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What Maryland FAMLI is: 0.9% payroll contribution from January 1, 2027, benefits from January 1, 2028 — every date for employers and employees

As of October 8, 2026: Maryland FAMLI is the State's paid family and medical leave insurance. The contribution is 0.9% of wages (0.45% employer, 0.45% employee) on wages paid on or after January 1, 2027. First payment due April 30, 2027. Benefits start January 1, 2028, up to $1,000 a week.

Published Sep 19, 2026

Page updated Oct 10, 2026

Short answer, as of October 8, 2026: Maryland FAMLI is the State's paid family and medical leave insurance program. Employers and employees pay for it with a contribution of 0.9% of wages, up to the Social Security wage base. The payroll deduction (many people search for it as the "FAMLI tax") applies to wages paid on or after January 1, 2027. Benefits start January 1, 2028 (the law requires a start no later than January 3, 2028).

Every date in one table

Date What happens Source
Sep 1, 2026 Registration opened to all employers. The Declaration of Intent window for a private plan opened. MD Labor news index; Understand your plan page
Nov 15, 2026 The Declaration of Intent window closes. Understand your plan page
December 2026 An employer that will withhold gives written notice at least 1 pay period before the first deduction. COMAR 09.42.02.05D
Jan 1, 2027 Deductions apply to wages paid on or after this date. Contributions FAQ, April 2026, Q15
Apr 30, 2027 First quarterly report and first payment are due. Submit quarterly reports page
July 2027 All employers start to give employee notices (six months before benefits). Employers page
Jul 31, 2027 Second report due. The payment is on time on Aug 2, 2027. COMAR 09.42.02.08E
Oct 1, 2027 Private plan application due for an employer that filed a Declaration of Intent. Understand your plan page
Oct 31, 2027 Third report due. The payment is on time on Nov 1, 2027. COMAR 09.42.02.08E
On or before Nov 1, 2027 The Secretary sets the rate for 2028. § 8.3-601(d)(1)
Dec 31, 2027 All Declarations of Intent expire. COMAR 09.42.03.10A(5)
Jan 1, 2028 Benefits become available. About the program page

The next-business-day rule covers the payment only. Do not file a report late because the due date is on a weekend.

What FAMLI means for an employer

  1. Register. The registration page says: "If you have at least one employee in Maryland, you are required to register online. There are no exceptions under state law." See who must register.
  2. Choose the State Plan or a private plan. The window to declare a private plan is Sep 1 to Nov 15, 2026. See State Plan or private plan.
  3. Give the deduction notice in December 2026.
  4. Deduct the employee share from wages paid on or after January 1, 2027.
  5. File a wage and hour report each quarter. Pay the contribution on the same day.

The Make contributions page says the rate is 0.9%, split 0.45% and 0.45%. It also says an employer with fewer than 15 total employees remits only 50% of the rate. See the FAMLI tax page and the calculator.

What FAMLI means for an employee

  • Deduction: the employee share is at most 50% of the total rate (§ 8.3-601(e)). In 2027 that is 0.45% of wages.
  • Leave: up to 12 weeks in a benefit year. The law gives 24 weeks in one case: bonding with a new child and the person's own serious health condition in the same year (§ 8.3-702).
  • Amount: up to $1,000 a week through Dec 31, 2028. The minimum is $50 a week (§ 8.3-703).
  • Formula: 90% of the average weekly wage, up to 65% of the state average weekly wage. Then 50% of the wage above that level.
  • Waiting period: none. The Employees page says: "There is no waiting or elimination period."
  • First payment: within 5 business days after the claim decision or the start of leave, whichever is later.

The rate after 2027

§ 8.3-601 says the total rate may not exceed 1.2% of wages. The Secretary sets the rate for the next year on or before November 1.

Who is outside the program for now

A sole owner who is the only person employed by their own business is not an "employer" (§ 8.3-101). Self-employed Maryland residents may opt in later. § 8.3-201 says the rules for that option are due on or before July 1, 2028.

If an employer does not pay

COMAR 09.42.02.09 gives 30 days to cure. Interest is 1.5 percent per month or part of a month. After that, § 8.3-903 allows an extra assessment of up to two times the contributions "withheld". The regulation says "not to exceed two times the contributions delinquent to the Division" (COMAR 09.42.02.09B(2)). § 8.3-905 adds a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each employee. Details: penalties and interest.

Size of the program

An MD Labor release of October 2, 2024 says paid leave will cover "2.5 million workers and 180,000 employers". The About page (read October 8, 2026) gives no count.

Build your own list with the to-do list.

This is a private website, not a government site. General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Official site: paidleave.maryland.gov.

For employees: Maryland FAMLI for employees

Sources

  1. Maryland FAMLI — About the program (important dates) — checked Oct 8, 2026
  2. Maryland FAMLI — Make contributions — checked Oct 8, 2026
  3. Maryland FAMLI — Submit quarterly reports — checked Oct 8, 2026
  4. Maryland FAMLI — Understand employer registration — checked Oct 8, 2026
  5. Md. Code, Labor and Employment § 8.3-701 (start of benefits) — checked Oct 8, 2026
  6. Maryland FAMLI — Employees page — checked Oct 8, 2026

Frequently asked questions

›What is FAMLI in Maryland?

FAMLI is Maryland's Family and Medical Leave Insurance program. Employers and employees pay a contribution of 0.9% of wages in 2027. From January 1, 2028 the program pays eligible workers up to $1,000 a week during family or medical leave.

›When does the Maryland FAMLI deduction start?

The Contributions FAQ says deductions begin on January 1, 2027 for wages paid after this date. The rule follows the pay date. A January 2027 paycheck for December 2026 work is covered.

›When do Maryland FAMLI benefits start?

The official About the program page says benefits become available on January 1, 2028. The law, § 8.3-701, requires a start no later than January 3, 2028.

›How much is the Maryland FAMLI contribution?

The Make contributions page says 0.9% of wages up to the Social Security wage base, for wages paid January 1 to December 31, 2027. The employer pays 0.45% and the employee pays 0.45%. An employer with fewer than 15 employees remits only 50% of the rate.

›Does every Maryland employer have to register?

Yes. The registration page says an employer with at least one employee in Maryland is required to register online, with no exceptions under state law. Registration opened to all employers on September 1, 2026.

Private website. Not affiliated with the State of Maryland, the Maryland Department of Labor or the FAMLI Division. Official site: paidleave.maryland.gov. General information with sources and check dates — not legal, tax or insurance advice. We are not a licensed insurance producer; we do not recommend any agent, insurer or plan, and we receive no commission or fee based on any insurance sale.