How to get illinois secretary of state identification number

The type of business entity you choose will depend on three primary factors: liability, taxation, and record-keeping. Before you establish a business, you may consider consulting with a Corporate/Business Law Attorney or Certified Public Accountant (CPA), who specializes in your industry, for advice about what type of business entity will meet your business needs and what your legal obligations will be.

You must register your business entity with the proper government agency, once the most appropriate business entity is determined :

  • Sole Proprietors and General Partnerships, operating under an assumed name, must register with the Cook County Clerk's Office.
  • All other business entity types (i.e. Limited Partnership (LP), Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), Corporation, or Not-for-Profit Corporation (NFP)) must register with the Illinois Secretary of State

Accordingly, you, or your licensed representative, must also register for your business taxes with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). The City of Chicago business tax registration is part of the business license application process.

For additional information about business and tax registration, please review the chart below:

Accordingly, you, or your licensed representative, must also register for your business taxes with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR). The City of Chicago business tax registration is part of the business license application process. For additional information about business and tax registration, please review the chart below:

JurisdictionDescriptionContact
Cook County Assumed Business Name Registration
The Clerk's Office registers business names known as "assumed names" for new businesses in accordance with Illinois law. An assumed name is issued to any business entity that uses a name other than the name(s) of the individual(s) who own or operate the business. For example, a business called "John Jones, P.C." (i.e. owner's full name and title) does not have to file an assumed name, but "Jones Wrecking" does.
50 W. Washington St.
West Concourse Level
Suite 114
Chicago, IL
312.603.7790
State of Illinois
Register with the Secretary of State
If you plan to do business as a legal business entity in Illinois, regardless if you are based in Illinois or not, you will need to register with the Illinois Secretary of State.
50 W. Washington St.
West Concourse Level
Suite 1240
Chicago, IL
312.793.3380
Obtain an Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) Account ID Number (Formerly Illinois Business Tax Number – IBT)
You must register with IDOR if you conduct business in Illinois, or with Illinois customers. This includes sole proprietors (individual or husband/wife), and all legal business entities, including exempt organizations, who plan to hire employees, buy or sell products wholesale or retail, or manufacture goods.
555 W. Monroe
11th Floor
Chicago, IL
217.785.3707 and/or email: 
US Government Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, and is used to identify a legal business entity. Businesses are required to obtain an EIN to file and pay any federal tax obligation. You may register for an EIN with the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

IRS Guide to Starting a Business
Find links to basic federal tax information for people who are starting a business, as well as information to assist in making basic business decisions. The list should not be construed as all-inclusive. Other steps may be appropriate for your specific type of business.

230 S. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL
800.829.4933

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility

  • You may apply for an EIN online if your principal business is located in the United States or U.S. Territories.
  • The person applying online must have a valid Taxpayer Identification Number (SSN, ITIN, EIN).
  • You are limited to one EIN per responsible party per day.
    • The “responsible party” is the person who ultimately owns or controls the entity or who exercises ultimate effective control over the entity. Unless the applicant is a government entity, the responsible party must be an individual (i.e., a natural person), not an entity.

Step 2: Understand the Online Application

  • You must complete this application in one session, as you will not be able to save and return at a later time. 
  • Your session will expire after 15 minutes of inactivity, and you will need to start over.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

  • After all validations are done you will get your EIN immediately upon completion. You can then download, save, and print your EIN confirmation notice.

Apply Online Now

Employer Tax Responsibilities Explained (Publications 15, 15-A and 15B)

Publication 15PDF provides information on employer tax responsibilities related to taxable wages, employment tax withholding and which tax returns must be filed.  More complex issues are discussed in Publication 15-APDF and tax treatment of many employee benefits can be found in Publication 15. We recommend employers download these publications from IRS.gov.  Copies can be requested online (search “Forms and Publications) or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM.

Important

We cannot process your application online if the responsible party is an entity with an EIN previously obtained through the Internet. Please use one of our other methods to apply. See How to Apply for an EIN. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Purpose of an Employer Identification Number

Employer Identification Numbers are issued for the purpose of tax administration and are not intended for participation in any other activities (e.g., tax lien auction or sales, lotteries, etc.)

Exempt Organization Information

If you believe your organization qualifies for tax exempt status (whether or not you have a requirement to apply for a formal ruling), be sure your organization is formed legally before you apply for an EIN. Nearly all organizations exempt under IRC 501(a) are subject to automatic revocation of their tax-exempt status if they fail to file a required annual information return or notice for three consecutive years. When you apply for an EIN, we presume you’re legally formed and the clock starts running on this three-year period.

Example: Your organization applies for an EIN in November 2014 and chooses a December accounting period. Your first tax period would end on December 31, 2014, and your first return or notice (if your organization does not meet one of the few exceptions to the annual reporting requirement) would be due May 15, 2015. You would be subject to automatic revocation of your exemption if you fail to file for the three periods that end December 31, 2016 (return/notice due May 15, 2017) or for any consecutive three-year period thereafter.

Where do I find my Illinois state identification number?

Log in to your MyTax Illinois online account. Locate your Taxpayer ID Number on any previous Illinois Withholding Income Tax Return (Form IL-941).

Does Illinois have a state ID number?

5. What Is an Illinois IDOR Number? Your Illinois state tax ID number may also be called an Illinois IDOR number, or an Illinois sales tax number. The latter name comes from the fact that this number is used primarily to register Illinois businesses for sales taxes.

How do I get an IBT number in Illinois?

To obtain an IBT, you register with IDOR. To register your business, you may choose one of the following options: Register electronically through MyTax Illinois - (fastest processing time). Complete and mail Form REG-1 Illinois Business Registration Application -

How do I register my business with the Illinois secretary of state?

Business Registration.
electronically register through MyTax Illinois (approximately one to two days to process);.
complete and mail Form REG-1, Illinois Business Registration Application, to us at the address on the form (Form REG-1 is available on our web site as a fill-in and savable form. ... .
visit one of our offices..