Illinois Paycheck Calculator 2026
Illinois taxes wages at a flat 4.95% after subtracting your IL-W-4 allowances. The calculator applies the Department of Revenue's automated payroll formula exactly.
Pre-tax deductions and W-4 adjustments
Take-home pay
$0.00
per two weeks
Employer payroll taxes on the same wages.
State unemployment tax is experience-rated per employer, so it cannot be a fixed number. Enter the rate from your state notice; leave it blank to exclude.
Total employer cost per period: $0.00
Annualised: $0.00
How Illinois withholding works
Your employer multiplies the Line 1 allowances on Form IL-W-4 by $2,925 and the Line 2 allowances (age 65 or older, or legally blind) by $1,000, adds them and divides by the number of pay periods. That amount comes off each paycheck before the 4.95% rate applies.
Biweekly pay with one Line 1 allowance: $2,925 ÷ 26 = $112.50 is exempt each period. On $2,000, Illinois withholds 4.95% of $1,887.50, which is $93.43.
Illinois has no state disability premium and no city wage tax, Chicago included.
Worked examples
Single filer, biweekly pay, no pre-tax deductions, default state withholding certificate. Produced by the same engine as the calculator.
| Annual salary | Gross, biweekly | Federal income tax | FICA | Illinois state tax | Net, biweekly | Effective tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $1,923.08 | $147.00 | $147.11 | $89.62 | $1,539.35 | 19.95% |
| $75,000 | $2,884.62 | $295.00 | $220.68 | $137.22 | $2,231.72 | 22.63% |
| $100,000 | $3,846.15 | $507.00 | $294.23 | $184.82 | $2,860.10 | 25.64% |
Figures recomputed at build time by the same engine that powers the calculator. Verified 2026-10-30.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Illinois income tax rate for 2026?
- 4.95%, a flat rate on wages after IL-W-4 allowances.
- What is an IL-W-4 allowance worth?
- Each Line 1 allowance exempts $2,925 of annual wages, worth about $145 a year in withholding. Each Line 2 allowance exempts $1,000.
- Does Chicago have a city income tax?
- No. Chicago and other Illinois cities do not tax wages.
- Does filing status change Illinois withholding?
- No. Illinois withholding depends on IL-W-4 allowances, not federal filing status.
Federal withholding: IRS Publication 15-T (2026), percentage method for automated payroll systems. FICA: IRS Publication 15 (2026).
Illinois 4.95% rate, $2,925 and $1,000 allowances and the automated payroll formula: Illinois Department of Revenue, Booklet IL-700-T (2026); calculator verified against its worked example.
All figures verified on 2026-10-30.