Illinois Paycheck Calculator
Illinois taxes everyone at the same 4.95%, and not one city adds to it. Not even Chicago.
Detailed paycheck estimator for workers in **Illinois** (IL). Uses updated 2026 federal withholdings, FICA tax limits, and state-specific tax brackets.
Estimate Take-Home Income in IL
4.95% Flat TaxCalculator Inputs
Calculation Result
How much tax comes out of a paycheck in Illinois?
Illinois takes a flat 4.95% on income after your exemption allowance. A single filer earning $75,000 pays $3,568 in state tax and takes home about $58,025 a year.
W-2 tax structure in Illinois
Illinois has charged a flat 4.95% since July 2017, and the flat structure is written into the state constitution. Voters rejected a graduated income tax amendment in November 2020, so changing it would take another constitutional amendment. There is no standard deduction. Instead you get a personal exemption allowance of $2,925 per person for 2026, up from $2,850 in 2025.
Worked payroll example (gross $75,000 salary)
| Withholding Category | Annual Deduction |
|---|---|
| Gross Pay | $75,000.00 |
| Illinois Personal Exemption | -$2,925.00 |
| Illinois Taxable Income | $72,075.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$7,670.00 |
| FICA Tax (Social Security & Medicare) | -$5,737.50 |
| Illinois State Income Tax (4.95%) | -$3,567.71 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $58,024.79 |
What makes Illinois W-2 taxation different?
What makes Illinois different
No Illinois city or county levies an income tax. Chicago has plenty of other taxes, but not one on your wages. If you're moving from Ohio, Maryland, or New York City, that's a real difference. An Ohio worker in Columbus on the same salary pays $1,875 to their city. A Chicago worker pays nothing.
The exemption also disappears entirely above $250,000 of AGI for single filers, or $500,000 filing jointly. There's no phase-out. Cross the threshold and it's gone.
Relocating from or to Illinois?
Reciprocity with four neighbouring states
Illinois has reciprocity agreements with Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin. Live in Illinois and work in any of those four and you pay income tax only to Illinois. It works the other way too. File the exemption certificate with your out-of-state employer so they stop withholding for the wrong state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Illinois income tax rate for 2026?
A flat 4.95% on net income, unchanged since July 2017. Illinois has no brackets. The same rate applies whether you earn $30,000 or $300,000.
Does Chicago have a city income tax?
No. No Illinois municipality levies an income tax on wages. Chicago's flat 4.95% state rate is the entire income tax picture.
What is the Illinois personal exemption for 2026?
$2,925 per person, up from $2,850 in 2025. Filers 65 or older, and legally blind filers, get an additional $1,000. The exemption is eliminated entirely above $250,000 AGI for single filers.
Does Illinois have a standard deduction?
No. Illinois uses a personal exemption allowance instead, claimed per taxpayer and per dependent on Form IL-W-4.
- Federal baseline calculations: IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32.
- FICA caps and limits: Social Security Administration (2026).
- State tax rates: Tax Foundation Individual Income Tax Rates (2026).
- Median household income: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (2024).
- Cost of Living Index: MERIC Cost of Living Data Series (2025).
Plan your Illinois Budget: The Paycheck Split™
The Paycheck Split™
Divide your take-home pay to plan your budget (Essentials, Lifestyle, Financial Goals).