If your business has not yet registered for Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, now is an important time to do so as important deadlines approach. This includes the November 15, 2026, deadline for submitting a Declaration of Intent for employers who will utilize the private plan option.
Registering now can help businesses avoid last-minute complications and ensure they are prepared to meet their reporting and contribution obligations. To simplify the process, the Maryland Department of Labor has provided an instructional video and an official step-by-step registration guide. Employers can also review SEK’s overview of Maryland FAMLI for additional information about the program, key dates, and employer responsibilities. Below is a checklist to help guide your business through the registration process, along with information on what happens next after the registration process is complete.
Step-by-step employer registration checklist
Before starting, it will be helpful to gather the following business information that will be needed during the registration process:
- Your federal Employer Identification Number (EIN),
- Legal business name and DBA name (if applicable),
- Six-digit NAICS code,
- Business structure,
- Physical and mailing addresses,
- Business contact information, and
- Resident Agent details.
Additionally, because only an Authorized Offices can complete the initial registration, before beginning, you will need to confirm that you have legal authorization to act on behalf of your business, as either an owner, partner, CEO, CFO, etc. If you do not, you will need to identify who this individual will be, and you can share the following instructions with them.
Here’s how to register for FAMLI:
1. Create a FAMLI account
Visit https://paidleave.maryland.gov/register/ and create an account using Login.gov, or sign in with an existing Login.gov account. During this step, you will need to provide an email address and phone number, and complete identity verification using your Social Security number and driver’s license or state ID.
2. Log into your FAMLI account
After creating your account for the first time, log in. You will see the “Prepare to Register” page that shares detailed information on what you need to do to complete the registration process. Review this carefully if you have not already.
3. Select your registration type
After you sign in via Login.gov, choose “I am registering as an employer” and confirm that your business has one or more employees localized in Maryland. Note that you cannot change your selection after registration, so if any mistakes are made, you will have to call Customer Care.
4. Confirm Authorized Officer information
After selecting your registration type, you will be prompted to review your name, work email address, and phone number. Select your job title and certify that you have legal authority to register the business. You will have to check a box, under penalty of perjury, that you are, in fact, as Authorized Officer with legal authority before proceeding.
5. Enter your EIN
Enter and confirm the business’s nine-digit federal EIN, then complete the required certification. You will have a perjury statement to confirm at this step, too. Note that if another colleague has already registered your business, it will immediately flag and you will be prompted with instructions on how to proceed. Additionally, if you manage multiple EINs, you can add all of them during a single session.
After you select “save and continue,” you can select “set up your FAMLI account.”
6. Set up your FAMLI account
You will then enter:
- The legal business name,
- DBA name (if applicable),
- Six-digit NAICS code (you can find the code on the NAICS website if you do not have it already),
- A secondary email address and phone number, and
- Business structure (e.g., LLC, Corporation, etc.).
7. Provide your business addresses
Enter the physical address of the business’s main office or headquarters and, if different, its mailing address. Note that the physical address cannot be a P.O. box.
8. Submit Resident Agent information
Provide the name and address of the person or entity designated to receive official legal documents on behalf of the business. If you do not know who this is, you can check with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). A small number of employers, such as household employers, may not have a Resident Agent. In that case, you may list yourself. An LLC cannot serve as its own Resident Agent.
Note that the Resident Agent’s address cannot be a P.O. box. If the address you entered doesn’t exactly match USPS records, you’ll be asked to confirm which version to use. If you use the address you entered instead of the USPS-recommended address, your Resident Agent may miss crucial FAMLI correspondence. Only use the address you provided if you’re fully certain that the USPS-recommended address is incorrect.
9. Review and submit registration
Confirm that all sections are complete, carefully review the information and registration type, making edits if needed, and select “Submit registration.” After submitting, you will receive your FAMLI account number that will be displayed on the confirmation page. Save this number for your records.
What happens after registration?
Once registered, businesses are automatically enrolled in the state FAMLI plan. From the confirmation page, you can explore the “Employer Home,” where you can:
- Invite team members to help manage the account under “Team Members”
- Review Third Party details. Note that if you would like to have a third-party agent, such as a CPA, payroll provider, or HR administrator help manage reporting and contributions, they will need to invite you and you will need to sign a Power of Attorney document before they can handle tasks for you. You cannot connect accounts. They must do it.
- Periodically review and update your profile details, such as the mailing address or Resident Agent.
Final thoughts
Although FAMLI benefits do not begin until 2028, employers should remember that their compliance obligations start much earlier. In addition to registering now, businesses should work with their payroll, HR, and benefits providers to prepare for the January 1, 2027, start of payroll deductions. Taking these steps early can help avoid last-minute complications and ensure a smoother implementation process.
If you have questions about registration, payroll contributions, or how FAMLI requirements may affect your business, please contact your SEK Client Relationship Manager or fill out the form on this page for guidance and support as you prepare for these upcoming changes.
