Effective July 1, 2013, Maryland’s recordation and transfer tax exemption for transfers of real property between related entities will be available to limited liability companies. The exemption, previously applicable only to transactions between related corporations, will apply to transactions between related “business entities,” a new term covering corporations and limited liability companies.

Under the revised statute, a transfer of real property between two business entities will be exempt from recordation and transfer taxes if:

- 1. the property is transferred between a parent business entity and its wholly owned subsidiary business entity, or between wholly owned subsidiary business entities having the same parent business entity; and

- 2. the parent business entity is the original owner of the subsidiary business entity or entities or became the owner through a gift from its or their original owner; and

- 3. the transfer is for no consideration, nominal consideration, or consideration that comprises only the issuance, cancellation or surrender of the ownership interests of a subsidiary business entity.