How to Register a Business in Illinois: Foreign Qualification Guide (2026)
If your company was formed in another state and now has employees, an office or regular business in Illinois, you register with the Illinois Secretary of State. LLCs file an Application for Admission to Transact Business (Form LLC-45.5); corporations file an Application for Authority to Transact Business (Form BCA 13.15). Here is what it costs, what you need, and what comes after.
Illinois at a glance
Item | Illinois |
|---|---|
Filing | Form LLC-45.5 (LLCs) or Form BCA 13.15 (corporations) |
Where | Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services, online or by mail |
State fee | $150 for LLCs. Corporations: from $150, depending on the initial franchise tax |
Typical processing | 1–2 weeks |
You'll need | LLCs: a certificate of good standing dated within 60 days. Corporations: a certified copy of the articles of incorporation, dated within 90 days |
Registered agent | Required, with an Illinois street address |
Ongoing filing | Annual report before the first day of the month you registered ($75; corporations also pay franchise tax) |
Do you need to register in Illinois?
You generally need to register if your company is "doing business" in Illinois, for example if you:
Have an office, store or warehouse in Illinois
Employ people who live and work in Illinois
Regularly sell to, or provide services for, Illinois customers
Activities that usually don't count on their own include holding a bank account in Illinois, holding internal meetings there, and isolated one-off transactions. If you're unsure, check with your attorney or book a call with us.
Hiring a remote employee in Illinois always means opening Illinois payroll tax accounts, even when Secretary of State registration isn't required. See the payroll section below.
How to register, step by step
Get your home-state documents. LLCs need a certificate of good standing dated within 60 days. Corporations need a certified copy of their articles of incorporation, dated within 90 days.
Choose an Illinois registered agent. See the rules below.
File your application. LLCs file Form LLC-45.5 ($150). Corporations file Form BCA 13.15; the Secretary of State calculates the initial franchise tax, with a minimum total of $150.
Save your approval and Illinois file number. You'll need them for payroll and tax registrations.
Registered agent rules in Illinois
Every business registered in Illinois must keep a registered agent with an Illinois street address where legal papers can be delivered during business hours. P.O. boxes aren't accepted.
Using an employee as your agent is allowed, but it means legal papers go to one person's home, and they're lost if that person leaves. A commercial registered agent avoids that. Every AbstractOps plan includes registered agent service.
Annual reports: every year
Illinois requires an annual report every year, due before the first day of the month you registered. The Secretary of State mails a reminder about 60 days ahead.
The report fee is $75. Corporations also pay Illinois franchise tax with the report, based on the paid-in capital attributed to Illinois. Late reports bring penalties, and companies that don't file can have their authority revoked.
Illinois payroll accounts
If you have employees in Illinois, you'll also need:
A withholding account with the Illinois Department of Revenue, through MyTax Illinois.
An unemployment insurance account with the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Our Illinois payroll tax registration guide walks through the details.
Illinois registration FAQ
How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC or corporation in Illinois?
$150 for an LLC. For a corporation, at least $150, depending on the initial franchise tax the state calculates.
How long does Illinois take?
Typically 1–2 weeks.
Does Illinois require a certificate of good standing?
LLCs need one dated within 60 days. Corporations send a certified copy of their articles of incorporation instead.
When is the Illinois annual report due?
Before the first day of the month you registered, every year. The fee is $75, plus franchise tax for corporations.
Let us handle Illinois for you
AbstractOps files your Illinois registration, acts as your registered agent, opens your payroll accounts and tracks your annual filings, from $250 per state per year. Start a 7-day free trial or book a 15-minute call.
This guide is for general information and isn't tax or legal advice. Fees and rules change; confirm current requirements with the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services.