligations distinct: the Comptroller handles income tax, SDAT handles the annual report and personal property assessment.
Step 15 — Decide whether to elect S-Corp tax treatment.
C-Corporation income is taxed twice: once at the corporate level (federal rate currently 21%), and again when distributed to shareholders as dividends. An S-Corp election converts the corporation to pass-through taxation. S-Corp election is available for Maryland corporations that meet IRS eligibility: 100 or fewer shareholders, all U.S. citizens or residents, only one class of stock, and no institutional or foreign shareholders. File IRS Form 2553 within 75 days of formation. The election is made with the IRS — it does not require any Maryland filing. Maryland recognizes the federal S-Corp election, so an electing corporation's income generally passes through to shareholders and is taxed on their personal Maryland returns rather than at the 8.25% corporate rate. Maryland S-Corps with nonresident shareholders must withhold and remit Maryland tax on the nonresidents' shares. The corporation may also elect Maryland's pass-through entity (PTE) tax on Form 511, paying tax at the entity level so resident owners can claim a corresponding credit — a SALT-cap workaround worth modeling with a CPA.
Step 16 — Set annual compliance reminders.
Maryland corporations must file and pay on a recurring basis:
- Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return (Form 1 (dat.maryland.gov)): Annually by April 15, $300 minimum fee — an initial penalty equal to the greater of a base charge ($30 to $50 depending on how late, capped at $500) or 0.1% of the county assessment, plus 2% interest on the penalty for each 30 days late if missed
- Corporate income tax (Form 500) at a flat 8.25%, plus the $300 minimum Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return to SDAT due April 15 each year — there is no separate franchise tax
- Personal Property Tax Return: corporations holding taxable business personal property in Maryland complete the property schedule on the same SDAT Form 1, which feeds the county personal property assessment
Missing these filings puts your corporation in bad standing with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation and Comptroller of Maryland. Suspension means you cannot file documents, defend lawsuits, or do business in Maryland. If you would rather not manage this process, the service handles Maryland corporation formation starting at $49.
If LLC Attorney Does It for You
- Submit your information at llcattorney.com — corporate name, director structure, authorized shares, Resident Agent preference, fiscal year, and target formation date. No forms to find or download.
- LLC Attorney files your Articles of Incorporation with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, drafts your bylaws, handles your organizational meeting consent, issues your stock ledger documentation, applies for your EIN, and covers same-day filing if needed. Your Resident Agent designation and initial Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return are included.
- Receive your approved Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, organizational consent, stock documentation, and EIN confirmation through your LLC Attorney client portal. Annual compliance reminders are included so you never miss a Form 1 (dat.maryland.gov) deadline or annual tax payment.
S-Corp Election for Maryland Corporations — What You Need to Know
An S-Corp election is not a separate entity — it is a federal tax election made by an existing corporation. Your Maryland corporation remains a Maryland corporation; you are only changing how the IRS taxes it.
The S-Corp tax advantage: a C-Corp pays 21% federal corporate income tax on net income, and shareholders pay income tax again on dividends. An S-Corp passes income directly to shareholders' personal returns, skipping the corporate-level tax. For owner-operated businesses with consistent profitability above roughly $40,000/year, the S-Corp election typically produces material tax savings.
S-Corp payroll requirement: if you elect S-Corp status and work in the business, you must pay yourself a "reasonable salary" subject to payroll taxes. The savings come from income above that salary, which passes through without payroll tax. Skip the salary and the IRS can reclassify your distributions as wages and assess back payroll taxes plus penalties.
Eligibility requirements:
- 100 or fewer shareholders
- All shareholders must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
- Only one class of stock (identical distribution and liquidation rights)
- No institutional shareholders, partnerships, or non-resident alien shareholders
Maryland treatment of S-Corps: Maryland recognizes the federal S-Corp election, so an electing corporation's income generally passes through to shareholders and is taxed on their personal Maryland returns rather than at the 8.25% corporate rate. Maryland S-Corps with nonresident shareholders must withhold and remit Maryland tax on the nonresidents' shares. The corporation may also elect Maryland's pass-through entity (PTE) tax on Form 511, paying tax at the entity level so resident owners can claim a corresponding credit — a SALT-cap workaround worth modeling with a CPA.
Filing deadline: IRS Form 2553 must be filed within 75 days of formation, or by March 15 of the tax year for which you want the election effective. Late elections are sometimes accepted with a written explanation of reasonable cause.
When Should You Consult an Attorney for Your Maryland Corporation?
LLC Attorney provides on-demand attorney consultations for a flat rate per 30-minute session — no retainer required. Corporation formation benefits from attorney guidance more than most entity types because of share structure, bylaw complexity, and S-Corp election timing. Common scenarios:
- Multiple founders or investors: share structure decisions made at formation (authorized shares, classes, par value) affect every future financing round and exit. A misstructured cap table is expensive to unwind.
- S-Corp election analysis: whether to elect depends on projected net income, payroll requirements, and state-level S-Corp recognition. The payroll requirement catches founders off guard.
- High-liability industry: regulated industries may have specific corporate structure requirements from licensing boards or insurance carriers.
- Raising capital: if you plan to raise institutional capital, your share structure, option pool, and Delaware vs. home-state decision should be reviewed before you file.
- Maryland-specific wrinkles: Maryland may have corporate law provisions a generic national template does not cover correctly.
What You Actually Get When You Incorporate in Maryland with LLC Attorney
A Maryland corporation that exists only as a charter on file with SDAT is not a working corporation. The state filing creates the entity; it does not produce the bylaws, organizational consents, or stock ledger that make the corporation operate and hold its liability shield. A "$0 filing" that skips those is unfinished — and in Maryland, where SDAT also assesses your personal property and a missed April 15 return can forfeit the charter, an unfinished corporation is the one that quietly slips out of good standing.
Included with LLC Attorney corporation formation, starting at $120:
- Same-day or 24-hour Maryland filing at no markup on the state fee. Most services charge extra to expedite.
- Attorney-drafted bylaws, initial board consent, and organizational minutes — customized, not auto-generated templates.
- Initial stock issuance and cap-table setup, so your ownership is documented correctly from day one.
- Federal EIN, obtained for you.
- Maryland Resident Agent service at $125/year, included to keep you in good standing.
- S-Corp election guidance when pass-through tax treatment is the right call for your situation.
- Access to attorney-trained Business Success Advisors at no charge, plus optional flat-fee attorney consultations (no retainer).
Because Maryland's ongoing cost is front-loaded into the annual SDAT return and a flat corporate income tax, getting the bylaws, stock records, and resident agent right at formation is what keeps that recurring compliance from turning into forfeiture.
Starting Your Maryland Corporation with LLC Attorney
Maryland's corporate formation requirements are straightforward to file but carry a heavier ongoing cost — the $300 minimum SDAT annual return, the personal property tax assessment, and the flat 8.25% corporate income tax. Getting your directors, share structure, bylaws, and initial compliance filings right at formation prevents expensive corrections later.
The service handles Maryland corporation formation starting at $49. Same-day filing is available at no markup on state fees. On-demand attorney consultations in 30-minute increments — no retainer — cover bylaws drafting, S-Corp election analysis, Maryland personal property tax planning and S-Corp versus PTE-election analysis, and annual tax planning. See our full pricing for all service tiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Maryland SDAT processes routine online corporate filings in roughly 1 to 2 weeks, while mailed filings can take 4 to 6 weeks, and 6 to 8 weeks during the spring crunch before the April 15 return deadline. SDAT offers expedited review: a $50 tier that shortens online processing to a few business days, and same-day service for $325 online ($425 hand-delivered). LLC Attorney files Maryland corporations and passes the state expedite fee through at cost when timing matters.
A C-Corp and an S-Corp are the same Maryland corporation — the difference is federal tax treatment only. A C-Corp pays corporate income tax at the entity level (21% federal rate), and shareholders pay personal income tax again on dividends. An S-Corp elects pass-through taxation — income flows to shareholders' personal returns without corporate-level tax. The election is made with the IRS via Form 2553 and has no impact on your Maryland formation documents. Maryland honors the federal S-Corp election and offers a PTE-level tax election (Form 511) that can reduce federal SALT exposure for owners.
Yes. Maryland permits one individual to own and run a corporation, acting as the sole director and filling the president, secretary, and treasurer roles at once (§ 2-412 allows one person to hold multiple offices). This is the normal structure for a solo Maryland business. You still need to observe corporate formalities — adopt bylaws, document organizational resolutions, issue stock, and keep corporate and personal finances separate — to preserve limited liability.
A Maryland C-Corporation pays a flat 8.25% state corporate income tax on net income apportioned to Maryland, filed on Form 500 with the Comptroller. Maryland imposes no franchise tax. Separately, the corporation owes a $300 minimum Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return to SDAT each April 15, plus county personal property tax if it holds taxable business property. At the federal level, a C-Corp pays the 21% corporate income tax unless it elects S-Corp treatment, in which case income passes through to shareholders.
Every Maryland corporation files a combined Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return (Form 1) with SDAT, due April 15 each year following incorporation. The minimum filing fee is $300, regardless of size. If the corporation owns or leases business personal property in Maryland, it must complete the personal property schedule as part of the same return. A free 60-day extension to June 15 is available if requested electronically by April 15. Missing the deadline carries an initial penalty equal to the greater of a base charge ($30 to $50 depending on how late, capped at $500) or 0.1% of the county assessment, plus 2% interest per 30 days, and eventual forfeiture of the corporate charter.
Maryland does not require corporations to file bylaws with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). However, bylaws are a legal requirement for corporate governance — they define how your board operates, how shareholder meetings work, how officers are appointed, and how major decisions are made. A corporation without bylaws is technically non-compliant and lacks the foundational document that governs all major corporate decisions. Every bank, investor, and serious counterparty will request your bylaws.
Because Maryland has no franchise tax, the deadline that matters is the April 15 Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Return. Filing late exposes the corporation to an initial penalty equal to the greater of a base charge ($30 to $50 depending on how late, capped at $500) or 0.1% of the county assessment, plus 2% interest on the penalty for each 30 days late. Continued delinquency causes SDAT to forfeit the corporate charter, which strips the corporation of the authority to do business, sue, or maintain good standing until it files Articles of Revival, brings all reports current, and pays the accrued penalties.
Yes. A Maryland corporation can convert to an LLC by filing Articles of Conversion with SDAT, and Maryland's statute permits a direct entity conversion without dissolving first. The conversion is a taxable event for federal purposes and can trigger gain recognition, so model the consequences with a CPA before filing — for some companies it is cleaner to form a new LLC and wind the corporation down, depending on assets and basis.
If Maryland is unable to deliver legal notices to your Resident Agent, the state can administratively forfeit the charter of your corporation. This can happen without direct notice to you. A professional Resident Agent service ensures a qualified person is available during business hours at a physical Maryland address to receive any legal documents on your behalf.