businessCONNECTION@TU

Division of Economic and Community Outreach

July 2008, businessCONNECTION@TU

DECO supports Maryland Department of Assesments and Taxation Web Presence

If you live in Maryland and own property or a business, you have had dealings with the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT). According to the Department's mission statement SDAT is charged "...to promote fairness in taxation for Maryland property owners by uniformly appraising all taxable property at market value, certifying property values to local governments, and offering programs of property tax relief and business services in a manner that is courteous and convenient".

The Department's Taxpayer Services Division is the custodian of the official papers which define and document the over one million business entities which are required to file documents with the state. This division also administers programs that provide over $55 million in State-funded property tax credits to citizens whose income, age or other status qualifies them. SDAT's Real Property Valuation Division is responsible for carrying out the required three-year cycle of review and assessment of all properties in Maryland.

For the almost 8 years RESI Information Systems Solutions, a part of Towson's Division of Economic and Community Outreach (DECO) has worked with SDAT to make the information and documents that support these processes available to the citizens of Maryland via the Internet. To accomplish this RESI has developed a suite of Internet applications which are accessed through SDAT's website. These applications provide users a simple "point-and-click" type interface to data that is actually stored in obscure programs on mainframe computers at the State's Annapolis Data Center.

Also in support of SDAT's online initiatives RESI's staff of network engineers and system engineers is responsible for hosting SDAT's entire Internet presence and making sure these critical high volume websites and applications are constantly available over the Internet.

SDAT's currently available online services include the Real Property Database which allows users to obtain ownership and value information about property in the State of Maryland.

The database contains data for approximately 2,200,000 accounts. SDAT's Real Property database is one of the most heavily used websites in the State Government routinely hosting an approximately 14 million page views a month.

Also available online is the Business Database search, which allows access to information for business security interest (UCC) filings and other types of business entity formation documents and the Certificate of Status system, an e-commerce application which allows users to print an official Certificate of Status.

Other systems RESI developed and hosts for SDAT include programs which allow users to apply for extensions to their personal property taxes, appeal their property tax assessments, and register for the Maryland Homestead Tax Credit program. RESI has also developed software that supports other important initiatives such as the Utility Rate Stabilization Notices, the Ground Rent Registration program, and Domestic Corporate Forfeiture information.

RESI is currently providing assistance with the management of a project at SDAT which is working to bring new "in-house" software online. This new, more powerful software will eventually allow the web applications to make even more data, including graphics, available to the public.

According to C. John Sullivan, Jr., SDAT's Director, "the online applications have allowed millions of citizens to access information that was previously only available at the Department's offices. This has made getting the information faster and easier for the taxpayers and has substantially reduced the Department's level of effort in providing it."

Division of Economic and Community Outreach
Office Location: 8000 York Road

Phone: 877-TULink-4U
E-mail: businessconnection@towson.edu