Illinois LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | Illinois amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $150 ($400 for a series LLC) |
| Annual report | $75, plus $50 per series |
| When it is due | Before the first day of the anniversary month, every year |
| State tax on the LLC | No franchise tax; 1.5% replacement tax on partnership net income |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $150 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $75 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the Illinois Secretary of State and other official Illinois sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Illinois?
The Illinois Secretary of State charges $150 to file Articles of Organization (Form LLC 5.5). An LLC that wants the power to create series files Form LLC 5.5(S) instead, and that filing costs $400. Online card payments carry a payment processor fee.
Standard online review takes about 10 business days. Illinois sells 24-hour handling for $100 more, which brings the filing to $250, or $500 for a series LLC. Paper filings can be expedited only in person in Springfield or Chicago, not by mail. A name reservation costs $25.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in Illinois covers the form field by field.
How much does an Illinois LLC cost every year?
Every Illinois LLC files an annual report (Form LLC 50.1) for $75 before the first day of its anniversary month. The report can go in up to 60 days early. A series LLC pays $50 more for each series with a certificate of designation in effect.
The first report falls in the anniversary month of the year after formation, so an LLC formed in June 2026 files by 31 May 2027. At $75 a year, Illinois sits above Michigan’s $25 annual statement and Indiana’s $32 report every two years, but well below Tennessee or Massachusetts.
What does an Illinois LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees an Illinois LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts Illinois charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $150 | $150 |
| Year 2 | $75 | $222 |
| Year 3 | $75 | $222 |
| Three-year total | $300 | $594 |
Does Illinois charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
Illinois charges no franchise tax on LLCs, but it does charge the Personal Property Replacement Income Tax. An LLC taxed as a partnership or S corporation pays 1.5% of its Illinois net income, and an LLC taxed as a C corporation pays 2.5%. A single-member LLC taxed as a disregarded entity is reported on the owner’s return.
Members also pay Illinois individual income tax on their share of profit at a flat 4.95%.
How much does a registered agent cost in Illinois?
Every Illinois LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in Illinois. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
See whether BusinessAnywhere can be your registered agent in Illinois for the state-specific details.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does an Illinois LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. An Illinois LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other Illinois LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the Illinois state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $25 | Application to Reserve a Name (LLC 1.15); $50 expedited fee additional. |
| Expedited filing | $100 | 24-hour service for Articles of Organization, so the filing costs $250 in total ($500 for a series LLC) |
| Certificate of good standing | $25 | Plus $20 if expedited. |
| Certified copy | $25 | Photocopy or certified copy; $50 expedite fee additional. |
| Amending the articles | $50 | Articles of Amendment (LLC 5.25); $100 expedite additional. |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | $150 (prorated) | Assumed name application with the SOS: $150 if adopted in a year ending in 0 or 5, falling to $30 in years ending in 4 or 9; renewal $150; change $25; cancel $5. |
| Changing registered agent | $25 | Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office (LLC 1.36/1.37). |
| Foreign LLC registration | $150 | Application for Admission to Transact Business (LLC 45.5); $400 for series. |
| Reinstatement after dissolution | $200 | Application for Reinstatement Following Administrative Dissolution or Revocation (LLC 35.40/45.65), plus all delinquent fees and penalties. |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in Illinois, and Illinois does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss an Illinois LLC deadline?
An Illinois LLC that misses its report deadline loses good standing at once, and a report still unfiled by the first day of the second month after the anniversary month carries a $100 penalty. Each further year of delinquency adds another $100.
After a notice of delinquency, the Secretary of State administratively dissolves the LLC if it does not cure within 120 days. Reinstatement costs $200 plus every overdue report and penalty, and the name of a dissolved Illinois LLC stays unavailable to anyone else for three years.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in Illinois sets out the steps.
How does Illinois compare with other states?
Illinois is above the median on both counts. Its $150 formation fee is $50 over the $100 national median, and its $75 annual report costs more than the yearly filings in Michigan, Indiana or Iowa. Neighbouring Missouri charges $50 online to form and nothing a year.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $150 | $75 | $150 to form, $75 annual report |
| Indiana LLC cost | $100 | $16 | $32 report every two years |
| Michigan LLC cost | $50 | $25 | $50 to form, $25 annual statement |
| Missouri LLC cost | $50 | $0 | $50 online to form, no annual report |
| Iowa LLC cost | $50 | $15 | $50 to form, $30 report every two years |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
| Delaware LLC cost | $110 | $400 | $400 flat annual tax due 1 June |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form an Illinois LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your Illinois LLC for $0 plus the $150 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the Illinois filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every Illinois deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in Illinois first.
Illinois LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in Illinois?
An Illinois LLC costs $150 to form, or $400 for a series LLC. After that it pays $75 a year for the annual report.
When is the Illinois LLC annual report due?
Before the first day of the LLC’s anniversary month each year, starting the year after formation. It can be filed up to 60 days early.
What is the late penalty for an Illinois LLC annual report?
$100 once the report is still unfiled by the first day of the second month after the anniversary month, plus $100 for each further year. The LLC can be dissolved 120 days after a delinquency notice.
Does Illinois charge franchise tax on LLCs?
No. Illinois LLCs pay no franchise tax, but an LLC taxed as a partnership pays the 1.5% Personal Property Replacement Income Tax on its net income.
Can I expedite an Illinois LLC filing?
Yes. Online 24-hour handling adds $100, so the Articles of Organization cost $250. Paper filings can be expedited only in person in Springfield or Chicago.
How much does an Illinois LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $300 in state fees: $150 to form and two $75 annual reports. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the total is $594.
Sources
- Illinois Secretary of State, LLC fee schedule
- Illinois Secretary of State, Articles of Organization instructions
- Illinois Compiled Statutes, 805 ILCS 180/50-1 (annual report)
- Illinois Compiled Statutes, 805 ILCS 180/50-15 (penalties)
- Illinois Department of Revenue, income tax rates
- Official Illinois source: DBA (assumed or trade name) fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the Illinois Secretary of State before you file.
