State profile
Illinois SUI rate 2026 and payroll registration
The 2026 wage base and rates, the protest window and the registrations Illinois requires of an employer, each with its source.
Agency: Illinois Department of Employment Security
Kreto checks unemployment-tax rate notices in this state against the agency's 2026 schedule. Form 941 notices are checked in every state.
The 2026 figures.
Taxable wage base
$14,250
The wages per employee per year that SUI tax applies to.
Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security
Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
SUI rate range
0.75% to 7.05%
The range for experience-rated employers.
Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security
Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
New employer rate
3.5%
The rate before experience rating applies.
Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
Protest window
15 days
From the mailing date.
Source: 820 ILCS 405/1509
Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
Voluntary contributions
Not available
Illinois takes no voluntary contribution.
Paid family and medical leave
No state program
Illinois runs no paid family and medical leave program.
About Illinois SUI rates
Illinois employers pay state unemployment insurance (SUI, also called SUTA) on the first $14,250 of each employee's wages each year. New employers start at 3.5% until experience rating applies. Once rated, Illinois rates run from 0.75% to 7.05%. Illinois Department of Employment Security sets each employer's rate every year from its experience. Rates follow a benefit ratio: the benefits charged to the employer's account set against its taxable payroll. A higher ratio means a higher rate. Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
If your rate notice looks wrong, Kreto checks it against the agency's 2026 schedule and shows the difference in dollars.
Registering as an employer in Illinois
Kreto's rules list what Illinois requires of an employer, from the first employee. Kreto files each one and tracks it to the state's confirmation.
| Requirement | Agency | Form | How it is submitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment insurance | Illinois Department of Employment Security | UI-1, Report to Determine Liability Under the Illinois UI Act | Online portal |
| Withholding | Illinois Department of Revenue | REG-1, Illinois Business Registration Application | Online portal |
| New-hire reporting | Illinois New Hire Directory (IDES / HFS Child Support) | Online portal | |
| Workers' comp | Illinois Workers Compensation (private market) | By mail | |
| Paid family and medical leave | Not required | No state paid-leave program. |
Forms and agencies as Kreto's rules record them. Check the agency's site before you file on your own. See every state's requirements
Beyond SUI
- Paid family and medical leaveIllinois has no state program.
- Voluntary contributionsIllinois takes no voluntary contribution.
- Workers' compNCCI rating jurisdiction. Federal OSHA jurisdiction.
- Income taxHas state individual income tax.
Questions about Illinois.
What is the Illinois SUI wage base for 2026?
$14,250 per employee per year. Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
What is the new employer SUI rate in Illinois?
3.5% for 2026, until experience rating applies. Kreto-computed, not yet checked by a CPA.
How do I register for unemployment insurance in Illinois?
With the Illinois Department of Employment Security, on form UI-1 (Report to Determine Liability Under the Illinois UI Act). Kreto files it once you approve and tracks it to the state's confirmation.
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Got an Illinois SUI notice?
Upload it to the free notice scan to see what it is and when it is due. In an account, Kreto checks the rate against the agency's 2026 schedule and drafts the protest for your approval.