Estimate your Illinois take-home pay per check. Enter salary or hourly pay and your IL-W-4 allowances to see federal tax, FICA and the 4.95% flat Illinois income tax, with a full breakdown and a comparison at other salaries.
Last updated:
Gross pay
How are you paid?
$
$
h
h
Paid at 1.5× your rate
Married filing separately: choose Single
Federal (2026 Form W-4)
$
$2,200 per child under 17, $500 per other dependent
$
Illinois (IL-W-4)
1 for you, +1 spouse, +1 each dependent
65 or older / legally blind, $1,000 each
$
$2,850 on the 2025 IL-W-4; indexed yearly
%
Flat rate since July 2017
Deductions
% of gross
Capped at the 2026 limit of $24,500
$
Section 125 deductions
$
Roth 401(k), union dues, garnishments
Enter your values to see the result.
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How to use the Illinois Paycheck Calculator
Enter your pay: salary, or hourly rate, hours and overtime.
Choose pay frequency and filing status and any W-4 Step 3 credits.
Copy your IL-W-4: basic allowances on line 1 and additional allowances on line 2.
Add 401(k) and health deductions taken from each check.
Press Calculate take-home pay to see net pay per check, month and year.
Illinois paycheck formula
Illinois base income = gross wages − traditional 401(k) − section 125 deductions
Net pay = gross − pre-tax deductions − federal − Social Security − Medicare − Illinois tax − after-tax deductions
Example: a single worker earning $65,000 with one allowance pays ($65,000 − $2,850) × 4.95% = $3,076.43 in Illinois tax a year, about $118.32 per biweekly check. Because the rate is flat, the effective Illinois rate only creeps up slightly with income as the fixed exemption matters less.
Illinois tax on common salaries
Annual wages
Allowances
Illinois tax per year
Effective IL rate
$35,000
1
$1,591.43
4.55%
$50,000
1
$2,333.93
4.67%
$75,000
1
$3,571.43
4.76%
$100,000
2
$4,667.85
4.67%
$150,000
4
$6,860.70
4.57%
$300,000
1
$14,850.00
4.95%
Figures assume no pre-tax deductions. The $300,000 single row gets no exemption because it is above the $250,000 limit.
Tips for Illinois workers
If both spouses work, only one of you should claim the spouse and dependent allowances, or you may under-withhold.
Illinois does not follow the federal Form W-4; you must file a separate IL-W-4 or your employer withholds as if you claimed zero allowances.
Bonuses are taxed at the same 4.95% in Illinois; only the federal part uses the 22% supplemental rate.
If you live in Illinois but work in Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan or Wisconsin, reciprocal agreements let you pay income tax only to Illinois on those wages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Illinois income tax rate in 2026?
Illinois has a flat individual income tax of 4.95% of net income, in effect since July 1, 2017. Every dollar of taxable wages is taxed at the same rate, so a raise never pushes you into a higher Illinois bracket.
How do IL-W-4 allowances work?
Each basic allowance on line 1 of Form IL-W-4 removes the Illinois exemption amount ($2,850 per allowance on the 2025 form) from your yearly wages before the 4.95% is applied. You normally claim one for yourself, one for a spouse and one per dependent. Line 2 allowances for being 65 or older or legally blind are worth $1,000 each.
Does Chicago have a city income tax?
No. Chicago and other Illinois cities and counties do not tax wages, so an Illinois paycheck only has federal tax, FICA and the 4.95% state tax. Chicago's high costs come from sales and property taxes instead.
Who loses the Illinois exemption?
Taxpayers whose federal adjusted gross income is above $250,000, or $500,000 on a joint return, cannot claim the Illinois exemption allowance. The calculator applies this cut-off automatically using your filing status.
Is my 401(k) taxed in Illinois?
Traditional 401(k) and 403(b) deferrals are not subject to Illinois income tax when contributed, because Illinois starts from federal adjusted gross income. Illinois also does not tax most retirement income, such as 401(k) distributions and Social Security, later on.
How much is $60,000 a year after taxes in Illinois?
With the default settings (single, 5% 401(k), $75 health insurance per biweekly check), a $60,000 salary takes home about $1,677 per biweekly paycheck in 2026. Press the calculate button to see the exact figure for your own deductions.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.