In an unfortunate rite of fall, Maryland law requires the State Comptroller “immediately after September 30 of each year,” to prepare, and send to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation (“SDAT”), a list of every Maryland corporation that has not paid any tax due (other than a purely local tax) by October 1 of the year following the year in which the tax was due. The requirement also applies to Maryland Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), and includes a failure to make any required unemployment insurance contributions or reimbursement.
When SDAT receives the list from the Comptroller, it sends each entity on the list a notice that the entity’s charter will be forfeited if the taxes due are not paid by the date stated in the notice. Unfortunately, mailing of the notice is sufficient – failure to receive the notice does not affect or delay the forfeiture or annulment of corporate existence.
Most companies, though, find another aspect of the forfeiture law even more troubling, as it is a trap for the unwary business owner. Maryland entities, as well as those formed outside of Maryland but subject to jurisdiction in Maryland (which likely means doing business in Maryland) must file an annual report, and pay the annual report fee. Because the form, found here, is called a personal property tax return, many business owners understandably believe that they need not file the form unless the business owns property in Maryland.
Unfortunately, this is not so. The filing requirement (and $300 annual fee) apply to domestic and foreign corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited liability partnerships (LLPs) limited partnerships (LPs, Business Trusts, and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), whether or not they own personal property in Maryland. Immediately after September 30 of each year, the Comptroller certifies to the SDAT a list of entities that have not filed their personal property returns. The SDAT then issues a “proclamation” forfeiting the charters of all non-compliant entities. When a forfeiture occurs, the SDAT will mail notice of forfeiture to the affected entity, at the entity’s address on record with the SDAT.
There are two significant consequences to forfeiture: first, any person who knowingly transacts business in the name of a corporation whose charter has been forfeited and not revived is guilty of a misdemeanor “and on conviction is subject to a fine of not more than $500.” Second, once a corporation’s charter is forfeit, the corporation in its own name can no longer maintain or defend any suit in any Maryland court. Rather, the directors of the corporation become trustees for the assets of the corporation.
Revival of a forfeited charter is a fairly simple matter. First, the forfeited corporation must correct the problem that led to the forfeiture. Once this is done, the corporation should file Articles of Revival (form and instructions here). For an LLC, LLP, or LP, file Articles of Reinstatement (form and instructions here).
As a matter of careful housekeeping, the forfeited entity should, after revival, adopt resolutions expressly ratifying all actions taken during the period for which it was without a charter.
Bottom Line: Make sure that your business has paid all necessary taxes and has filed a Personal Property Return for 2009, even if the business does not own any property. If you are unsure, you can check the SDAT website listing entities subject to forfeiture. You can also check whether your company entity is in good standing via the SDAT’s Charter Search Page. If your entity has been forfeited, revive it promptly; this will avoid many headaches later.