Nationwide  Specialists in foreign-seller real estate withholding
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FIRPTA in Maryland

Foreign-seller closings in Maryland.

Maryland state withholding stacks at 8%. We handle the federal piece end-to-end for sellers, buyers, and Maryland closing agents, with same-day intake response on every deal.

Why Maryland is different

State withholding + federal FIRPTA.

Maryland stacks state withholding on top of federal FIRPTA. The default rate is 8% of the gross sales price, filed on Form MW506NRS at or shortly after closing. Maryland's reduction path is Form MW506AE — the state-level analogue to a federal Form 8288-B, filed before closing to reduce withholding based on actual gain rather than the headline rate.

On a $1,000,000 Maryland foreign-seller closing, the default closing-table withholding is $150,000 federal + $80,000 state = $230,000. Both halves can be reduced or eliminated via the right certificates filed before the deed records.

Cities served

Maryland statewide. Same-day intake response.

FIRPTA is federal — every Form 8288, 8288-A, and 8288-B routes to the IRS Ogden Service Center regardless of property location. We coordinate with Maryland title companies, closing attorneys, and foreign sellers across:

  • Baltimore
  • Annapolis
  • Bethesda
  • Rockville
  • Silver Spring
Common questions

Maryland FIRPTA FAQ.

Does Maryland have its own state-level withholding on top of FIRPTA?

Yes. Maryland requires 8% withholding on nonresident-seller real-property sales, filed on Form MW506NRS, on top of the federal FIRPTA 15%. The state-level reduction is Form MW506AE — analogous to a federal Form 8288-B.

Will the foreign seller owe any Maryland state tax on the gain?

Yes. The closing-table Form MW506NRS withholding is a deposit against the seller's final Maryland liability on the gain — the seller files a nonresident return in Maryland to reconcile and recover any over-withholding (or owe additional tax if the closing-table amount was too low).

Can you serve a Maryland closing from Cleveland, Ohio?

Yes. FIRPTA is a federal tax regime; the IRS Ogden Service Center processes every Form 8288, 8288-A, and 8288-B regardless of the property's state. We coordinate with Maryland title companies and closing attorneys nationwide via email, secure file upload, and our intake at firptaincometaxwithholding.com/#intake. Same-day response on every intake.

Maryland deal? Send it through intake.

Same-day response. No fee to your title company. No surprises at closing.

Start a Maryland case →  Or call 216-505-0717