By Imuetinyan Ugiagbe
Special to the AFRO
Photo: Photo courtesy of Maryland Office of the Comptroller
The Maryland comptroller’s office has launched a multiphase effort to modernize the state’s 30-year-old tax system. The Maryland Tax Connect portal, introduced in February 2024 by Comptroller Brooke Lierman, the first woman to hold this position, is designed to simplify the tax filing process.
Lierman, Maryland’s 34th comptroller, is committed to transforming the office into an innovative, accessible, and transparent state agency. She explains that the Maryland Tax Connect online portal allows businesses to make payments, track payments and refunds, obtain business licenses, and more. The secure, cloud-based portal is designed to be more efficient.
While other states have updated their business portals, Maryland was among the few still using outdated technology. This upgrade is significantly easing the lives of business owners.
Emmalyne Head, the owner of Southern Belle Cleaners, started her business during the COVID-19 pandemic. “After an eight-year career in the automotive industry, I saw COVID sweeping the country and knew there was a need for quality janitorial services. So, after debating whether to purchase a franchise, I decided to start my own cleaning business.”
Southern Belle Cleaners provides commercial janitorial services for office buildings and post-construction sites and helps individuals declutter their homes to create healthier living environments.
Head met a representative from the comptroller’s office at a business expo. Before using the online portal, she had questions about business tax filing. The representative connected her to the Greenbelt office, where she was introduced to Maryland Tax Connect. She describes the
portal as an “easy and secure method to handle my taxes.” She also uses the hotline and user guides to assist with the filing process.
Kimberly Royster, an accounting professional with over 20 years of experience, says the Maryland Tax Connect portal is a one-stop shop for many state tax payments. “I have seen many businesses thrive and many millionaires, but very few were minorities, and very few small businesses thrive beyond $1 million and beyond three years. With this data, I started working with small businesses to support them in growth and compliance through finances.”
Her six-year-old business, Kimberly Services LLC, offers services such as sales and use tax processing, payroll tax processing, W2 processing, registering new tax accounts and quarterly estimated taxes for minority small businesses.
Royster, who is part of Comptroller Lierman’s Board Advisory Work Group, first heard of Maryland Tax Connect and was excited to learn how the new software would address some of the business owners’ concerns. Before utilizing the online software, Royster had difficulties with reporting, tracking data and managing payments. She says the online platform “makes it easier to locate the information needed and provides great backup. There is one place to locate all of the processing.”
Businesses do not need to be licensed to access the portal, and there are numerous resources for those interested in using the services.
Comptroller Lierman encourages business owners to visit the comptroller’s office website to learn about the different business resources available. “We’re also trying to make sure people know how to use the system. So, we have personalized call center assistance, and business taxpayers can schedule an appointment to have a representative of our office call them and work with them to address questions and assist with tax filings. We also offer webinars where Maryland businesses can sign up to learn all about the functions of Maryland Tax Connect.”
Comptroller Lierman aims to enable all Maryland taxpayers to pay their state taxes through the Maryland Tax Connect portal by 2026.
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