Why This Site Exists
Illinois has a unique payroll landscape. While the flat 4.95% income tax rate is simpler than many states, employers still face SUI obligations through IDES, quarterly UI-3/40 filing, the Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Act, Chicago's head tax, and strict deduction and pay stub rules. The compliance burden on small business owners is real.
Most payroll resources online are written for a national audience. They cover federal requirements well but gloss over the Illinois-specific rules that actually matter to employers operating in this state. We built Illinois Payroll Guide to fill that gap.
Every guide on this site is written specifically for Illinois employers — with the state-specific rates, deadlines, penalties, and quirks that apply to businesses operating in the Prairie State.
What We Cover
Our guides cover the full spectrum of Illinois payroll compliance:
- Illinois payroll taxes (flat income tax, SUI via IDES)
- IDES registration and filing requirements
- State unemployment insurance rates and experience rating
- Income tax withholding (IL-W-4 and IL-941)
- Minimum wage (statewide and Chicago rates)
- Overtime rules (federal FLSA compliance)
- Payday laws, final pay, and the Wage Payment and Collection Act
- Federal payroll tax basics (FICA, FUTA, withholding)
- Payroll software comparisons
Our Approach
We aim to be practical and direct. No fluff, no jargon walls, no 3,000-word articles that could be summarized in three bullet points. Illinois employers are busy — we respect your time.
Every article includes real numbers (actual tax rates, actual deadlines, actual penalties), and we note where Illinois law differs from federal law or imposes additional requirements.
Affiliate Disclosure
Illinois Payroll Guide is an independent publication. We recommend payroll software products like Gusto and Paychex and may earn a referral fee when you sign up through our links. This doesn't affect our editorial coverage or the accuracy of our guides. We recommend these products because we believe they're genuinely useful for Illinois small businesses.
A Note on Accuracy
We update our guides when laws change. Illinois employment law evolves — new minimum wage schedules, IDES rate changes, regulatory updates. We do our best to keep content current, and each article includes a "last updated" date.
That said, this site provides general information only. It is not legal or tax advice. If you have a specific situation, please consult a qualified Illinois attorney or CPA.
Simplify Illinois Payroll
Gusto handles federal and Illinois payroll taxes automatically — state income tax withholding, IDES filings, W-2s, and more. Trusted by 300,000+ small businesses.