What's New for 2024

Maryland has once again overhauled Form 1. This was the cause of the delays and why we couldn’t even get an early access version out. Originally they had added a year to the property grid which is what we had expected and was the potential issue with an early access version. After all of that, they told us that their internal systems couldn’t handle an extra year of data, so they reverted the number of years to the same as it’s always been.

SDAT Approval

SDAT is no longer offering approval of tax software’s forms (anyone’s, not just ours). Our forms are as close as we can to the PDF and should be accepted with no issues.

Per communication with SDAT:
Once our Forms are on the website and available for duplication by vendors, SDAT will not be requiring vendors to submit approval requests. Once the Forms are on the website they will have been approved by SDAT in compliance with TP Art. § 11-101, and be in "the form the Department requires." SDAT will not be reviewing the duplicate Forms.

Form 1 Notes

• Many fields in the software are no longer actually printed on Form 1. The problem is that the other forms have not been updated and still have these fields. As such, we had no choice but to leave the fields in the software for now. Fields that are not used on Form 1 any longer are highlighted in light red.
• There is only one signature area on the revised Form 1. There is a checkbox to indicate who is signing it, the corporate officer or the preparer. The software defaults to printing the taxpayer’s info. A checkbox is provided to tell the software that you want to print the preparer’s information instead.
• There are only 4 director’s names boxes instead of 8. Ensure the 4 you want to print are in the white input boxes.
• The checkboxes to override printing of pages 2-4 and 5-6 are on the return options screen.

Form SD1

• Form SD1 is now considered pages 5 and 6 of Form 1. However, the other form types may have reason to need SD1 so you will see the correct for each entity.
• Form 1’s 2024 instructions indicate the SD1/Section 6 the SD-1 is necessary if there are any disposals or transfers in and out of MD or if there is expensed property that is owned and not reported in the property section.

Other Changes

• Added extra fields to the client list and in the return options screen, for Date Sent to Client and Notes.

Instructions

SDAT’s instructions are here

Assessments

Also, a reminder that the tax rates in the software never match exactly with the actual assessments as the rates are released in the summer, after the filing season. So, the software uses the prior year’s rates. Often there is a minimal change, but some years it can vary significantly. This is why the assessments are labeled as estimates.

For the 2024 version, Maryland PPT Pro can import your data from the following software:

- Universal Software 2023
- LaserSoft MD PPT 2023

If you have any suggestions for features you'd like to see in the next version, please contact us.