Filing your Illinois LLC annual report keeps the company in good standing with the Secretary of State. As of 2026, the standard filing fee is $75, due before the first day of the LLC's anniversary month, with specific rules for series LLCs and meaningful consequences for late filers.
What Is the Illinois LLC Annual Report?
The Illinois LLC annual report is a yearly compliance filing required under 805 ILCS 180/50-1 of the Illinois Limited Liability Company Act. Both a domestic Illinois LLC and any foreign LLC admitted to transact business in the state file with the Illinois Secretary of State's Department of Business Services.
If you haven't formed yet, Boost Suite's full Illinois LLC formation guide covers the prerequisites. The annual report requirements kick in only after the LLC is officially on the state's records.
The report confirms the registered agent, registered office, principal place of business, and the names and business addresses of all managers and any member with manager-level authority. The Illinois LLC annual report is a state compliance filing, not a federal or Illinois tax return. LLC tax treatment depends on IRS classification, Illinois tax rules, and any elections the business has made.
Who Must File: Domestic and Foreign Illinois LLCs
A domestic Illinois LLC organized in the state and any foreign LLC admitted to transact business in Illinois must file annually. There's no exemption for inactive companies, single-member LLCs, or companies with zero revenue. If the entity exists on the Secretary of State's records, the report is required.
Illinois LLC Annual Report vs Corporation Annual Report (BCA)
A common mix-up, even among bookkeepers: Illinois corporations file under the Business Corporation Act (BCA) and are subject to a corporate franchise tax under 805 ILCS 5/15.35. That tax has not been fully repealed. The exemption amount increased to $10,000 starting January 1, 2025, which zeroes out the tax for many smaller corporations, but the section itself remains on the books. Illinois LLCs file under the Illinois Limited Liability Company Act and generally do not pay the corporate franchise tax that applies under the BCA. LLC owners should not use corporation franchise tax rules to calculate an LLC annual report filing.
Half the calls I get about “the Illinois franchise tax” come from LLC owners who saw the term in an old article or received a misleading email from a third-party compliance service. The distinction matters: as an Illinois LLC, you do not owe the corporate franchise tax that applies to corporations under the Business Corporation Act.
I’ve seen owners send $200+ checks to scam mailers labeled “annual minutes” or “compliance certificate.” Those are not government documents. File directly with the Illinois Secretary of State whenever possible.
Illinois LLC Annual Report Filing Fee: $75 for a Standard LLC, Plus Series Fees Where Applicable
The standard fee under 805 ILCS 180/50-10(11) is $75 per year for a standard Illinois LLC, whether domestic or foreign. For an Illinois series LLC, the fee is $75 plus $50 for each series for which a certificate of designation has been filed and is in effect on the last day of the third month preceding the company's anniversary month, plus any applicable delinquency penalties.
Boost Suite's Illinois LLC cost breakdown covers formation plus ongoing line items in context. Payment is collected at filing through the Secretary of State's online portal or by check enclosed with paper Form LLC-50.1.
Here's a snapshot of what each scenario covers:
| Filing scenario | Standard LLC fee | Series LLC additional |
|---|---|---|
| Annual report (on time) | $75 | + $50 per active series certificate of designation |
| Annual report (60+ days past due) | $75 + $100 statutory late penalty | + $50 per series + any delinquency penalty |
| Reinstatement after administrative dissolution | $200 reinstatement filing fee + missing annual reports + statutory penalties | + applicable series LLC fees |
Online filings accept credit card. Mailed filings need a check or money order made out to the Illinois Secretary of State. Before filing, check the Secretary of State's current LLC publications and fee schedule, especially if pending legislation has changed the fee structure.
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When Is the Illinois LLC Annual Report Due? The Anniversary Month Rule Explained
The deadline is the first day of the LLC's anniversary month, with the report due before that date to count as on time. Anniversary month means the calendar month in which the Articles of Organization were originally filed (for domestic LLCs) or the month the foreign LLC was admitted to transact business in Illinois.
A practical example: an LLC formed on March 15, 2025 has March as its anniversary month going forward, and its 2026 annual report is due before March 1, 2026.
Boost Suite recommends not relying on third-party reminders alone. The legal obligation to file the annual report and pay the fee on time sits with the LLC and its members, not with any registered agent or notification service. Mark the anniversary month in your own calendar.
How to Find Your Illinois LLC's Anniversary Month
Pull up the LLC on the Department of Business Services' free business entity search. The Date of Organization (or Date of Admission for a foreign LLC) tells you the month to anchor every annual report going forward. Boost Suite's Illinois business search walkthrough shows where to click and what each field means.
First-Year Filing for Newly Formed Illinois LLCs
The first annual report is due in the calendar year following formation, not the same year. An LLC organized in October 2025 doesn't file its first report until before October 1, 2026. If your formation is still in process, Boost Suite's Illinois LLC approval timelines explain how long it takes before the LLC even appears in the search index.
How to File the Illinois LLC Annual Report Step by Step
There are two official paths: the Illinois Secretary of State's online filing portal and paper Form LLC-50.1 by mail to Springfield. Some situations listed in the Secretary of State's eligibility rules may require paper filing instead of online filing. Check the Secretary of State's current LLC annual report instructions before deciding which channel to use.
Filing the Illinois LLC Annual Report Online
The online process is generally the quickest option for an eligible LLC. You'll need the LLC's file number, current registered agent and registered office information, and a credit card.
- Go to the Illinois Secretary of State's LLC annual report filings portal.
- Enter the LLC's file number (assigned by the Secretary of State at formation; you can find it on your stamped Articles of Organization or via the business entity search).
- Confirm the listed registered agent and registered office, the principal place of business, and the names and business addresses of all managers and any member with manager-level authority.
- Pay the $75 standard filing fee (plus any applicable series LLC fee) by credit card.
- Download the file-stamped confirmation as a PDF.
Important: the LLC annual report is not the right filing to change the registered agent or registered office. If either has changed, file the annual report with “no changes” to the agent or office and submit the separate change filing. See the dedicated section below.
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Filing the Illinois LLC Annual Report by Mail
When the Secretary of State's instructions direct the LLC to file on paper, use Form LLC-50.1.
- Download Form LLC-50.1 from ilsos.gov.
- Complete all required fields in black ink or typed.
- Enclose a check or money order for $75 (plus any series LLC fees) payable to the Illinois Secretary of State.
- Mail to: Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division, 501 S. Second St., Rm. 351, Springfield, IL 62756.
Check the Secretary of State's annual reports page for current paper processing information.
Information You'll Need Before Filing
Before opening the portal or the PDF, gather this checklist in one place to avoid bouncing back and forth between tabs:
- LLC name exactly as registered with the Secretary of State
- File number assigned by the Secretary of State
- Current registered agent name and Illinois registered office address
- Principal place of business
- Names and business addresses of all managers and any member with manager-level authority
- Credit card (online) or check made out to the Illinois Secretary of State (mail)
One source of confusion catches people every year: the Illinois LLC annual report cannot be used to change the registered agent or registered office. The annual report is just a snapshot in time. It confirms what is currently on file, but it is not the filing that updates the agent or office record.
Illinois LLC Annual Report Penalties: Late Fee, Delinquency, Administrative Dissolution, and Reinstatement
Illinois doesn't penalize on day one of a missed deadline, but the costs and risks escalate once the LLC falls into delinquency. Three statutes drive this section: 805 ILCS 180/50-15 (delinquency penalties), 805 ILCS 180/35-25 (grounds for administrative dissolution), and 805 ILCS 180/35-30 (procedure for administrative dissolution).
Late Filing Penalty and Delinquency
If the annual report and fee aren't filed before the first day of the second month after the anniversary month, which in practice is more than 60 days after the due date, the Secretary of State applies a penalty of $100 under 805 ILCS 180/50-15. The late penalty is not monthly. However, the statute adds $100 for each year or fraction thereof beginning with the second year of delinquency, until the LLC is returned to good standing or reinstatement is effected. In other words, additional annual delinquency penalties can apply if the LLC remains delinquent into later years.
Administrative Dissolution: Notice of Delinquency and Cure Period
Under 805 ILCS 180/35-30, after the Secretary of State determines that grounds for administrative dissolution exist under 805 ILCS 180/35-25 (for example, failure to file the annual report and pay the fee), the Secretary sends a notice of delinquency to the LLC's registered office, or to the last known principal place of business if no registered office is on file. If the LLC does not correct the default within the statutory cure period set out in 805 ILCS 180/35-30, it may be administratively dissolved.
After Administrative Dissolution: Winding Up Only
After administrative dissolution, the LLC may act only as necessary to wind up its business. It should not continue ordinary business operations until it is reinstated. Improper activity during a period of administrative dissolution can create legal and practical risk, so owners should avoid new ordinary-course business activity and seek legal advice when needed. Reinstatement may restore the LLC's status as if the dissolution had not occurred, subject to statutory requirements.
For a domestic Illinois LLC, the name is generally protected under 805 ILCS 180/35-37 for 3 years after the notice of administrative dissolution. After that period, name availability may become an issue if the LLC has not been reinstated.
Reinstating an Administratively Dissolved Illinois LLC
Reinstatement is governed by 805 ILCS 180/35-40 and requires the reinstatement filing fee, all missing annual reports, all unpaid fees, any applicable series LLC fees, and all statutory delinquency penalties then due. The exact amount depends on how many filing periods were missed and whether the company is a series LLC. Check the Secretary of State's current fee schedule and reinstatement instructions before preparing the package.
How to Change Your Registered Agent or Registered Office in Illinois
The Illinois LLC annual report is not the right filing to change the registered agent or the registered office. Under the Secretary of State's instructions for the LLC annual report, an LLC that needs to change either must file the annual report according to those instructions and submit the separate registered agent or registered office change filing.
The change itself is made under 805 ILCS 180/1-35 of the LLC Act, using Form LLC-1.36/1.37 (Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office) or the equivalent online change application. A separate filing fee applies to this change.
If the underlying issue is the registered agent's reliability, switching to a commercial provider tends to solve three problems at once: missed state mail, address-format errors, and exposure of your home address on the public record. Boost Suite's best Illinois registered agent comparison walks through the trade-offs of national providers like LegalZoom and Northwest against Illinois-only options. For a full-service review covering formation plus ongoing compliance, see Boost Suite's Illinois LLC services breakdown.
I treat the registered agent and registered office as more than basic profile details. Under the Illinois LLC Act, they are the official channel for receiving state notices, including the notice of delinquency that can start the administrative dissolution process.
- An old business address nobody checks anymore.
- A former co-founder’s house still listed on the state record.
- An accountant or advisor who has retired or stopped handling the company’s mail.
- A registered office that no longer matches the company’s real compliance records.
Updating the agent and office on file is not glamorous, but it is foundational. I also recommend keeping your Illinois LLC operating agreement aligned with whatever is on file with the state, so your internal records and the public record tell the same story.
Common Questions About the Illinois LLC Annual Report
These are the questions that come up repeatedly from clients and readers. For anything specific to your LLC, the Illinois Secretary of State's Department of Business Services is the most reliable place to confirm current requirements.
Can I File My Illinois Annual Report by Mail?
Yes. Mail Form LLC-50.1 with the required fee (check or money order payable to the Illinois Secretary of State) to the Department of Business Services in Springfield. Online filing through the LLC annual report filings portal can often be completed more quickly than paper.
Does an Illinois LLC Have to Pay Franchise Tax?
No. Illinois LLCs file under the Illinois Limited Liability Company Act and generally do not pay the corporate franchise tax that applies under the Business Corporation Act. The LLC annual report fee under 805 ILCS 180/50-10 is a filing fee, not a tax. Separately, the Illinois LLC annual report is not a federal or Illinois tax return; LLC tax treatment depends on IRS classification (disregarded entity, partnership, or corporate election), Illinois tax rules, and any elections the business has made.
What If My Illinois LLC Is Inactive or Hasn't Done Business?
The annual report is still required. Compliance under the Illinois LLC Act is based on the entity's existence on the state's records, not its revenue or activity. An inactive LLC that skips annual reports can become delinquent and ultimately be administratively dissolved.
How Long Does the Illinois Secretary of State Take to Process the Annual Report?
Online filing through the LLC annual report filings portal can often be completed quickly. Paper filings take longer, and processing times can vary throughout the year. Check the Secretary of State's annual reports page for current information.
What Does It Cost to Reinstate an Administratively Dissolved Illinois LLC?
Reinstatement requires the reinstatement filing fee, all missing annual reports, all unpaid fees, any applicable series LLC fees, and all statutory delinquency penalties then due under 805 ILCS 180/35-40 and 805 ILCS 180/50-15. The exact total depends on how many filing periods were missed and whether the LLC is a series LLC.
Do I Still Need to File an Annual Report If I'm Closing My Illinois LLC?
If the LLC is closing, review the Illinois Secretary of State's current Statement of Termination form and instructions under 805 ILCS 180/35-15 before deciding whether an annual report is still due. If the anniversary month arrives before the termination paperwork is filed and accepted, the annual report can still be required, and any unpaid fees and penalties can affect a future filing.
- Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services
- Information for Filing an LLC Annual Report Online (Illinois Secretary of State)
- 805 ILCS 180/50-1, LLC annual reports
- 805 ILCS 180/50-15, delinquency penalties for LLCs
- 805 ILCS 180/35-30, procedure for administrative dissolution
- 805 ILCS 180/35-40, reinstatement following administrative dissolution
- Form LLC-50.1, Illinois LLC Annual Report (official PDF)
- IRS, Limited Liability Company (LLC) federal tax classification
Looking for an overview? See Illinois LLC Services
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