In Maryland, all business entities—including LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietors—must file an annual Personal Property Return with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). This return is filed using Form 1 (or Form 2 in select cases) and consists of two parts:
Filing this return is not optional. It is a yearly requirement that ensures your business remains in good standing with the state. Missed filings can lead to penalties, loss of good standing, or even administrative dissolution.
The standard filing deadline for Maryland Personal Property Returns in 2025 is April 15, 2025.
All Maryland businesses—including LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietors—must submit their Annual Report and Business Personal Property Return by this date each year. Returns can be filed:
This deadline aligns with the broader federal and state tax season, making it a critical compliance milestone for Maryland-based entities. Businesses that own, lease, or use tangible personal property in Maryland are required to file, even if they hold minimal assets or report no activity during the year.
Failing to meet the April 15 deadline can result in immediate late fees, loss of good standing, and in some cases, administrative dissolution by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). Filing on time is essential not just for compliance, but also for protecting business licenses, financing eligibility, and contracts that require active registration.
Maryland does allow businesses to request a 60-day filing extension, but this must be submitted on or before April 15 through the Maryland Business Express portal.
If the extension is approved, the new filing deadline for the Business Personal Property Return becomes:
(Since June 15 falls on a Sunday in 2025, the due date moves to the next business day.)
However, it's important to note that the extension does not apply to the Annual Report portion of the filing. Even if an extension is granted for the personal property return, the Annual Report must still be filed by April 15 to maintain good standing with the state.
Key Reminders:
In 2024, Maryland businesses experienced an unusual break: a statewide filing extension was granted due to the tragic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. In response to the resulting disruptions, the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) extended the personal property return deadline for all businesses—offering much-needed flexibility during a difficult time.
However, that 2024 extension was a one-time, emergency-based exception. For 2025, there are no such special circumstances in place, and SDAT has confirmed that no automatic deadline relief is expected.
Key takeaway: The 2024 relief should be seen as an outlier—not the norm. Businesses are encouraged to resume normal compliance workflows, including early document gathering, calendar planning, and budgeting time for filing or requesting extensions well in advance.
The April 15 deadline is consistent across all business entity types in Maryland—whether you're a sole proprietor, partnership, LLC, or corporation. However, what you need to file may differ slightly based on:
To avoid confusion and ensure compliance, businesses should actively verify their filing requirements and track their standing with SDAT.
Through the Maryland Business Express Portal, you can:
The portal also provides real-time confirmation of filings, helps identify missing submissions, and alerts you to any issues that could affect your good standing, such as lapsed reports or estimated assessments.
Tip: Set up reminders or calendar alerts to revisit your business’s filing status regularly—especially in the weeks leading up to April 15. Taking a few minutes to verify now can prevent costly headaches later.
Failure to file on time can lead to:
If you miss the deadline:
Restoring good standing after missing a deadline can be a complex and costly process—best avoided with proactive compliance.
The April 15, 2025 deadline for filing Maryland’s Personal Property Return is a key compliance requirement for all businesses operating in the state. Whether you’re a small LLC with minimal equipment or a corporation managing significant inventory, timely filing ensures you maintain good standing and avoid costly penalties.
With no emergency extensions expected in 2025, it's essential to treat this year’s deadline as firm. If you need more time, use the Maryland Business Express portal to request the 60-day extension by April 15—giving you until June 16, 2025 to submit the full return.
For professional aid in filing your Maryland 2025 Personal Property Return, reach out to Watter CPA.
