Maryland, popularly known as The Old Line State, offers a bunch of benefits for business owners, especially the state capital Annapolis has a lot to offer to the rising entrepreneurs in the state. If you want to start a business in Maryland, you must choose an appropriate corporate structure. You can have a corporation or a sole proprietorship or set up an LLC in Maryland. There are a few guidelines that you should be aware of when it comes to starting an S-Corporation. In Maryland, S-Corporation is businesses’ most common corporate structure, especially start-ups. It was developed in order to give companies limited liability protection while preserving the advantages of being a distinct legal organization.
In this article, you will learn about how to start an s-corporation in Maryland. You will also learn whether an s-corporate business structure suits your business. Please read all the points carefully before starting your business in Maryland.
What is an S-Corp in Maryland?
An S corporation (S-corp) is not a type of corporate entity, unlike a limited liability company (LLC) or other business structures. It’s a tax classification that might result in significant financial savings for both corporations and LLCs but in different ways. S-corp is similar to LLC, except that the IRS treats it as a corporation for tax purposes.
If you want an S corp status for your business, you can always form an LLC to protect your personal assets from business debts. It takes some basic steps to have a successful s-corporation in Maryland. S-Corps do pay corporate income taxes, but they are still treated as disregarded companies for federal tax purposes.
S-corps pay corporate taxes that LLCs do not have to pay. If you want to have an S-corp status, then we would recommend you have an LLC instead. This will protect your personal assets from your business liabilities and you don’t have to pay any corporate taxes.
–LLCBuddy Editorial Team
Limitation and Requirements of S-Corp in Maryland
As you have decided to have an S-Corp structure for your business, you must know the limitations and requirements to qualify for S-Corp status. We have listed some important points to consider following for your reference-
- Be a domestic corporation.
- Not be an ineligible corporation, such as specific financial institutions, insurance providers, or domestic corporations engaged in overseas sales.
- Have just one type of stock.
- Have a maximum of 100 shareholders or members.
- Have only permitted individuals, certain trusts, and estates as stockholders or members.
If you are qualified for the limitations and requirements, you can apply for an S-Corp in Maryland.
How to Start an S-Corporation in Maryland?
To create S-Corp in Maryland, you must follow the below guidelines that include forming a business name, hiring a Resident Agent, filing your Articles of Organization, creating an operating agreement in Maryland, requesting an EIN, filing a form 2553.
Step 1: Register a Business Name in Maryland
After you have decided on the idea to start an S-Corp in Maryland, deciding the name for your corporation is significant. Legal procedures should be taken into account when choosing your partnership name. Choose a business name that will enable you to develop a strong brand identity.
If you want to set up an LLC, there is a complete guide on Maryland LLC name guidelines for a proper LLC name. Here are some guidelines you must follow while naming your S-corp.
- Avoid profanities
- The name should be available, and no other entity should have the same name in Maryland.
- Limit of restricted words that need a license in Maryland, for example, doctors, attorneys, etc.
- Do not use a business name that sounds like a government agency or entity (like “police,” “county,” and “state”)
Step 2: Hiring the Maryland Resident Agent
The next step in starting an S-corp in Maryland is hiring a Maryland Resident Agent, a person that accepts legal paperwork on behalf of your business. This person or business will receive important tax forms, legal documents (such as subpoenas), all notices of lawsuits, and other official government correspondence in Maryland. Forming an LLC and an S-corp will be easier if you have Resident Agent in Maryland.
Step 3: File Your Maryland Articles of Organization
The Articles of Organization is an important document to start your limited liability company (LLC). Maryland Articles of Organization is a simple document that contains the business name and address as well as the name and address of the person who received lawsuits on behalf of the organization. In order for the “Articles of Organization” to be filed, you need to pay a filing fee to the state. In Maryland, the filing fee is $100.
In California, along with the Articles of Organization, you must send the Statement of Information to file your company. The statement of information is a mandatory document in California, but other states do not have this document.
Step 4: Creating an Operating Agreement in Maryland
After you have filed your Articles of Organization in Maryland, the next step is to create an LLC operating agreement in Maryland. The Maryland LLC operating agreement is essential and necessary since it will cover your corporation’s important documentation and rules. The operating agreements usually include the following-
- Article I: Organization
- Article II: Management and Voting
- Article III: Capital Contributions
- Article IV: Distributions
- Article V: Membership Changes
- Article VI: Dissolution
After creating the LLC operating agreement, you can benefit in several ways since it will discuss how decisions for the business will be made, including management and member voting structure. For more details about how an operating agreement works, please check Operating Agreement.
Step 5: Request for EIN in Maryland
After documenting the operating agreement, you should get or request an Employer Identification Number (EIN). An EIN will serve as the tax ID for your general partnership. EIN can be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It is a 9-digit number similar to Social Security Number. EIN, however, is distinct from SSN. It is only used for business-related activities, particularly for submitting general taxes. The form must be completed and uploaded to the IRS website.
The application of an EIN in Maryland can be through the following:
- Apply Online- You can apply for EIN online, the most desirable and fastest method for users.
- Apply by Fax- Another method of obtaining EIN is to fax Form SS-4 (PDF) after entering all the correct information to (855) 641-6935.
- Apply by Mail- The EIN application Form SS-4 can be filed via mail. The processing time frame to receive the mail is 4 weeks.
- Apply by Telephone-International Applicants – International applicants may call 267-941-1099 (not a toll-free number) from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday to obtain their EIN.
If you would like to be assisted in getting an EIN in the Internal Revenue Service, we can get your EIN for you. Our EIN service is quick and hassle-free. For more details about EIN for your business, check why you need EIN.
Step 6: File Form 2553 for Your S-Corp Business in Maryland
Once you have obtained your EIN and Articles of Organization to form an S-Corp, you must file Form 2553, Election by a Small Business Corporation, to apply for S-corp status. Filing a form 2553 should be done 75 days after the formation of your S-Corp, or not more than 75 days after the beginning of the tax year in which the election is to take effect.
If your LLS-Corp has passed the deadline of 75 days, you must also file Form 8832, Entity Classification Election, in order to opt to be taxed as a corporation. Then you would send Form 2553 and Form 8832 jointly by certified mail from the USPS. In Maryland, you can send your form 2553 to the Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Center – Kansas City, MO 64999 Fax: 855-887-7734.
Advantages of Starting an S-Corporation in Maryland
Filing an S-Corp in Maryland has numerous benefits and advantages.
- Writing Off Losses: With S-corp, owners can deduct business losses from their individual income statements. If the company loses money in the first few years, it may balance its other sources of revenue. Even so, understand the shareholder loss limitations set by the IRS.
- Pass-Through Taxation: Starting an S-Corp is the widely known advantage in forming this kind of business structure since an s-corp uses a pass-through taxation structure. The company does not pay twice the tax in this kind of taxation. Because of this structure, most start-ups and entrepreneurs in Maryland apply for an S-Corp LLC.
- Qualified Business Income Deduction: A qualified business income, or QBI, is the total of all qualified items of income, gain, deduction, and loss from any qualified trade or business, including S-Corp. With this, S corp owners may deduct up to 20% of their eligible earnings under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
FAQs
Also Read
- Start an S-Corp in Alabama
- Start an S-Corp in Alaska
- Start an S-Corp in Arizona
- Start an S-Corp in Arkansas
- Start an S-Corp in California
- Start an S-Corp in Colorado
- Start an S-Corp in Connecticut
- Start an S-Corp in DC
- Start an S-Corp in Delaware
- Start an S-Corp in Florida
- Start an S-Corp in Georgia
- Start an S-Corp in Hawaii
- Start an S-Corp in Idaho
- Start an S-Corp in Illinois
- Start an S-Corp in Indiana
- Start an S-Corp in Iowa
- Start an S-Corp in Kansas
- Start an S-Corp in Kentucky
- Start an S-Corp in Louisiana
- Start an S-Corp in Maine
- Start an S-Corp in Maryland
- Start an S-Corp in Massachusetts
- Start an S-Corp in Michigan
- Start an S-Corp in Minnesota
- Start an S-Corp in Mississippi
- Start an S-Corp in Missouri
- Start an S-Corp in Montana
- Start an S-Corp in Nebraska
- Start an S-Corp in Nevada
- Start an S-Corp in New Hampshire
- Start an S-Corp in New Jersey
- Start an S-Corp in New Mexico
- Start an S-Corp in New York
- Start an S-Corp in North Carolina
- Start an S-Corp in North Dakota
- Start an S-Corp in Ohio
- Start an S-Corp in Oklahoma
- Start an S-Corp in Oregon
- Start an S-Corp in Pennsylvania
- Start an S-Corp in Rhode Island
- Start an S-Corp in South Carolina
- Start an S-Corp in South Dakota
- Start an S-Corp in Tennessee
- Start an S-Corp in Texas
- Start an S-Corp in Utah
- Start an S-Corp in Vermont
- Start an S-Corp in Virginia
- Start an S-Corp in Washington
- Start an S-Corp in West Virginia
- Start an S-Corp in Wisconsin
- Start an S-Corp in Wyoming
Why Maryland S Corporation is So Important
One of the key advantages of choosing to operate as an S Corporation in Maryland is the tax benefits it provides to shareholders. S Corporations are unique in that they allow profits and losses to flow through to the individual shareholders, avoiding the double taxation that can occur with C Corporations. This means that shareholders are only taxed once on their share of the company’s earnings, potentially leading to significant savings come tax time.
Furthermore, Maryland S Corporations offer a level of flexibility when it comes to structuring ownership and control of the business. Unlike C Corporations which can have an unlimited number of shareholders, S Corporations are limited to 100 shareholders, making them an ideal choice for closely held companies looking to maintain a more personal and tightly controlled environment.
Additionally, Maryland S Corporations can provide added credibility and legitimacy to a business in the eyes of both customers and investors. By choosing to operate as an S Corporation, a company demonstrates a commitment to adhering to regulations and standards set forth by the state, which can help build trust and confidence with stakeholders.
Another important factor to consider is the potential for growth and expansion afforded by choosing to operate as an S Corporation in Maryland. S Corporations have the ability to raise capital through the sale of stock, which can be a crucial source of funding for companies looking to scale their operations and reach new markets. This additional financial flexibility can be a game-changer for businesses looking to make strategic investments in their future growth.
In addition to the financial benefits, Maryland S Corporations also offer protection for shareholders by limiting their personal liability for the debts and obligations of the company. This liability shield can provide peace of mind for business owners, allowing them to focus on running and growing their business without the constant fear of personal financial ruin in the event of a lawsuit or bankruptcy.
Ultimately, the importance of Maryland S Corporations lies in the myriad benefits they offer to business owners looking to establish a solid foundation for success and growth. From the tax advantages and flexibility in ownership to the credibility and growth potential they provide, S Corporations are a valuable option for companies of all sizes and industries. As the landscape of business continues to evolve, choosing the right structure is critical, and the benefits of an S Corporation cannot be ignored.
Conclusion
In conclusion, starting an S-corp in Maryland is a strategic choice for entrepreneurs seeking the benefits of limited liability and favorable tax treatment. One can successfully establish an S-corp by following the outlined steps, including selecting a unique name, filing the Articles of Incorporation, obtaining necessary licenses, and adhering to state-specific regulations. Ultimately, this corporate structure offers a strong foundation for business growth and protection, making it a worthwhile consideration for those looking to launch a venture in Maryland.