Illinois Paycheck Calculator 2026

Use this paycheck calculator for Illinois to estimate your 2026 take-home pay from salary or hourly wages. This calculator uses Illinois's flat 4.95% rate with your Form IL-W-4 allowances ($2,925 each on Line 1) and handles federal W-4 withholding, Social Security, Medicare and pre-tax deductions. Illinois tax shows up as state withholding (SIT) on your pay stub.

Written by Rachel Brooks, Tax Forms and W-2 Content Specialist. Updated September 24, 2026. Every example is checked against the live calculator and by hand.

Calculate Take-Home Pay Illinois Payroll Guide

Gross pay$2,307.69

Pay frequencyBiweekly

Taxes & deductionsCurrent

Federal income tax$193.08

Social Security + Medicare$176.54

Illinois income tax (4.95%)$114.23

Estimated net pay$1,823.84

Example: $60,000 salary, paid biweekly, federal Single, no IL-W-4 allowances, no voluntary deductions.

Flat 4.95% Illinois taxIL-W-4 Line 1, Line 2 and Line 3

Federal W-4 + FICA2026 Publication 15-T, $184,500 wage base

Salary or hourlyWeekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly pay

Illinois Paycheck Calculator

Pay details

Pay type

Salary Hourly

Annual salary

Pay frequency

Federal Form W-4

Filing status

Step 3: Credits (annual dependent and other credits)

Step 4(a): Other annual income

Step 4(b): Deductions

Step 4(c): Extra withholding (per paycheck)

Step 2(c) Multiple jobs or spouse also works Exempt from federal income-tax withholding, when qualified

Need the form itself? Use our Form W-4 generator.

Illinois Form IL-W-4

Line 1: Basic allowances

Line 2: Additional allowances

Line 3: Additional withholding (per paycheck)

2026 Illinois withholding rate

Exempt from federal and Illinois income-tax withholding, when qualified

Each Line 1 allowance removes $2,925 a year ($112.50 biweekly) and each Line 2 allowance $1,000 before the 4.95% rate. Line 3 adds a flat amount to each paycheck. Total Illinois exemption only applies if you're also exempt from federal withholding.

Deductions

Traditional retirement (per paycheck, cuts federal income tax)

Section 125 / HSA (per paycheck, can cut FICA too)

Other post-tax deductions (per paycheck)

Advanced payroll fields

YTD Social Security wages (stops SS at the $184,500 base)

YTD Medicare wages (for Additional Medicare)

79.0% Take home

Your paycheck

Take-home pay $1,823.84

Taxes $483.85

Other deductions $0.00

Where your money goesCurrent pay

Gross pay$2,307.69

Federal income tax−$193.08

Social Security−$143.08

Medicare−$33.46

Additional Medicare$0.00

Illinois state income tax−$114.23

Traditional retirement$0.00

Section 125 / HSA$0.00

What You Should Know About Illinois Paychecks

Illinois has a flat 4.95% income tax, and unlike most flat-tax states it has no standard deduction in its withholding formula. The only thing that shelters wages is your Form IL-W-4: $2,925 a year for each Line 1 allowance and $1,000 for each Line 2 allowance. With zero allowances, 4.95% of every dollar is withheld: $114.23 on a $60,000 biweekly paycheck.

No Illinois city taxes wages, Chicago included. Where you work still matters, though: Chicago's minimum wage is $17.05 and suburban Cook County's is $15.40 from July 1, 2026, above the $15.00 state rate.

You may also see an Illinois Secure Choice deduction, the state's automatic Roth IRA, if your employer doesn't offer a retirement plan.

4.95% Flat 2026 income tax rate

Unchanged since July 2017.

$2,925 Per IL-W-4 Line 1 allowance

Up from $2,850 in 2025; $112.50 per biweekly paycheck.

$15.00 State minimum wage

$17.05 in Chicago from July 1, 2026.

Illinois Paycheck Taxes at a Glance

Here's everything that can come out of an Illinois paycheck in 2026 and which payroll taxes the employer pays instead. For more on the federal lines, see our FICA tax guide.

Illinois employee paycheck items in 2026
Paycheck item	2026 treatment	Employee deduction?
Federal income tax	Based on wages, pay frequency and Form W-4, using IRS Publication 15-T	Yes
Social Security	6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500	Yes
Medicare	1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% Additional Medicare above $200,000	Yes
Illinois income tax	4.95% after $2,925 per Line 1 and $1,000 per Line 2 IL-W-4 allowance	Yes
Illinois Secure Choice	Default 5% Roth IRA contribution, after tax, if enrolled	Sometimes
State disability or paid leave	None; paid leave is employer-provided, not a deduction	No
Local income tax	None; no Illinois city or county taxes wages	No
Unemployment insurance	Employer-paid on the first $14,250 of wages	No

Form IL-W-4: How Allowances Change Your Paycheck

Illinois doesn't use your federal W-4. Your employer needs a Form IL-W-4, and because Illinois withholding has no standard deduction, the allowances on it do all the work. Here's what each choice does to a $60,000 biweekly paycheck.

Effect of IL-W-4 choices on Illinois withholding, $60,000 salary, biweekly (2026)
IL-W-4 choice	Illinois tax per paycheck	Take-home pay
No allowances	$114.23	$1,823.84
Line 1: 1 allowance	$108.66	$1,829.41
Line 1: 2 allowances	$103.09	$1,834.98
Line 1: 3 allowances	$97.52	$1,840.55
Line 1: 1, Line 2: 1	$106.76	$1,831.31
No allowances plus $10 on Line 3	$124.23	$1,813.84

What to claim: Line 1 is usually one for you, one for your spouse if you file jointly and they don't claim their own, and one per dependent. Line 2 is for being 65 or older or legally blind, you and your spouse. Each Line 1 allowance is worth about $5.57 per biweekly paycheck, each Line 2 allowance about $1.90. Take-home figures use federal Single so only the IL-W-4 choice changes. You can only claim total Illinois exemption if you're also exempt from federal withholding.

When Illinois Withholding Won't Match Your Return

Illinois withholding is simple, but a few common situations leave you with a refund or a bill in April.

Common Illinois withholding gaps in 2026
Situation	What happens	About how much
Claiming zero allowances	The return gives you a $2,925 exemption that withholding ignored	About $145 a year over-withheld per exemption
Income over $250,000 ($500,000 joint)	The return disallows all exemptions, but allowances still cut withholding	About $145 a year under-withheld per allowance
Two jobs, allowances claimed on both	Each employer shelters the same exemptions	About $145 a year under-withheld per duplicate allowance
Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky or Michigan resident	No Illinois tax is owed if you file IL-W-5-NR	All Illinois withholding, if the form isn't filed
Indiana or Missouri resident working in Illinois	Illinois tax is withheld; your home state gives a credit	Depends on your home state's tax

What to do: If you're over-withheld, add Line 1 allowances. If you're likely to owe, drop duplicate allowances or add a Line 3 amount. Figures use the flat 4.95% rate and the 2026 $2,925 exemption.

Illinois, Chicago and Cook County Minimum Wage in 2026

Illinois has one of the few state minimum wages where the city you work in can change your pay. Chicago and suburban Cook County set their own higher rates each July 1.

Minimum wages that apply in Illinois from July 1, 2026
Where you work	Minimum wage	Tipped cash wage	40-hour week, gross and take-home
Illinois statewide	$15.00	$9.00	$600 gross; about $497.10 take-home
Chicago (4 or more employees)	$17.05	$12.96	$682 gross; about $558.94 take-home
Suburban Cook County	$15.40	$9.25	$616 gross

How we figured take-home: Weekly pay, federal Single, one IL-W-4 Line 1 allowance and no other deductions. Overtime is 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours a week. For example, $20 an hour for 80 regular and 10 overtime hours biweekly is $1,900 gross, $88.48 Illinois tax and $1,522.02 take-home. To total a week of punches first, use our time card calculator with overtime.

What Illinois Tax Really Costs by Salary

With no allowances, Illinois takes exactly 4.95% of every paycheck. One Line 1 allowance brings the share down a little, most at lower salaries. Figures come from the live calculator with biweekly pay.

Illinois withholding by salary, biweekly (2026)
Salary	Per paycheck, no allowances	Per year, no allowances	Per year, 1 allowance	Share of gross, 1 allowance
$30,000	$57.12	$1,485	$1,340	4.47%
$40,000	$76.15	$1,980	$1,835	4.59%
$50,000	$95.19	$2,475	$2,330	4.66%
$60,000	$114.23	$2,970	$2,825	4.71%
$75,000	$142.79	$3,713	$3,568	4.76%
$100,000	$190.38	$4,950	$4,805	4.81%
$120,000	$228.46	$5,940	$5,795	4.83%
$150,000	$285.58	$7,425	$7,280	4.85%

Illinois Paycheck Tax Compared With Other States

The same $60,000 biweekly paycheck, filing single, run through our other state calculators with their default state form settings.

State income tax on a $60,000 salary, biweekly, single (2026)
State	State income tax per paycheck	State income tax per year
Hawaii	$120.02	$3,121
Illinois (no allowances)	$114.23	$2,970
Virginia	$101.38	$2,636
Idaho	$90.00	$2,340
Georgia	$86.37	$2,246
California	$69.42	$1,805

Keep the whole picture in mind: Illinois looks high here because withholding has no standard deduction. With one Line 1 allowance it's $108.66, and the return's $2,925 exemption brings the actual tax a little lower still. California also takes SDI, which isn't shown.

Illinois Salary Calculator: Take-Home Pay Examples for 2026

Biweekly pay and no pre-tax deductions. Single filers use federal Single with no IL-W-4 allowances; married filers use Married Filing Jointly with two Line 1 allowances. To convert pay first, use our salary to hourly calculator, or model a raise with the pay raise calculator.

Illinois take-home pay by annual salary (biweekly, 2026)
Annual salary	Single annual net	Single avg. monthly net	Married annual net	Married avg. monthly net
$30,000	$24,800	$2,067	$26,510	$2,209
$40,000	$32,340	$2,695	$34,470	$2,872
$50,000	$39,880	$3,323	$42,210	$3,517
$60,000	$47,420	$3,952	$49,890	$4,157
$75,000	$57,880	$4,823	$61,200	$5,100
$100,000	$74,230	$6,186	$80,049	$6,671
$120,000	$87,310	$7,276	$95,130	$7,927
$150,000	$106,366	$8,864	$116,050	$9,671

How to Calculate Your Illinois Paycheck

An Illinois paycheck goes from gross pay to take-home pay in four steps. The Illinois step is one line of arithmetic, which this calculator runs for you.

Calculate gross pay

Divide salary by pay periods, or multiply the hourly rate by regular hours and add overtime at 1.5 times the rate after 40 hours in a week.

Apply pre-tax deductions

Traditional 401(k) deductions and qualifying Section 125 benefits lower federal and Illinois taxable wages.

Calculate federal tax and FICA

Use Form W-4 for federal income tax withholding, then take 6.2% for Social Security up to $184,500 and 1.45% for Medicare.

Calculate Illinois withholding

Subtract your IL-W-4 allowances for the pay period ($112.50 per Line 1 allowance biweekly), multiply by 4.95% and add any Line 3 amount. Then subtract post-tax deductions.

Illinois Withholding Worked Example: $60,000 Salary, Biweekly

Here's the Illinois IL-700-T formula run by hand for a $60,000 salary, biweekly pay, one IL-W-4 Line 1 allowance and no pre-tax deductions. It matches the live calculator to the cent.

Step-by-step 2026 Illinois withholding on a $60,000 biweekly salary
Step	Calculation	Result
1. Find biweekly wages	$60,000 divided by 26	$2,307.69
2. Convert allowances to the pay period	(1 times $2,925 plus 0 times $1,000) divided by 26	$112.50
3. Subtract allowances	$2,307.69 minus $112.50	$2,195.19
4. Apply the 4.95% rate	$2,195.19 times 0.0495	$108.66 per paycheck

What it means for take-home pay: Gross pay of $2,307.69 minus $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare and $108.66 Illinois income tax leaves $1,829.41. With no allowances, step 2 is zero, Illinois tax is $114.23 and take-home pay is $1,823.84.

For more on how deductions change taxable wages, see our pre-tax vs. post-tax deductions guide.

Illinois Paycheck Tax Calculator: How Illinois Withholding Works

An Illinois paycheck calculator has one state tax to get right: 4.95% of wages after your IL-W-4 allowances. On your pay stub it usually appears as SIT or IL state withholding; our pay stub abbreviations list explains the other codes.

Federal Withholding for Illinois Paychecks

Federal withholding uses your Form W-4 and the 2026 IRS Publication 15-T tables. The calculator supports filing status, Step 2(c), Step 3 credits and Step 4(a), 4(b) and 4(c). If you claim the new overtime or tips deductions, our W-4 Step 4(b) worksheet guide shows how to enter them, and our 2026 federal tax withholding guide covers the rest.

Reciprocity: Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky and Michigan

Illinois has reciprocal agreements with Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky and Michigan. Residents of those states who work in Illinois file Form IL-W-5-NR with their employer and have only their home state's tax withheld. Commuters from Indiana and Missouri don't have that option; they pay Illinois tax on Illinois wages and claim a credit at home.

No Local Income Tax

No Illinois city or county taxes wages. Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Rockford and every other city add nothing to paycheck deductions. The Chicago and Cook County rules that do affect pay are the higher minimum wages above and local paid leave ordinances.

Illinois Secure Choice

Employers with five or more employees that don't offer a retirement plan must enroll workers in Illinois Secure Choice, a state-run Roth IRA. The default contribution is 5% of gross pay, taken after taxes, so it lowers take-home pay without lowering Illinois or federal tax. You can change the rate or opt out. Enter it as an other post-tax deduction in the calculator.

Bonuses

Bonuses are subject to Illinois withholding at the same 4.95% rate, plus federal withholding (usually a flat 22% on separately paid bonuses) and FICA. See why bonuses are taxed so high.

Employer Payroll Costs in Illinois

Employers pay state unemployment tax on the first $14,250 of each employee's wages in 2026. Most new employers pay 3.35%, and experienced rates run from 0.75% to 7.05%. Employers also pay their share of Social Security and Medicare and federal unemployment tax. None of it comes out of your pay. At year-end, our W-2 form generator can use the same wage and withholding totals.

Why Your Actual Illinois Paycheck May Differ

This calculator is a close estimate, not your employer's payroll run. Your IL-W-4 on file, benefit elections, a Secure Choice or other after-tax deduction, year-to-date wages and a 27th biweekly payday in some years can all move the result a little. Three-paycheck months change monthly cash flow but not the tax on each check. For a full checklist, see why your paycheck is lower than expected.

Official 2026 Illinois Payroll Sources

Payroll facts on this page are checked against the 2026 IL-700-T withholding tables, the Illinois exemption allowance rules, the 2026 IDES contribution rate notice, the Cook County and Chicago minimum wage announcement, Illinois Secure Choice and IRS Publication 15-T for 2026. Reviewed September 24, 2026.

Illinois Paycheck Calculator by Pay Frequency

This page also works as a weekly, biweekly, semimonthly or monthly payroll calculator for Illinois. The annual salary stays the same, but gross pay and withholding on each check change with the number of pay periods. See our pay period guide for how the schedules differ.

52Weekly$911.92 net

26Biweekly$1,823.84 net

24Semimonthly$1,975.83 net

12Monthly$3,951.67 net

1Annual$47,420 net

Figures use a $60,000 salary, federal Single, no IL-W-4 allowances and no voluntary deductions. Illinois tax is $57.12 weekly, $114.23 biweekly, $123.75 semimonthly and $247.50 monthly. Small annual differences come from rounding each paycheck.

How We Test This Illinois Paycheck Calculator

Every scenario below was run through the live Illinois calculator on September 24, 2026 and checked by hand: federal withholding with the 2026 Publication 15-T percentage method and Illinois withholding with the 2026 IL-700-T formula. Both agree to the cent. Scenarios are biweekly unless noted.

Illinois paycheck test cases, checked September 24, 2026 (per paycheck)
Scenario	Gross pay	Federal income tax	Illinois tax	Take-home pay
$30,000, no allowances	$1,153.85	$54.62	$57.12	$953.84
$60,000, no allowances	$2,307.69	$193.08	$114.23	$1,823.84
$60,000, Line 1: 1	$2,307.69	$193.08	$108.66	$1,829.41
$60,000, Line 1: 2	$2,307.69	$193.08	$103.09	$1,834.98
$60,000, Line 1: 1, Line 2: 1	$2,307.69	$193.08	$106.76	$1,831.31
$60,000, no allowances, $10 on Line 3	$2,307.69	$193.08	$124.23	$1,813.84
$60,000, Line 1: 1, $150 401(k)	$2,307.69	$175.08	$101.24	$1,704.83
$60,000, Line 1: 1, $100 Section 125	$2,307.69	$181.08	$103.71	$1,754.01
$60,000, Married Filing Jointly, Line 1: 2	$2,307.69	$109.23	$103.09	$1,918.83
$45,000, Head of Household, $2,200 W-4 credit, Line 1: 2	$1,730.77	$0.00	$74.54	$1,523.82
$100,000, no allowances	$3,846.15	$506.54	$190.38	$2,855.00
$150,000, no allowances	$5,769.23	$951.31	$285.58	$4,091.00
$20 an hour, 80 hours plus 10 overtime, Line 1: 1	$1,900.00	$144.15	$88.48	$1,522.02
$15.00 an hour, 40 hours, weekly, Line 1: 1	$600.00	$30.08	$26.92	$497.10
$17.05 an hour (Chicago), 40 hours, weekly, Line 1: 1	$682.00	$39.92	$30.97	$558.94

Update log: September 24, 2026: rewrote this page. We fixed the sample paycheck, whose net pay left Illinois tax out, and the results panel, which showed amounts without dollar figures and was missing its take-home percentage. We added the IL-W-4 comparison, the withholding gap table, Chicago and Cook County minimum wages, a state comparison, a worked example and the test cases above. We re-check this page whenever the Illinois Department of Revenue or the IRS publishes new tables, and at least once a year each January.

2026 Tax Data This Calculator Uses

Here's every rate and limit behind the numbers on this page and where it comes from, so you can check them yourself.

Tax rates and limits used by the Illinois paycheck calculator
Item	2026 value used	Source
Federal income tax withholding	Percentage method tables for 2026 Forms W-4	IRS Publication 15-T (2026)
Social Security	6.2% up to $184,500 in wages	Social Security Administration
Medicare	1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000	IRS Publication 15 (2026)
Illinois withholding	4.95%; $2,925 per Line 1 allowance; $1,000 per Line 2 allowance	Illinois IL-700-T (2026)
Exemption income limit (return)	No exemption above $250,000 AGI, or $500,000 joint	Illinois Department of Revenue
Minimum wage	$15.00 state; $17.05 Chicago; $15.40 Cook County (July 1, 2026)	Cook County
Unemployment tax	Employer-paid on the first $14,250 of wages; 3.35% for most new employers	IDES

Spotted something that looks wrong? Tell us through the editorial contact form with the inputs you used, and we'll re-check the calculation. This page is written by Rachel Brooks and follows the research and review process on our editorial team page. ePayStubs isn't affiliated with the IRS or the State of Illinois.

Illinois Paycheck Calculator FAQ

What is Illinois's income tax rate in 2026?

Illinois has a flat 4.95% income tax. Employers withhold 4.95% of wages after subtracting $2,925 a year for each IL-W-4 Line 1 allowance and $1,000 for each Line 2 allowance.

How much tax is taken out of an Illinois paycheck?

On a $60,000 salary paid biweekly, filing single with no IL-W-4 allowances, $483.85 comes out of each $2,307.69 paycheck: $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare and $114.23 Illinois income tax. That leaves $1,823.84, about 79.0% of gross pay. Claiming one Line 1 allowance lowers Illinois tax to $108.66.

How many allowances should I claim on Form IL-W-4?

Line 1 is usually one for yourself, one for your spouse if you file jointly and they don't claim their own, and one for each dependent. Line 2 adds allowances if you're 65 or older or legally blind. Each Line 1 allowance cuts Illinois withholding by about $5.57 per biweekly paycheck, and each Line 2 allowance by about $1.90.

Why does Illinois withhold 4.95% of every dollar with zero allowances?

Illinois withholding has no built-in standard deduction. With zero allowances, 4.95% of all wages is withheld. The Illinois return gives most people a $2,925 exemption each, so claiming zero usually means about $145 a year more withheld than you owe per exemption you skipped.

What is the minimum wage in Illinois and Chicago in 2026?

The Illinois minimum wage is $15.00 an hour, with a $9.00 tipped cash wage. From July 1, 2026, Chicago's minimum wage is $17.05 with a $12.96 tipped wage for employers with four or more workers, and suburban Cook County's is $15.40 with a $9.25 tipped wage.

Does Chicago have a city income tax?

No. No Illinois city or county taxes wages, including Chicago. The only state tax on a paycheck is the 4.95% income tax.

I live in Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky or Michigan and work in Illinois. Is Illinois tax withheld?

Not if you give your employer Form IL-W-5-NR. Illinois has reciprocal agreements with those four states, so your wages are taxed only by your home state. Indiana and Missouri residents don't have that option and do have Illinois tax withheld.

What is the Illinois Secure Choice deduction on my pay stub?

Illinois Secure Choice is the state's automatic Roth IRA for workers whose employer doesn't offer a retirement plan. The default is 5% of gross pay, taken after taxes, and you can change the rate or opt out.

Are 401(k) contributions pre-tax in Illinois?

Yes. Traditional 401(k) and Section 125 deductions lower Illinois taxable wages. With one Line 1 allowance, a $150 biweekly 401(k) contribution on a $60,000 salary cuts Illinois withholding from $108.66 to $101.24.

Do employees pay Illinois unemployment tax?

No. Employers pay Illinois unemployment insurance on the first $14,250 of each employee's wages in 2026, with a 3.35% rate for most new employers. It isn't deducted from pay.

How do I calculate take-home pay in Illinois?

Start with gross pay and subtract pre-tax deductions. Figure federal withholding and FICA, then subtract your IL-W-4 allowances converted to the pay period ($112.50 per Line 1 allowance biweekly), multiply by 4.95% and add any Line 3 amount. Subtract post-tax deductions last.

Illinois Payroll Resources

Illinois Paystub Generator

Create an Illinois pay stub with federal tax, FICA and Illinois withholding.

Form W-4 Generator

Prepare the federal withholding form behind your paycheck calculation.

W-2 Form Generator

Create a W-2 from year-end wage and withholding totals.

Ready to put your Illinois numbers on a pay stub?

Use the same gross pay, federal tax, FICA, Illinois withholding and deduction details with our paystub generator to create an Illinois pay stub.

Build My Illinois Pay Stub

Written by: Rachel Brooks, Tax Forms and W-2 Content Specialist. Last updated: September 24, 2026. Checked against the Illinois Department of Revenue 2026 IL-700-T, IDES and IRS Publication 15-T (2026).

Disclaimer: Estimates are for educational use and aren't tax or legal advice. Actual payroll withholding depends on the employee's Form W-4, Form IL-W-4, year-to-date wages, benefits, deductions and employer payroll system. For more Illinois payroll details, see our Illinois Payroll Guide.

Official sources: Illinois IL-700-T (2026) · IDES 2026 rates · Cook County minimum wage · IRS Publication 15-T (2026). Reviewed September 24, 2026.