Maryland

Foreign registration · Form 972

Maryland LLC Foreign Registration in Louisiana

Louisiana registers an LLC from Maryland as a foreign LLC on Form 972, with $190 in state fees. Louisiana also wants Maryland's Certificate of Status ($20), dated within 90 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division from your Maryland records, then serve as your registered agent there for year one.

Maryland vs Louisiana: the paperwork

	Maryland formed here	Louisiana registering here
Document	Maryland Certificate of Status	Form 972, Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company
State fee	$20	$190 at order (filing fee $185 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	Maryland: online through Maryland Business Express, emailed right away	Filed with Louisiana
Paid expedite		24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60
Office	Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT), Charter Division	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Official page	businessexpress.maryland.gov	sos.la.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 90 days
Yearly filing	Business Entity Annual Report (Form 1), $300, every year	Annual Report, $35, every year
Due	April 15	On or before the anniversary date of registration in Louisiana
Agent	Your Maryland resident agent	Our Louisiana registered agent

From Maryland to Louisiana, step by step

Order the Maryland certificate
The Certificate of Status ($20) is ordered from Maryland separately; it is not part of our Louisiana order. Ordered from Maryland on filing day, it easily meets Louisiana's limit of 90 days.
We prepare and file Form 972
It names us as your Louisiana registered agent, with your Maryland name and formation date and the certificate attached. With the certificate issued on the spot, nothing from Maryland delays the Louisiana filing. After approval, your Maryland LLC is registered with Louisiana.

First-year cost, Maryland to Louisiana

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$190
Certificate of Status, paid to Maryland	$20
Our service, with a year of Louisiana registered agent service	$199
First-year total, Maryland certificate included	$409

Louisiana's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Will your Maryland name work for Louisiana?

We check your exact Maryland name against Louisiana's records before filing.

Agents: Louisiana and Maryland

Louisiana calls it a registered agent; Maryland says resident agent. Louisiana papers come to us; Maryland's agent is unchanged.

Staying in good standing in Maryland and Louisiana

Each year your LLC files Maryland's Business Entity Annual Report (Form 1) ($300) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($35). With our $149 registered agent renewal, Maryland plus Louisiana comes to $484 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Maryland to Louisiana

A corporation formed in Maryland files Form 326 with Louisiana ($160 in state fees). After that come Maryland's periodic report ($300) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($30). See the corporation filing.

The other way: Louisiana into Maryland

An LLC formed in Louisiana that registers with Maryland files Maryland's registration (no form number) with $104.50 in state fees and a $50 required expedite, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($25) dated within 60 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Maryland to Louisiana

Does my Maryland company need to register in Louisiana?

Yes, once a Maryland business operates there; Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does it cost to register a Maryland LLC in Louisiana?

$389 at checkout plus $20 to Maryland for the Certificate of Status, $409 in all (checkout is $190 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Maryland's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Louisiana wants Maryland's Certificate of Status ($20), no more than 90 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for Maryland and Louisiana?

$484 a year: our $149 registered agent renewal, $300 to Maryland and $35 to Louisiana for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

A Maryland company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Louisiana can add a civil penalty of up to $1,000.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

Yes: the Maryland resident agent stays, and ours covers Louisiana for year one.

Can I form a new Louisiana LLC instead?

Yes, but Maryland keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Louisiana's Annual Report ($40), and the original keeps Maryland's Business Entity Annual Report (Form 1).

What does a Louisiana company file to register in Maryland?

It files Maryland's registration with $104.50 in state fees and a $50 required expedite, plus Louisiana's good standing certificate.

Official sources

People also search

LLC into Louisiana, by home state (48)

Maryland into other states (47)

The same move for a corporation