Personal Property Taxes

The format for the Personal Property Tax Form that PTAs have filed in previous years has been revised by the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) for the forms to be filed by April 15, 2018 and later years. The old form has been divided into two separate forms – an Annual Report and a Personal Property Tax Return.*

~ The Annual Report (two pages) must be filed by all PTAs. [NOTE: The Annual Report form does not solicit income information and must be filed regardless of income.]

~ The Personal Property Tax return (four pages) must be filed only by those PTAs, if any, that actually own personal property.

The Annual Report, although somewhat different in format, is the same information that was required on page 1 of the old Personal Property Tax Return. All PTAs should check the “Domestic Non-Stock Corporation” block at the top of the page and then complete Sections I, II, III, and IV. SDAT encourages online filing (which is very easy), but if you choose to complete the paper form, the address for mailing the form is located at the top of page 1 of the form. Also, please forward a copy to the PTA Council of Baltimore County (president@bcptacouncil.org).

The forms are only available online and can be found here: www.dat.state.md.us . Click on Forms & Applications at the top and then scroll down to Annual Reports and Personal Property Tax Returns and select the 2020 Form 1 – Annual Report. The personal property tax return can also be accessed at this location. You can complete the downloaded form using Adobe Reader and then print it for signing and filing.

Alternatively, to file electronically (which SDAT strongly suggests), go to Maryland Business Express at https://egov.maryland.gov/businessexpress and scroll down to File Annual Report and Personal Property Tax Returns. You’ll need to register the first time you visit, but the process is quick and easy.

Once you’ve filed for your unit online, the SDAT’s online filing system allows you to pull up that information as your starting point the next year. You also can print copies of filings or save them as pdfs, which is highly advisable, even though it’s easy to confirm filing and access the information included in the report at any time using that feature of SDAT’s website.

*In accordance with Maryland PTA bylaws, all local PTA units are required to be incorporated, meaning that, at a minimum, an Annual Report must be filed with SDAT annually (by April 15, unless you have obtained an extension). Failure to file can result in financial penalties and loss of corporate status. If your find your PTA’s charter has been forfeited, please contact Maryland PTA at 410-760-6221 or office@mdpta.org for a revival packet. If you’d like to check on the status of your PTA, you can do that using the Entity Search feature of Maryland Business Express: https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/EntitySearch .

QUESTIONS?: Please contact John Ryan, Treasurer (410-665-4450 or e-mail treasurer@bcptacouncil.org)

DEADLINE: The annual State of Maryland Annual Report and/or Personal Property Return must be filed by April 15.