Illinois payroll · 2026
Illinois paycheck calculator.
Gross pay in, Illinois take-home pay out, using the Department of Revenue’s 2026 withholding formula. Everything runs in your browser.
Your pay
Estimated Illinois paycheck (2026)
Illinois worked example
- Gross pay $2,400.00 (every two weeks, single), minus $100.00 section 125 and $150.00 traditional 401(k) = $250.00 pre-tax.
- Federal income tax withholding (IRS Pub. 15-T percentage method): $174.15.
- Social Security 6.2% and Medicare 1.45% of $2,300.00: $142.60 and $33.35.
- Illinois income tax: ($112.50 of allowances per period removed from $2,150.00) x 4.95% = $100.86.
- Take-home: $1,699.04 per pay period, about $44,175 a year. Total taxes are 18.79% of gross.
Federal income tax uses Form W-4 (2020 or later) with the Step 2 box unchecked and no Step 3 or Step 4 entries.
Illinois take-home pay at common salaries
Single filer, paid every two weeks, no pre-tax deductions, default entries from the form above. Annual figures after federal tax, FICA and the Illinois items this page models.
| Salary | Illinois taxes and premiums / year | Take-home / year | Take-home / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,835 | $32,485 | $2,707 |
| $60,000 | $2,825 | $47,565 | $3,964 |
| $80,000 | $3,815 | $61,294 | $5,108 |
| $100,000 | $4,805 | $74,375 | $6,198 |
| $150,000 | $7,280 | $106,511 | $8,876 |
How it is calculated
Federal withholding is IRS Publication 15-T (2026) Worksheet 1A for a Form W-4 from 2020 or later: annualize taxable wages, subtract the $8,600 standard amount ($12,900 if married filing jointly), apply the annual percentage-method table and divide by pay periods. Social Security is 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, Medicare is 1.45% with no limit, and Additional Medicare Tax is 0.9% on wages beyond $200,000.
Illinois: income-tax wages (gross pay minus the pre-tax amounts you enter) less the exemptions are multiplied by 4.95%. The exemptions are Line 1 allowances x $2,925 plus Line 2 allowances x $1,000, divided by the number of pay periods (Booklet IL-700-T automated payroll method). Extra withholding on Line 3 of the IL-W-4 is not modelled.
Not covered: W-4s from 2019 or earlier, bonuses and other supplemental wages, local taxes, and wage bracket method rounding. These calculators treat state income-tax wages as federal income-tax wages (gross pay less the pre-tax amounts you enter); a state’s own rules for particular benefits can differ.
Sources and as-of dates
- Illinois Department of Revenue, Booklet IL-700-T (R-12/25), 2026 Withholding Tax Tables and automated payroll method
- Illinois Comptroller, Payroll Bulletin 1-26: Illinois State Income Tax Exemptions, 2026 ($2,925, up from $2,850)
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer’s Tax Guide
- U.S. Department of Labor, Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws 2023 (only Alaska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania require employee contributions)
- Figures retrieved October 2026. Federal and state agencies republish these tables each year; this tool covers 2026 only.
FAQ
What is the Illinois withholding rate in 2026?
The Illinois Department of Revenue’s 2026 booklet IL-700-T states that the rate for withholding Illinois income tax is generally 4.95%, with an exemption allowance of $2,925 for each Line 1 allowance on Form IL-W-4. The Comptroller’s Payroll Bulletin 1-26 confirms the increase from $2,850.
How do Line 1 and Line 2 allowances differ?
They are counted at different values. Under the IL-700-T automated payroll method, each allowance on Line 1 of the Form IL-W-4 is worth $2,925 a year in 2026 and each allowance on Line 2 is worth $1,000 a year. Use the Form IL-W-4 instructions to decide how many to claim on each line.
Does Illinois take state unemployment tax out of my paycheck?
Not as modelled here. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws (2023 edition) lists only Alaska, New Jersey and Pennsylvania as requiring employee contributions, so state unemployment insurance is an employer cost in Illinois. Check the current edition before relying on this.
Why does my real paycheck differ from this estimate?
Employers may use wage-bracket tables instead of the formulas used here, round differently, apply your exact Form W-4 and state certificate, and withhold local taxes, benefits and other deductions this tool does not model. Treat the result as an estimate, not tax advice.
What does this calculator not include?
Local income taxes, wage bracket method rounding, W-4s from 2019 or earlier, bonuses and other supplemental wages (flat-rate rules apply), garnishments, and employer-specific deductions. Federal W-4 Step 3 and Step 4 entries are also left out; use the U.S. paycheck calculator if you need them.
More state paycheck calculators
Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, New Jersey, Virginia, Massachusetts, Arizona, Colorado. For other states use the U.S. paycheck calculator with your state’s withholding percentage.