Anyone who is setting up a business in Illinois must go through the steps required to complete tax registration. Sole proprietors, tax-exempt organizations and government agencies that deal with Illinois residents also need to register with the Illinois Department of Revenue to legally conduct business.
Getting started
Tax registration for businesses can be completed either electronically or by paper mail. To register electronically, a business owner can create an account with the Illinois Department of Revenue’s online system and complete the registration. Processing can take one or two business days. Business owners who prefer to mail in documentation can print out a REG-1 form (known as the Illinois Business Registration Application), complete all relevant fields, and send it to the address listed on the form. The Illinois Business Registration Application can also be obtained by calling 1-800-356-6302 or by visiting a Department of Revenue office in person. The mail-in documentation can take up to eight weeks for the department to process fully.
Information that business owners will be required to provide include the names of all owners and officers, as well as general partners and specific business activities. When registering, business owners should also peruse Illinois tax information online to find out whether they need to pay special taxes on their enterprises.
Special forms for specific types of businesses
Depending on the type of business, owners may need to complete additional documentation for special tax requirements. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Liquor information (Schedule REG-1-A)
- Tobacco products information (Schedule REG-1-C)
- Owner and officer information (Schedule REG-1-O)
- Telecommunications tax location information (Schedule REG-1-T)
In general, these special tax requirements have to do with certain types of products that are regulated by the state of Illinois (such as tobacco and alcohol), as well as the use of state transportation systems (including highways). If a business fails to register for a special tax that is relevant to its business activity, the Department of Revenue will notify its owners of the need to complete additional tax documentation.
Getting a taxpayer ID
Once all the requisite forms are fully processed, the Department of Revenue will send the business owner a unique taxpayer ID as well as a certificate of registration. Owners must post this certificate in a prominent spot somewhere on the premises of their business.
Overall, tax registration for businesses in Illinois is relatively straightforward. The main thing for business owners to pay special attention to is the possible need to complete additional tax forms for special responsibilities.
