Illinois LLC Annual Report: Requirements, Due Dates & Filing

1. Does Illinois Require an LLC Annual Report?

For most LLCs, Illinois does require an annual report filing to keep your company active and in good standing. This is not just a “formality”—banks, payment processors, and vendors often rely on your company’s good standing status during verification. The Illinois LLC annual report is commonly associated with Form LLC-50.1 and is usually filed every year.

2. What Illinois LLCs Must File Each Year

Illinois yearly compliance is usually straightforward. Most LLCs should plan for these recurring items:

Annual compliance checklist

1. Illinois LLC Annual Report (Form LLC-50.1) : yearly filing to keep the LLC in good standing
2. Registered Agent : keep a valid agent and address for legal notices
3. Illinois taxes (if applicable): depends on your business activity, sales tax, payroll, etc.
4. Federal tax return (IRS) : depends on SMLLC vs partnership vs S-corp election
5. Bookkeeping + records: maintain clean records for audits, banking, and platform verification

3. The Illinois Annual Report: What It Is + Why It Matters

The Illinois LLC Annual Report is a recurring filing that helps the state keep your LLC’s records up to date. It typically confirms key details like your company name, addresses, and registered agent information.

What the annual report typically does

1. Helps keep your LLC listed as active/in good standing
2. Updates key company contact details and registered agent info
3. Supports smoother banking, payment processing, and vendor onboarding
4. Reduces risk of administrative dissolution for non-filing
5. Creates a clean compliance history for your business

If you only remember one thing: File your Illinois LLC annual report before your anniversary month starts to avoid penalties and good-standing issues.

4. Illinois LLC Due Dates (Anniversary Month Rule)

Illinois annual report due dates follow an anniversary month rule . In simple words: the annual report is typically due before the first day of your LLC’s anniversary month (the month your LLC was formed or qualified).

5. Where to File + What You’ll Need

Illinois annual reports are commonly filed online (recommended) or by mail (in some situations). Before you file, prepare your details so you can submit without errors.

What you should keep ready

1. Legal LLC name and Illinois file number (state ID)
2. Principal address and registered agent details
3. Managers/members info (as required by your filing method)
4. Your payment method for the filing fee
5. Proof/receipt storage location (Compliance Folder)

Why founders use a compliance service

1. Avoid missed deadlines and late penalties
2. Reduce rejections due to incorrect information
3. Keep clean records for banking and payment processors

6. How to File the Illinois LLC Annual Report (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Confirm your LLC anniversary month

Find the month your Illinois LLC was formed (or qualified as a foreign LLC). Your annual report is commonly due before the first day of that month.

Step 2: Gather the information needed

Prepare your LLC details (name, file number, addresses, registered agent info, and manager/member details if required). Having this ready reduces errors and rejections.

Step 3: File online (recommended) or by mail if needed

Many Illinois LLCs file online . Online filing is faster and helps you keep a clean record for compliance history. Some situations may require a mail filing (for example, more complex reporting scenarios).

Important: Always save your confirmation/receipt and a copy of the submitted annual report.

Step 4: Pay the filing fee and keep proof

The annual report filing fee is commonly around $75 (and online filings may include a small transaction fee). Pay on time and save proof (confirmation, receipt, and report copy).

Step 5: Set your next reminder

Set a yearly reminder at least 30–45 days before your anniversary month so you have time to file early and avoid penalty status .

7. Tips to Stay Compliant

• Set reminders based on your LLC anniversary month (not a fixed statewide date)
• File early when possible (avoid last-week issues)
• Maintain accurate registered agent and address details
• Store filing confirmations and receipts in a compliance folder

8. Fees, Penalties & Good Standing

• Illinois LLC Annual Report fee: commonly $75 (online filings may also add a small transaction fee)
• registered agent (if using a service): typically $50/year
• Late filings: can trigger penalty status and additional fees
• good standing impact: affects banking, payment platforms, and vendor onboarding

9. Federal Compliance That Impacts Illinois LLCs

1. Federal tax return (IRS)

Your Illinois LLC’s federal tax filing depends on classification: single-member LLCs often report on the owner’s return, partnerships file an informational return, and S-corp elections follow S-corp filing rules .

2. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

Many LLCs use an EIN to open bank accounts, hire employees, and work with payment processors. While not an “annual report,” keeping your EIN-related records and IRS confirmations helps with compliance documentation.

3. BOI updates (Corporate Transparency)

If your ownership or key information changes, you may need to update federal beneficial ownership information (where applicable). This is separate from Illinois yearly compliance but often comes up during annual reviews.

4. Other recurring federal obligations

• Payroll tax filings if the LLC has employees
• Information returns (such as 1099 forms ) when required
• Keeping clean bookkeeping for audits, banking, and compliance reviews

10. Conclusion

The biggest takeaway: Illinois LLCs typically must file an annual report to stay in good standing. The deadline is usually tied to your anniversary month—file before the month begins to avoid penalties.

With FormLLC, you can stay compliant without confusion—our team helps you follow the right schedule, file the right forms, and keep your business in good standing.