How to Register as a Third-Party Agent with Maryland FAMLI

This page contains step-by-step guidance for TPAs to complete the FAMLI registration process.

A TPA is an organization or specialist that is hired to manage FAMLI tasks on behalf of clients. This can include: 

• payroll providers,  
• professional employer organizations (PEO), 
• certified public accountants (CPA), 
• HR or benefits administrators, 
• insurers, 
• or leave management companies.

While a TPA manages tasks for a client, the employer remains legally responsible for complying with FAMLI requirements. 

If you are registering a TPA that also has employees in Maryland, register it as a TPA, not as an employer. After registration, your FAMLI account will be given the ability to function as both an employer and a TPA if needed. This will allow you to manage FAMLI tasks for your clients while also meeting your own FAMLI obligations as an employer.

Make the registration process smooth by gathering all of the information you need before you create and sign into your FAMLI account.

When you’re ready, start the registration process and follow these steps:

Step 1: Create a FAMLI account

What you will need to create a FAMLI account:

• email and phone number, OR
• existing Login.gov account

What you will need to complete the identity verification process:

• your Social Security Number
• driver’s license or state ID card

Step 2: Log into your FAMLI account

When you log into your FAMLI account for the first time, you will see the “Prepare to register” page. This page provides detailed information for what you need to complete the registration process. Be sure to review this page carefully if you did not do so before you created your FAMLI account.

Step 3: Confirm your registration type

• Select “I am registering as a Third-Party Agent” if you have clients who pay a salary or wage to at least one person working in Maryland. 

Review the following before you continue:

• You must register with FAMLI as a TPA, whether or not you have employees localized in Maryland.
• You must register your own TPA first. From there, you can invite clients to connect by sending a Power of Attorney through the FAMLI system. The completed Power of Attorney allows you to manage FAMLI tasks on their behalf. 
• If you pay a salary or wage to at least one person working in Maryland:

 Select “Yes, I have one or more employees localized in Maryland”

• If you do not pay a salary or wage to at least one person working in Maryland:

Select “No, I don’t have any employees localized in Maryland”. 

• You will still be able to continue registering because you have identified as a TPA who has clients with employees localized in Maryland. 

Step 4: Confirm you are an Authorized Officer

• Only Authorized Officers can register as an employer with FAMLI. Review your contact information — first name, last name, work email address, and phone number will prefill from your account information.
• From the list of job titles, select that best describes your current position.
• Check the box confirming, under penalty of perjury, that you are an Authorized Officer with the legal authority to act on behalf of the employer you are registering for.

Select Save and continue.

Step 5: Enter your EIN

• Enter the employer’s 9-digit Employer Identification Number (EIN).
• Re-enter it to confirm. Do not enter your Social Security Number. 
• Confirm the perjury statement. 

Select Save and continue.

The in-progress registration task list displays where you are in the registration process.

From your task list, select “Set up your FAMLI account”.

6. Set up your FAMLI account

From your task list, select Setting up the FAMLI account and enter:

• The employer’s legal name
• Whether the employer has a doing business as (d/b/a) name
• • If you select yes, enter the DBA name
• The employer’s 6-digit NAICS code (not sure? Look it up on the NAICS website)
• A secondary email address: this can be the same as the Authorized Officer’s. FAMLI will use it if the primary contact can’t be reached
• A secondary phone number: same rule as above
• The employer’s business structure (e.g., Individual, LLC, Corporation)
• • Check your articles of incorporation if you’re not sure

Select Save and continue. You will return to your task list. 

From your task list, select “Provide address information”.

Step 7: Provide your business address

Enter the physical address of the employer’s U.S. main office or headquarters. This cannot be a P.O. box.

Then, enter the mailing address. A P.O. box is allowed here. Check the box if the mailing address is the same as the physical address to skip re-entering it.

Select Save and continue.

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, you may miss crucial FAMLI correspondence. Only use the address you provided if you’re certain the USPS-recommended address is incorrect.

From your task list, select “Submitting Resident Agent information”.

Step 8: Submit your Resident Agent details

A Resident Agent is a person, LLC, or corporation designated to receive official and/or legal documents on behalf of the employer. If you don’t know your Resident Agent, check with your colleagues or the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT).

Select whether your Resident Agent is:

• A person: enter their first and last name, or
• An entity, such as an LLC or corporation: enter the entity name
• Enter the Resident Agent’s mailing address. This address cannot be a P.O. box.
• A small number of employers, household employers for example, may not have a Resident Agent. In that case, you may list yourself. An LLC cannot serve as its own Resident Agent.

Select Save and continue.

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 certain the USPS-recommended address is incorrect.

From your task list, select “Review and submit registration”.

Step 9: Review and submit your registration

Once every section of your task list shows Completed, select Review and submit.

Carefully review your registration type, FAMLI account information, address information, and Resident Agent details. Make any necessary changes before submitting.

Select Edit next to any section to go back and correct it.

Be sure to register correctly. If you choose the wrong registration type, you cannot change it later. Review this election carefully before selecting Submit registration.

What happens after you submit

After submitting your registration, you’ll see a confirmation page with your employer’s FAMLI account number. The FAMLI account number will be visible on your employer’s home page for reference, as well.