Illinois Secretary of State

How Much Does a Corporation Cost in Illinois?

Forming a corporation in Illinois means filing the Articles of Incorporation with the Illinois Secretary of State. The calculator below separates official government fees from estimates, and fixed costs from variable ones.

Entity type

LLC Corporation

An S corporation is a federal tax election, not a state entity type — both LLCs and corporations may qualify for it.

Registered agent

Act as my own agent — $0Generally allowed if you have an in-state address and are available during business hoursHire a service — about $200/yrMarket estimate (typically $100–$300/yr), not a state fee

Processing speed

First-year government fees — Illinois Corporation

$150

Official state fees

Articles of Incorporation (includes minimum initial franchise tax)$150

Ongoing fixed fees

Annual report feeDue each year before the first day of the incorporation anniversary month, beginning the year after incorporation$75 / yr

Annual franchise tax (minimum)Paid with the annual report each year$25 / yr

≈ $100/yr annualized for comparison — actual payment schedule shown above.

Five-year outlook

Fixed government fees (5 yrs)$550

Estimated total (5 yrs)$550

Varies by business — excluded from totals

Franchise tax above the minimum. Computed on paid-in capital allocated to Illinois when that exceeds the $25 minimum.

Educational estimate based on official fee schedules verified July 12, 2026 — not legal or tax advice. Fees, rules, and processing times change; confirm with the state or a qualified professional before relying on them.

The numbers behind this page

Every figure comes from the typed data record for Illinois, verified July 12, 2026 against the sources listed at the bottom of this page.

Formation fees — Illinois Corporation
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Articles of Incorporation (includes minimum initial franchise tax) $150 minimum total ($150 filing fee including the minimum initial franchise tax); corporations with substantial paid-in capital pay more.	$150	One-time	Official state fee

Recurring & conditional obligations — Illinois Corporation
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Annual report fee Paid together with the annual franchise tax.	$75	AnnualDue each year before the first day of the incorporation anniversary month, beginning the year after incorporation	Official state fee
Annual franchise tax (minimum) Minimum $25; computed on paid-in capital, so corporations with substantial capital pay more.	$25	AnnualPaid with the annual report each year	Official state fee
Franchise tax above the minimum Computed on paid-in capital allocated to Illinois when that exceeds the $25 minimum.	Varies	Variable	Official state fee

† Partially verified — corroborated but not confirmed on a machine-readable official page.

Filing process & processing times

File online through the Secretary of State's business services site or by mail.

Processing options for Illinois Corporation filings
Option	Typical turnaround	Added fee	Notes
Standard processing	5–10 business days	None	Online filings are generally processed within about ten business days
Expedited (24-hour) service	1–1 business days	$100

Processing times are estimates based on currently available official guidance and change with filing volume — they are not guaranteed.

Registered agent costs

Every Illinois Corporationmust continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical in-state address. Acting as your own agent costs $0 where you meet the state's eligibility rules; commercial services typically run $100–$300 per year. The calculator uses $200 — the midpoint of that range — when you choose a hired service.

Midpoint of the typical advertised price range for national commercial registered-agent services as of July 2026 (e.g. Northwest Registered Agent $125/yr, ZenBusiness $199/yr, LegalZoom $249/yr). Budget providers advertise below this range and premium corporate-service firms above it. Serving as your own agent costs $0 where you meet state eligibility rules.

Worth knowing about Illinois

Illinois corporations still pay a paid-in-capital franchise tax with their annual report — a planned phase-out was repealed, so it remains in force with a $25 minimum.

Illinois Corporation cost FAQs

How much does it cost to start a corporation in Illinois?

The Illinois Secretary of State charges $150 to file the Articles of Incorporation. That figure excludes optional services and any variable taxes, which depend on your circumstances.

What are the ongoing costs of a corporation in Illinois?

Illinois corporations generally must pay the annual report fee of $75 per year (due each year before the first day of the incorporation anniversary month, beginning the year after incorporation) and the annual franchise tax (minimum) of $25 per year (paid with the annual report each year). In addition, franchise tax above the minimum may apply depending on your revenue, assets, or activity — these are variable, so they aren't included in fixed totals.

How long does it take to form a corporation in Illinois?

Standard processing generally takes about 5–10 business days. Expedited options are available: expedited (24-hour) service for $100. Processing times change with filing volume, so confirm current turnaround with the state before relying on a date.

Do I need a registered agent for a corporation in Illinois?

Yes. Every Illinois corporation must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive legal and official mail. You can generally act as your own agent at no cost if you meet the state's eligibility rules, or hire a commercial service — typically $100–$300 per year. Whether serving as your own agent is practical depends on your circumstances, including privacy and availability during business hours.

How does the Illinois franchise tax above the minimum work for corporations?

Computed on paid-in capital allocated to Illinois when that exceeds the $25 minimum. Because the amount depends on factors like revenue or assets, it is shown separately and never folded into the fixed totals above. Consult a qualified tax professional about how it may apply to you.

What this page doesn't cover

Federal, state, and local taxes beyond the fixed fees shown — income-dependent taxes are listed as variable obligations and never included in exact totals.
Business licenses, local permits, industry-specific registrations, and DBA filings.
Attorney, accountant, or filing-service fees beyond the labeled registered-agent estimate.
Whether a corporation — or Illinois — is the right choice for your situation. FormedIn provides general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice, and nothing here recommends an entity type or formation state for any specific person.

Fees, rules, deadlines, and processing times change. Confirm current requirements with the Illinois Secretary of State and consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or tax professional about your specific circumstances.

Sources

Illinois data last verified July 12, 2026.

Domestic and Foreign Corporations Publications and Forms— Illinois Secretary of StateOfficialaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost? 2026 Guide— RegisteredAgentCost.comaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?— ZenBusinessaccessed July 12, 2026