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Maryland Businesses Can Now File Annual Reports & Personal Property Separately
The Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) released an enhanced version of  Maryland Business Express that has streamlined the annual business filing process in Maryland. Form 1  has been separated into an "Annual Report" and a "Personal Property Tax Return" which more clearly discerns the dual purpose of this filing. All legal businesses registered to operate in Maryland must file an Annual Report, however, the majority of Maryland entities do not have personal property and will not be required to complete a personal property return.
 
Additionally, three forms that pertain only to entities with personal property have be eliminated in 2018, simplifying the filing process and reducing the number of forms to be completed. Also, Maryland businesses with multiple locations are now eligible to file online. 
 
Businesses and tax preparers may file 2018 Annual Reports and Personal Property Tax Returns online through Maryland Business Express in three effortless steps.  
  • Filers register for an account, 
  • Enter the required information and upload documents, 
  • Submit payment 
Registering for an account allows users to save their filing information to reference year after year. Tax preparers can also file multiple returns for different customers under one login. The online system accepts all major credit cards and is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with immediate filing confirmation once submitted.
 
A Maryland personal property return must be submitted by April 15, 2018 for all businesses that are incorporated, qualified or registered to do business in the State of Maryland. This includes corporations, sole proprietors, limited liability partnerships, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, business trusts, and real estate investment trusts.


Waste Kitchen Grease Registration Continues to Protect Maryland Constituents from Health & Environmental Hazards

Waste kitchen grease includes used restaurant cooking oils that are collected and recycled into useful products such as animal feed and biodiesel fuel. In recent years, waste kitchen grease has become an attractive target for thieves due to rising prices resulting from a strong market demand.
 
Kitchen grease may not seem high on the list of valuable items a thief might steal, but the practice became so widespread and potentially dangerous that the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) launched an online registration system to help ensure this hazardous commodity is hauled only by legitimate professionals.
 
The Waste Kitchen Grease Transporter Registration Program was created by the 2011 Maryland General Assembly to help deter waste kitchen grease theft.
 
Companies who haul waste kitchen grease are required to register and to provide identifying information annually, for each vehicle used to transport unless they are exempt as specified under 10-1802 (b) of the Agriculture Article.  Transporters can complete the entire registration process and pay online with a credit card using a desktop computer, tablet or smartphone by visiting  https://egov.maryland.gov/MDA/KitchenGrease/Login.aspx . 
 
The online platform also includes a real-time public search of the registry to further assist with deterring waste kitchen grease theft.
 
Industry representatives support the registration requirements to make it easier for the police to identify the legitimate waste kitchen grease transporters from the criminals. Companies failing to register as required by the law are subject to fines of up to $10,000 and up to one year in prison.


Maryland's Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) System Creates Efficiency with Bulk XML Filing


The award winning UCC Services System is the latest in a series of initiatives launched by Governor Larry Hogan and the State Department of Assessment and Taxation (SDAT) to make it easier to do business in Maryland. The UCC System replaces a paper-based process with a modern ized end-to-end suite of services. UCC financing statements indicate a commercial agreement between a debtor and a secured party. Being the first to file can sometimes make the difference in reimbursement being received by the secured party should a debtor default on a loan.
 
Administering Maryland Commercial Law was a paper based process that was modernized in 2016 with a new end- to-end system to streamline SDAT's business processes. The service introduced new back-office processing, digital management, reporting and analytic capabilities.  The system empowers customers to file, search and order certified documents online.  The online service eases the agency burden of processing paper filings and eases the customer burden of waiting weeks in processing time for a response.
 
High frequency filers can take advantage of the XML bulk filing functionality that allows machine filing by the customer through a single file containing multiple submissions. Submissions are bulk uploaded, reviewed and approved or rejected automatically.  Approved submissions create the filing within the system, eliminating manual data entry by SDAT staff and saving the end user time.
 
Since implementing the bulk filing option, SDAT has seen usage soar from 22% to 81% over the past year.  Adoption of the service is expected to grow as more high frequency filers adopt the bulk file upload method. In one-year, SDAT has reallocated 25% of their staff to other duties as a direct result of the modernized UCC System.
 
Using the statewide self-funded master contract , the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation was able to accelerate the implementation time of the system from 18 months to 4 months, due to NIC Maryland's ability to re-use and customize code from NIC's UCC product.
Digital Park Passes Assist Government Land Management Agencies
Your Pass Now provides an alternative to the traditional paper-based, in-person purchase method while simultaneously providing public lands with a tool to help manage the visitor experience.
 
Using a personal device, visitors can purchase park entrance passes from yourpassnow.com . Once purchased, passes can be used immediately, stored on a personal device, or printed for future use. Your Pass Now offers purchase of official passes for some federal lands managed by the U.S. National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. This service is available to state, county, city and town land management agencies for park day use passes. Please contact NIC Maryland for more information. 


ENTERPRISE MOBILE INSPECTIONS
CELEBRATING MARYLAND'S AWARD
 WINNING SERVICES

The AVA Digital Awards, an international competition that recognizes outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design and production of media that is part of the evolution of digital communication.  AVA Digital Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). The international organization consists of several thousand production, marketing, communication, advertising and public relations professionals. 


Department of Natural Resources 
AccessDNR Mobile Application
Apps for Information Category



Department of Information Technology
Maryland.gov - Official State Website
Government Website Category



  Maryland Department of Agriculture
   State Chemist Registration Portal
   Government Web Services Category 




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NIC Maryland develops and supports digital government services without using taxpayer funds through a master contract with the State of Maryland. Maryland saves money with NIC's online applications that pay for themselves through a proven funding model. 
Janet Grard 
General Manager

Lan Pasek
DoIT Contract Administrator
[email protected]