Skip to Content Accessibility Information

BEACON Account Activation and Registration for Employers and Third-Party Agents - Unemployment Insurance

BEACON is the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance’s online unemployment insurance (UI) system, which employers and agents can use to complete several unemployment insurance (UI) tasks. For more, see the BEACON System Overview webpage.

To use BEACON:

  • Employers and third-party agents who have Maryland UI account numbers must activate an account, and,
  • Employers and agents who do not have Maryland UI account numbers must register for an account.
     
  1. How do employers activate an account in BEACON?

    If you have a Maryland unemployment insurance employer account number:

    When you activate your employer account, you will need to provide your Maryland unemployment insurance employer account number and either the:

    • amount of the most recent payment you submitted to the Division of Unemployment Insurance; 
    • total gross wages reported on your most recently-filed unemployment insurance tax report; or
    • an activation code sent by U.S. mail.

    For more information about activating a BEACON account, see:


  2. How do employers register for an account in BEACON?

    If you do not have a Maryland unemployment insurance employer account number:

    You will need to provide the following information during the registration process.

    • Contact Information
    • Business Owner/Officer Information
    • Date Wages Will Be/Were First Paid for Services Performed in Maryland
    • Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
    • Business Name (including Legal, Trade, and Doing Business As Names)
    • State in which the Business was Formed
    • Date of Business Formation/Incorporation
    • Business Entity Type
    • Mailing Address
    • Address of Where Work is Performed in MD
    • Mailing Address for Benefit Charge Statements
    • IRS 501(c) 3 Exemption Letter (if Applying for Non-Profit)

    For more information, see:


  3. How do agents activate an account in BEACON?

    If you have a Maryland unemployment insurance agent account number:

    To activate your agent account, you will need to enter your Maryland unemployment insurance agent account number and an unemployment insurance employer account number for one of your clients. You will also need to enter either the:

    • Amount of the last payment you made for this client (whose unemployment insurance employer account number you entered); or
    • The total gross wages reported for this client.

    For more information, see:


  4. How do employers register for an account in BEACON?

    If you do not have a Maryland unemployment insurance agent account number:

    • Select “Register for an Account" and follow the prompts.

    To register your agent account, you will need to provide your contact information (name, email address, and phone number), as well as information about your client, including the business’s legal name, FEIN, email address, and address.

    For more information, see:

  5. Who can employers/agents contact for more information?

    For assistance with activating or registering an employer/agent account in BEACON, email ui.employeractivation@maryland.gov or call 410-767-8997. Employers or agents who have additional questions about BEACON can call the Employer Call Center at 410-949-0033. 

    To learn more, see