Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman is urging taxpayers to complete filings and payments this week before a series of system cutoffs begins as the state migrates to a new online tax portal.
Beginning Friday, July 24, the Comptroller’s Office will stop accepting in-person paper check payments at branch offices for personal income, pass-through entity and fiduciary taxes after 4:30 p.m. Paper check acceptance at branches will resume Sept. 1.
Electronic filing and payments through the current online systems will end at 11:59 p.m. on July 29. Those services for individual taxpayers will restart Sept. 1 inside the new Maryland Tax Connect portal.
Business tax electronic filing and payments have a later cutoff of Aug. 20. From Aug. 21 through Aug. 31, systems will be down for final data migration. E-check and credit card payments will still be accepted during that window but will not post to accounts until after Sept. 1.
No penalties will be assessed for any payment or filing deadline that falls within the outage period.
The changes mark the final phase of a multi-year modernization effort to replace aging tax administration systems that have been in use for more than three decades. Maryland Tax Connect, already available to businesses, will expand to individual taxpayers on Sept. 1, offering a single secure portal for filing returns, making payments, viewing account balances, accessing notices and tracking refunds.
Lierman’s office has described the legacy system as having reached the end of its useful life. Earlier disruptions, including an abrupt shutdown several years ago, underscored the need for a more reliable platform. Expanding the portal to individuals is intended to provide faster processing, stronger cybersecurity and greater self-service options.
Taxpayers who cannot meet the upcoming cutoffs are encouraged to use e-check, which remains available throughout the transition. The free method debits directly from a bank account and can be used for balances, estimated payments and extensions. Payments submitted during the outage will be processed and applied after the new system launches.
Full details, frequently asked questions and resources for tax professionals are posted at MarylandComptroller.gov/IndividualTaxHub. Questions can also be submitted through the agency’s Service Portal.
For Southern Maryland residents, the transition affects anyone who files personal income taxes, makes estimated payments or handles fiduciary or pass-through entity returns. Branch offices that currently accept paper checks will no longer do so after Friday until the September relaunch. Residents who prefer in-person transactions or paper methods should plan accordingly this week.
The Comptroller’s Office has been rolling out information about the change for months. Earlier announcements in June and July outlined the timeline and emphasized that the new portal is designed to improve reliability after years of operating on aging infrastructure.
Lierman, the first woman independently elected as Maryland’s comptroller, has made technology modernization a central priority of her tenure. In addition to the tax portal expansion, the agency has pursued upgrades to payroll and financial management systems. Officials have framed the September launch as a major step toward more efficient revenue administration and better taxpayer service.
Taxpayers with existing balances or upcoming estimated payments are advised to act before the July 29 electronic cutoff if they intend to use the current online tools. Those who wait until the outage period can still submit e-checks, but the payments will not appear on accounts until the new system is live.
The phased approach is intended to allow an orderly migration of data while minimizing disruption. By keeping e-check available and suspending penalties during the blackout window, the Comptroller’s Office aims to give residents flexibility while completing the technical transition.
As the final deadlines approach, officials continue to direct the public to the dedicated information hub for the most current guidance. The Maryland Tax Connect portal for individuals is scheduled to open Sept. 1 with all core services restored.
