Illinois payroll · Updated November 6, 2026
Illinois paycheck calculator for 2026
See what comes out of an Illinois paycheck: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the flat 4.95% Illinois income tax. Enter a salary, an hourly rate or one paycheck. Works the same for Chicago, Naperville and anywhere else in Illinois.
Calculate my take-home payCalculate your Illinois take-home pay
Take-home pay per paycheck
$1,829.41
$47,565 a year
| Paycheck | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,307.69 | $60,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$193.08 | -$5,020 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$143.08 | -$3,720 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$33.46 | -$870 |
| Illinois income tax (4.95%) | -$108.66 | -$2,825 |
| Take-home pay | $1,829.41 | $47,565 |
2026 estimate for one paycheck, using the IRS percentage method and Illinois' IL-700-T method. Your employer's payroll may differ by a few dollars. Not tax advice.
The four taxes on an Illinois paycheck
| Tax | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 10% to 37% | Wages after the W-4 standard amount, using your W-4 filing status |
| Social Security | 6.2% | Wages up to $184,500 for the year |
| Medicare | 1.45%, plus 0.9% over $200,000 | All wages, no cap |
| Illinois income tax | 4.95% flat | Wages minus $2,925 a year per IL-W-4 allowance |
There is no city or county income tax on wages anywhere in Illinois, Chicago included. Your employer also pays its own Social Security, Medicare and unemployment taxes, but those do not come out of your paycheck.
Example: $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks
| Line | Per paycheck |
|---|---|
| Gross pay ($60,000 ÷ 26) | $2,307.69 |
| Federal income tax | −$193.08 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$143.08 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$33.46 |
| Illinois income tax (4.95%) | −$108.66 |
| Take-home pay | $1,829.41 |
Illinois tax here is 4.95% of $2,307.69 minus $112.50 (one $2,925 allowance spread over 26 paychecks). Federal withholding follows the IRS percentage method, which for 2026 works out to the same tax as the 2026 brackets after the $16,100 standard deduction.
Your Illinois withholding and Form IL-W-4
- Line 1 (basic allowances): one for you unless someone else claims you as a dependent, one for your spouse and one for each dependent you claim on your federal return. Each one exempts $2,925 of wages a year from Illinois withholding.
- Line 2 (additional allowances): one for each of you or your spouse who is 65 or older or legally blind, $1,000 each.
- Line 3: any extra amount you want withheld from each paycheck.
If you never gave your employer an IL-W-4, or it is unsigned or incomplete, your employer must withhold Illinois tax on your entire pay with no exemptions. With two jobs, or a working spouse, the form suggests claiming all your allowances at the highest-paying job and zero at the others. The exemption on your actual Illinois return is not available once income passes $250,000 ($500,000 on a joint return), even if your IL-W-4 still claims it.
Your federal withholding and Form W-4
Federal withholding depends on what you put on Form W-4: your filing status, the Step 2 box if you have two jobs or both spouses work, and the Step 3 amount for children and other dependents. Pre-tax 401(k), 403(b) and cafeteria-plan health premiums come out before income tax is figured. If you are paid on a 1099 instead of a W-2, nothing is withheld; use the self-employment tax calculator and plan for estimated payments.
Questions
What is the Illinois income tax rate for 2026?
A flat 4.95% of wages after Illinois exemptions. Employers withhold it from each paycheck after subtracting $2,925 a year for each basic allowance on your Form IL-W-4.
How much is taken out of a $60,000 paycheck in Illinois?
For a single person paid every two weeks with one Illinois allowance, about $193.08 federal income tax, $143.08 Social Security, $33.46 Medicare and $108.66 Illinois tax come out of each $2,307.69 paycheck, leaving about $1,829.41.
Does Chicago have a city income tax?
No. Chicago and other Illinois cities do not withhold a local income tax from wages, so a Chicago paycheck is taxed the same way as anywhere else in Illinois.
Does a 401(k) lower my Illinois tax?
Yes. Pre-tax 401(k) and 403(b) contributions lower both federal and Illinois income tax withholding. They do not lower Social Security and Medicare tax. Pre-tax health insurance through a cafeteria plan lowers all of them.
How many allowances should I claim on Form IL-W-4?
Line 1 is one allowance each for you, your spouse and each dependent you claim, $2,925 each. Line 2 adds $1,000 for each of you or your spouse who is 65 or older or legally blind. Claiming fewer means more is withheld.
Why is my paycheck different from this calculator?
Payroll systems round differently, and paychecks can include things this calculator leaves out: overtime, bonuses taxed at a flat rate, after-tax deductions, extra withholding you asked for, or W-4 Step 4 adjustments.
Owe at tax time, or getting too much back?
We prepare federal and Illinois returns and can tell you how to set your W-4 and IL-W-4 so next year comes out closer. In person at our Naperville office, by phone or by Zoom.
Tax preparation in NapervilleWhere these rules come from
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026): Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods
- Illinois Booklet IL-700-T (2026): Illinois Withholding Tax Tables
- Illinois Form IL-W-4: Employee’s Illinois Withholding Allowance Certificate
- Illinois Publication 130: Who is Required to Withhold Illinois Income Tax
- IRS Topic 751: Social Security and Medicare withholding rates
- SSA: Contribution and benefit base
Related
- Illinois income tax: rates, exemptions and credits
- What is FICA tax? Rates for 2026 and 2027
- Self-employment tax calculator
- Tax preparation in Naperville, IL
- Social Security tax limit for 2027 and 2026
- 2027 tax brackets, limits and changes
USTAXX prepares tax returns and offers tax planning. We are not a CPA firm and do not represent clients before the IRS. This page is general information, not tax advice for your situation.