How to Register an LLC in Illinois (2026 Filing Guide)
To register an LLC in Illinois, you file Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) with the Illinois Secretary of State, online or by mail. The state filing fee is $150. Standard processing typically takes about 5 to 10 business days, with 24-hour expedited service available for an added $100. Once approved, you will still need an EIN from the IRS and a registered agent with a physical Illinois address, plus an Annual Report filed every year before the first day of your LLC’s formation anniversary month, for $75. Illinois is also one of the relatively small number of states that recognizes the Series LLC structure.
AnyWhereFormations handles this filing end to end for founders who would rather not manage state portals and deadlines themselves. Below is the full process if you want to understand each step, or to file it yourself.
What You Need Before You File
- A business name that is distinguishable from every other entity on record with the Illinois Secretary of State and includes “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.”
- A registered agent with a physical Illinois street address, not a P.O. box
- A decision on member-managed versus manager-managed structure, and a duration for the LLC (perpetual is standard)
- The name and address of at least one organizer to sign the filing
- A payment method for the $150 state fee
Steps to Register an Illinois LLC
1. Check name availability
Search the Illinois Secretary of State’s business name database to confirm your desired name is distinguishable from existing businesses on record under the Illinois Limited Liability Company Act. The name must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.,” and cannot contain words implying a different entity type or an unlawful purpose. A name reservation is available for 90 days if you are not ready to file yet.
2. Appoint a registered agent
Illinois requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical Illinois street address, available during normal business hours to accept legal documents. This can be yourself, another Illinois resident, or a commercial registered agent service, which keeps your personal address off the public record and matters most for founders who do not have an Illinois address, including international founders.
3. File the Articles of Organization
Submit Form LLC-5.5 online through the Secretary of State’s portal, or by mail to the Springfield office. You will list the LLC name, registered agent information, principal office address, management structure, duration, and organizer signature. The filing fee is $150. Standard processing takes about 5 to 10 business days; expedited 24-hour processing is available for an added $100.
4. Draft an operating agreement
Illinois does not legally require an operating agreement, so without one your LLC is governed by the state’s default statutory rules, which may not reflect what members actually agreed to. A written agreement sets your own terms for ownership, profit allocation, and decision-making, and banks typically ask for one before opening an account, even for single-member LLCs.
5. Get a federal EIN
Apply for an Employer Identification Number directly from the IRS at no cost. Multi-member LLCs and any LLC with employees need one; single-member LLCs benefit from having one anyway to keep business and personal finances separate. Founders without a US Social Security Number can still get an EIN by submitting Form SS-4 by fax rather than through the online IRS system.
6. Register for Illinois state taxes if applicable
Register through MyTax Illinois with the Illinois Department of Revenue if your LLC sells taxable goods or services, has employees, or has multiple members. Illinois’s statewide sales tax rate is 6.25 percent, with local jurisdictions adding on top. There is no fee to register.
7. Open a business bank account
Keep business funds separate from personal funds to preserve your LLC’s liability protection. Banks typically ask for your filed Articles of Organization, EIN confirmation, and operating agreement.
8. File your Annual Report
Illinois requires an Annual Report every year, due before the first day of your LLC’s formation anniversary month, filed online or by mail through the Secretary of State. The fee is $75. Missing the deadline adds a late penalty and can eventually lead to administrative dissolution of the LLC.
How Long Does Illinois LLC Approval Take?
Standard processing generally takes about 5 to 10 business days. Expedited 24-hour processing is available for an added $100 if you’re working against a tight deadline. Online filing is generally faster than mail once transit time is factored in.
Foreign Founders and International Applicants
Illinois does not require an LLC owner or organizer to be a US citizen or Illinois resident. International founders commonly use a commercial registered agent for the required in-state address and apply for an EIN by fax using Form SS-4 rather than the SSN-gated online IRS application. AnyWhereFormations manages the registered agent and EIN setup directly for non-resident founders, and keeps track of the Annual Report’s anniversary-month deadline so it doesn’t get missed.
Illinois’s Series LLC Option
Illinois is one of the relatively small number of states that recognizes the Series LLC, a structure that lets a single parent LLC establish multiple internal “series,” each with its own assets, liabilities, and members, shielded from the others. This can suit founders running multiple related ventures, such as several rental properties, under one umbrella filing rather than forming a separate LLC for each. Setting one up involves additional filing requirements beyond a standard LLC and is worth discussing with a formation service or attorney before committing to the structure.
How much does it cost to register an LLC in Illinois?
The state filing fee for Articles of Organization is $150. Add the $75 Annual Report fee due every year before your LLC’s formation anniversary month.
Do I need a registered agent in Illinois?
Yes. Every Illinois LLC must maintain a registered agent with a physical Illinois street address, available during normal business hours to accept legal documents on the LLC’s behalf.
Can a non-US resident form an Illinois LLC?
Yes. Illinois does not require LLC owners or organizers to be US citizens or Illinois residents. Non-residents need a registered agent with a physical Illinois address and typically apply for an EIN by fax if they do not hold a Social Security Number.
Is an operating agreement required in Illinois?
No, but without one your LLC is governed by Illinois’s default statutory rules rather than terms you and your members actually agreed to. Most owners draft one regardless, and banks often request it.
When is the Illinois LLC Annual Report due?
Every year, before the first day of your LLC’s formation anniversary month, for a $75 fee. Late filing adds a penalty and can lead to administrative dissolution.
Does Illinois allow Series LLCs?
Yes. Illinois is one of the states that recognizes the Series LLC structure, allowing a single LLC to establish multiple internal series, each shielded from the liabilities of the others.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Illinois?
Standard processing takes about 5 to 10 business days, with 24-hour expedited processing available for an added $100.
File Your Illinois LLC With AnyWhereFormations
AnyWhereFormations prepares and files your Articles of Organization, sets up your registered agent, secures your EIN, and keeps your Annual Report on schedule so your LLC stays in good standing. This is built for founders, including those outside the US, who want the entity formed correctly the first time without learning Illinois’s filing system themselves.
