Do I have to live in Illinois to form an Illinois LLC?

No. There is no residency requirement for members or managers. Only the registered agent must maintain an Illinois address.

Can I delay when my Illinois LLC becomes effective?

Yes. Form LLC-5.5 lets you specify a later effective date, up to 60 days after the filing date.

Is Illinois Department of Revenue registration the same as getting an EIN?

No. The EIN is a federal number from the IRS. Illinois Department of Revenue registration is a separate state process using Form REG-1 or MyTax Illinois.

When exactly is my Illinois LLC annual report due?

Before the first day of the calendar month in which your Articles of Organization were originally filed, each year, not on the anniversary date itself.

Can I still fix a missed Illinois annual report?

Generally yes, by filing the outstanding report and paying the accumulated penalty, though continued nonpayment risks administrative dissolution.

Illinois state guide - 6 lessons

How to start an LLC in Illinois

Illinois forms an LLC through Form LLC-5.5, the Articles of Organization, for a $150 state fee. The detail that trips people up afterwards is the annual report: it is due before the first day of your LLC's anniversary month, not on the anniversary date itself, and missing that window escalates into a per-year penalty fast. This guide covers naming, the registered agent, the Articles filing, the EIN and bank account, Illinois Department of Revenue registration, and the annual report cycle.

Illinois LLC facts at a glance

Illinois LLC facts at a glance
Official filing agency	Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services
Formation document	Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5)
State filing fee	$150
Filing methods	Online through the Secretary of State's system, Mail to Springfield, In person in Springfield or Chicago
Typical processing (recent)	10 business days
Typical expedited processing	24 hours for an extra $100
Registered agent	Must be an Illinois resident individual or an entity authorised to transact business in Illinois, with a physical Illinois registered office address; the LLC itself cannot serve as its own agent
Annual Report	$75, due First day of anniversary month
Late penalty	$100
State-level business tax	No LLC franchise tax (repealed 2024). 9.5% corporate income tax if C-Corp elected.
Publication requirement	None
Articles of Organization filing fee	$150
Annual report fee	$75, due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month each year
Late annual report penalty	$100, plus a further $100 for each additional year or part-year of delinquency, if not filed by the first day of the second month after the anniversary month
Statewide business licence	None. Illinois has no general statewide business licence, though the Illinois Department of Revenue registration and local licences may still apply.

Processing times reflect recent official guidance and change often. Check the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services current processing calendar before you rely on a date.

File it yourself

Illinois accepts filings directly from business owners. You do not need us, or any other company, to form your LLC. Here is the official portal.

the Illinois Secretary of State online filing system

The Illinois lessons

Start lesson 1

Related Gullia Filing pages

Or let us file your Illinois LLC for you

Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5), act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.

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Official sources

Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team, Corporate formation specialists and registered agents