Business formation

Form your business in Illinois

Start your LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, or Nonprofit in Illinois with a guided, step-by-step workflow tailored to your entity type - and know the state filing fee before you begin.

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Forming an LLC in Illinois costs $150 in state filing fees, which is above the national median: 38 of the 51 U.S. jurisdictions charge less, and the national median is $100. A corporation files for $175 and a nonprofit for $50. Below: the fee table, what else you pay in year one, and the questions founders ask before filing here.

Illinois state filing fees

These are the one-time fees paid to the Illinois Secretary of State to file your formation document. They are separate from any EazeAccounts service or package fee.

Entity type	State filing fee
LLCArticles of Organization - flexible, pass-through, simple to run.	$150
Corporation (C-Corp / S-Corp)Articles of Incorporation - shares, board, officers. S-Corp is a federal tax election on the same state filing.	$175
NonprofitNonprofit Articles of Incorporation - mission-driven; optional 501(c)(3).	$50

Note: corp min fee, share-based (incl. initial franchise tax min).

Estimated state filing fees, separate from EazeAccounts service fees. Some states set a minimum that can rise with authorized shares, and expedited or online filing may differ. Fees last verified May 2026; confirm the current amount with the Illinois Secretary of State before filing.

What an LLC costs every year in Illinois

Annual Report

$75

Before the first day of the anniversary month each year Late filing adds a $100 penalty.

State tax on the LLC

Illinois has no franchise tax on LLCs; the franchise tax applies to corporations. LLC income passes through to the owners' state income tax at 4.95 percent, plus the 1.5 percent personal property replacement tax on partnerships and LLCs.

How long Illinois takes

Online filings usually take up to ten business days. Expedited 24-hour processing costs an extra $100.

What is different about Illinois

• Illinois cut the LLC filing fee from $500 to $150 in 2018, so older guides overstate the cost.
• The replacement tax is easy to miss when budgeting; it applies to LLC profit even though there is no franchise tax.
• Series LLCs are allowed and cost more to form.

Guide reviewed September 2026 against the Illinois Secretary of State and tax authority. Confirm current figures before filing.

What else you pay in year one

Registered agent. Free if you serve as your own agent at a Illinois street address; a service charges an annual fee if you would rather keep your address off the public record.
EIN. Free from the IRS. Anyone charging for an EIN alone is charging for the form.
Annual report or franchise tax. Most states ask for a yearly report and some charge a fee or tax with it; the amount and deadline are set by Illinois. Check the Secretary of State page before you file so the first renewal is not a surprise.
Licences and permits. City and county rules depend on what the business does, not on the entity type.

Not sure whether an LLC or a corporation fits? The entity cost calculator compares the two over three years, and the guide to LLC vs C-Corp covers the tax and investor side.

Questions founders ask about Illinois

How much does an Illinois LLC cost each year?: The annual report is $75, due before the first day of the month the LLC was formed. Late filings add $100.
What does it cost to start an LLC in Illinois?: The Articles of Organization cost $150. Expedited 24-hour processing is another $100.
Is there a franchise tax on LLCs in Illinois?: No. The Illinois franchise tax applies to corporations. LLCs pay the 1.5 percent personal property replacement tax on profit and the owners pay state income tax.
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Illinois?: The Illinois state filing fee for an LLC is $150, paid once when you file the formation document. That is above the national median: 38 of 51 jurisdictions charge less, and the national median is $100. Registered agent service, expedited processing and any EazeAccounts package are separate.
Do I need a registered agent in Illinois?: Yes. Every state requires an LLC or corporation to name a registered agent with a physical street address in Illinois who is available during business hours to receive legal and official mail. You can be your own agent if you live in the state, or use a service.
What is the difference between the state fee and the EazeAccounts fee?: The state fee goes to the Illinois Secretary of State and is the same whoever files for you. The EazeAccounts formation package covers preparing and filing the documents, the EIN, the operating agreement or bylaws, and setting your books up from day one. You always see both amounts before you pay.
Is the state filing fee refundable if my filing is rejected?: Generally no. States keep the fee even when a filing is rejected for a name conflict or a missing detail, which is why the name check and document review happen before anything is submitted.

Next step

Start your Illinois formation What the formation service includes See the books set up live

Comparing states? Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, or see filing fees in every state.

Ready to form in Illinois? Begin the step-by-step formation workflow.

Illinois state filing fees

These are the one-time fees paid to the Illinois Secretary of State to file your formation document. They are separate from any EazeAccounts service or package fee.

Entity type	State filing fee
LLCArticles of Organization - flexible, pass-through, simple to run.	$150
Corporation (C-Corp / S-Corp)Articles of Incorporation - shares, board, officers. S-Corp is a federal tax election on the same state filing.	$175
NonprofitNonprofit Articles of Incorporation - mission-driven; optional 501(c)(3).	$50

Note: corp min fee, share-based (incl. initial franchise tax min).

What an LLC costs every year in Illinois

Annual Report

$75

Before the first day of the anniversary month each year Late filing adds a $100 penalty.

State tax on the LLC

How long Illinois takes

Online filings usually take up to ten business days. Expedited 24-hour processing costs an extra $100.

What is different about Illinois

• Illinois cut the LLC filing fee from $500 to $150 in 2018, so older guides overstate the cost.

• The replacement tax is easy to miss when budgeting; it applies to LLC profit even though there is no franchise tax.

• Series LLCs are allowed and cost more to form.

Guide reviewed September 2026 against the Illinois Secretary of State and tax authority. Confirm current figures before filing.

What else you pay in year one

Registered agent. Free if you serve as your own agent at a Illinois street address; a service charges an annual fee if you would rather keep your address off the public record.

EIN. Free from the IRS. Anyone charging for an EIN alone is charging for the form.

Annual report or franchise tax. Most states ask for a yearly report and some charge a fee or tax with it; the amount and deadline are set by Illinois. Check the Secretary of State page before you file so the first renewal is not a surprise.

Licences and permits. City and county rules depend on what the business does, not on the entity type.

Not sure whether an LLC or a corporation fits? The entity cost calculator compares the two over three years, and the guide to LLC vs C-Corp covers the tax and investor side.

Questions founders ask about Illinois

How much does an Illinois LLC cost each year?

The annual report is $75, due before the first day of the month the LLC was formed. Late filings add $100.

What does it cost to start an LLC in Illinois?

The Articles of Organization cost $150. Expedited 24-hour processing is another $100.

Is there a franchise tax on LLCs in Illinois?

No. The Illinois franchise tax applies to corporations. LLCs pay the 1.5 percent personal property replacement tax on profit and the owners pay state income tax.

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Illinois?

The Illinois state filing fee for an LLC is $150, paid once when you file the formation document. That is above the national median: 38 of 51 jurisdictions charge less, and the national median is $100. Registered agent service, expedited processing and any EazeAccounts package are separate.

Do I need a registered agent in Illinois?

Yes. Every state requires an LLC or corporation to name a registered agent with a physical street address in Illinois who is available during business hours to receive legal and official mail. You can be your own agent if you live in the state, or use a service.

What is the difference between the state fee and the EazeAccounts fee?

The state fee goes to the Illinois Secretary of State and is the same whoever files for you. The EazeAccounts formation package covers preparing and filing the documents, the EIN, the operating agreement or bylaws, and setting your books up from day one. You always see both amounts before you pay.

Is the state filing fee refundable if my filing is rejected?

Generally no. States keep the fee even when a filing is rejected for a name conflict or a missing detail, which is why the name check and document review happen before anything is submitted.