How Illinois taxes your paycheck
Illinois employers withhold 4.95% of your pay after subtracting your exemptions. Each basic allowance on line 1 of Form IL-W-4 exempts $2,925 a year, and each additional allowance on line 2 exempts $1,000. The exemption is spread evenly across your paychecks.
You get one basic allowance for yourself unless someone else can claim you as a dependent, and you may claim more for a spouse and dependents you are entitled to claim. Additional allowances are for you or your spouse being 65 or older or legally blind. If you never give your employer a completed IL-W-4, tax is withheld on all of your pay with no exemptions.
A traditional 401(k) and pre-tax health premiums lower your Illinois withholding the same way they lower your federal income tax withholding, because Illinois tax is withheld from the pay that federal income tax is withheld from.
Residents of Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin who work in Illinois can use Form W-5-NR to see whether their pay is exempt from Illinois withholding. This calculator is for people who live and work in Illinois.
| Deduction | Rate | Applies to wages up to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% | No limit |
| Social Security | 6.2% | $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45% (2.35% over $200,000) | No limit |
| Illinois income tax | 4.95% | No limit |
How to use the Illinois paycheck calculator
Enter your salary, or your hourly wage and hours, choose how often you are paid and pick the filing status on your W-4. The calculator estimates your Illinois (IL) take-home pay for each paycheck and for the year, after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Illinois income tax.
It follows the published withholding formulas that employers' payroll systems use, so it works as a paycheck estimator for a job offer, a raise or a change to your W-4. Open "401(k), benefits and W-4 details" to add pre-tax deductions, dependents or extra withholding. Your real paycheck can differ if your employer takes out deductions the calculator does not know about.
Illinois take-home pay examples
Single filer, paid every two weeks, standard W-4 with no dependents, no 401(k) or pre-tax benefits, in Illinois with one basic allowance on Form IL-W-4.
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | Taxes per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $959.41 | $24,944.79 | $5,055.21 |
| $40,000 | $1,249.41 | $32,484.79 | $7,515.21 |
| $50,000 | $1,539.43 | $40,024.79 | $9,975.21 |
| $60,000 | $1,829.41 | $47,564.79 | $12,435.21 |
| $75,000 | $2,231.72 | $58,024.79 | $16,975.21 |
| $100,000 | $2,860.56 | $74,374.79 | $25,625.21 |
| $150,000 | $4,096.57 | $106,510.79 | $43,489.21 |
| Hourly rate | Per week | Per year | Before taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.00 an hour | $497.10 | $25,849.59 | $31,200 |
| $20.00 an hour | $647.90 | $33,691.19 | $41,600 |
| $25.00 an hour | $798.70 | $41,532.79 | $52,000 |
| $30.00 an hour | $949.50 | $49,374.39 | $62,400 |
| $40.00 an hour | $1,218.99 | $63,387.59 | $83,200 |
| $50.00 an hour | $1,480.59 | $76,990.79 | $104,000 |
Illinois paycheck questions
What is the Illinois income tax rate in 2026?
4.95%. Employers withhold 4.95% of your pay after the exemptions you claim on Form IL-W-4.
How much is the Illinois exemption allowance in 2026?
$2,925 for each basic allowance on line 1 of Form IL-W-4, and $1,000 for each additional allowance on line 2. Your employer divides the total across your paychecks before applying the 4.95% rate.
How many allowances should I claim on Form IL-W-4?
On line 1, one for yourself unless someone else can claim you as a dependent, one for your spouse if you can claim your spouse as a dependent, and one for each other dependent you will claim on your tax return. On line 2, one for each of you and your spouse who is 65 or older and one for each who is legally blind. You may claim fewer, which means more tax is withheld.
Does Chicago have a city income tax?
No. Under the Illinois Constitution a city can tax income or earnings only if state law provides for it, and Chicago has no city income tax on wages.
Does a 401(k) lower my Illinois taxes?
Yes. Traditional 401(k) contributions and pre-tax health premiums are left out of the pay Illinois tax is withheld from, just as they are for federal income tax.
Sources
- Illinois Department of Revenue: Booklet IL-700-T, Illinois Withholding Tax Tables, effective January 1, 2026
- Illinois Department of Revenue: Form IL-W-4, Employee's Illinois Withholding Allowance Certificate
- Illinois Department of Revenue: Publication 130, Who is Required to Withhold Illinois Income Tax
- Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6(e)
- Civic Federation: A City of Chicago income tax? (2019)
- IRS: tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- Social Security wage base for 2026
- 2026 401(k) contribution limit
Tax figures last reviewed October 7, 2026. How we calculate