Tip: Start from the federal W-4 calculator to pre-fill your pay and federal results here automatically.
Your Paycheck
Filing Status
Credits & Adjustments (Optional)
Leave blank if you're not sure — these only affect your federal withholding.
$2,200 per child under 17 · $500 per other dependent. Reduces your withholding.
Add extra to cover side income, freelance, or investment income each paycheck.
Non-wage income: freelance, dividends, rental income. Annual total.
If you itemize and deductions exceed the standard deduction. Annual total.
File your Illinois return
Total withholding per paycheck
$334
$8,693 / year
Gross pay minus federal, FICA, and state taxes
Federal
Illinois State Tax
Illinois has no standard deduction. This estimate includes the $2,925 personal exemption per person for 2026 and does not include dependents.
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Illinois has its own form: the IL-W-4
Illinois does not use your federal W-4 to set state withholding. Every employee must give their employer a separate Form IL-W-4, the Employee's Illinois Withholding Allowance Certificate. The federal W-4 controls federal withholding, and the IL-W-4 controls Illinois.
Don't skip it. If you don't file a completed, signed IL-W-4, your employer must withhold Illinois tax on your entire pay with no exemptions at all. That also applies if you claimed exempt on your federal W-4: you may still owe Illinois withholding unless you check the exempt box on the IL-W-4 itself.
Illinois rate and allowances for 2026
Illinois has a flat income tax rate of 4.95% and no standard deduction. Instead, each person gets a personal exemption allowance, which is $2,925 for 2026. It is not available if your federal adjusted gross income is above $250,000 ($500,000 for married filing jointly).
Employers withhold using this formula: 4.95% × (your pay − ((Line 1 allowances × $2,925 + Line 2 allowances × $1,000) ÷ pay periods per year)). So each Line 1 allowance shields $2,925 a year from withholding, and each Line 2 allowance shields $1,000.
How to fill out the IL-W-4
Line 1 is for basic allowances: one for you (unless someone else can claim you as a dependent), one for your spouse if you can claim them as a dependent, and one for each dependent you'll claim on your return. Line 2 is for additional allowances: one if you or your spouse are 65 or older or legally blind, plus one for each $1,000 of expected deductions (the worksheet starts from Line 4 of the federal W-4 Deductions Worksheet). Line 3 lets you ask for an extra dollar amount withheld from each paycheck.
You never have to claim all the allowances you're entitled to. Claiming fewer means more withheld. If you have more than one job or your spouse works, Illinois says withholding is usually more accurate if you claim all your allowances at the highest-paying job and zero at the others.
When to file a new IL-W-4
If your allowances go up, you can file a new form any time. If they go down, you must file a new one within 10 days. Your employer may apply a change right away, but is only required to do so from the first payment after the next quarter start (January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1) that falls at least 30 days after you file.
Illinois W-4 FAQ
What is Illinois's income tax rate for 2026?+
Illinois has a flat individual income tax rate of 4.95%. There are no brackets and no standard deduction.
How many exemptions should I claim on the IL-W-4?+
Claim one basic allowance for yourself (unless someone else can claim you as a dependent), plus one for a spouse you can claim as a dependent and one for each dependent you'll claim. You can claim fewer to have more withheld. Each allowance is worth $2,925 of exempt income for 2026.
Do I need an IL-W-4 if I already filled out a federal W-4?+
Yes. Illinois uses its own IL-W-4. If you don't give your employer one, they must withhold Illinois tax on your entire pay with no exemptions.
Does Illinois have local income tax?+
Illinois workers pay one flat state rate. Instead of levying their own income taxes, local governments receive a share of the state's income tax collections. Some cities and counties do charge other local taxes such as sales and property taxes.
What is the Illinois exemption allowance for 2026?+
The Illinois personal exemption allowance is $2,925 per person for 2026, up from $2,850 in 2025. It is not allowed if federal adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000, or $500,000 for married filing jointly.
Start with your federal W-4
Your Illinois withholding follows your pay, but your W-4 is federal. Get the exact lines to fill in.
Open the W-4 Calculator →