Illinois Corporation Form, Filing and Permit Requirements
If you want to form a corporation in Illinois, there are certain forms, requirements and legalities you must have in place.
Below is a rundown of what you’ll need to do, together with information on the requirements for your Illinois corporation. Some of these forms you only need to submit once, while others must be filed on a regular basis.
You will need to set reminders in your calendar to file forms regularly if you're filing yourself. At Incfile, we provide an optional, paid renewal service and can take care of certain renewals for you when you instruct us to do so.
Articles of Incorporation
The Articles of Incorporation are the formal documents filed with the Illinois Secretary of State to create your corporation. They provide certain information about your business. Once the documents are filed with the Secretary of State, they legally create your business as a corporation in Illinois. Here’s what’s typically included:
- The corporation’s name
- The corporation’s purpose
- The corporation’s mailing address and street address
- The corporation's Registered Agent and their address
- The corporation’s capital structure (number of shares to be issued, who owns them, pricing, etc.)
- How long the corporation will exist (this can be perpetual)
- The name and address of the incorporator
Here at Incfile, we automatically create and file your Certificate of Formation/Articles of Incorporation on your behalf when you start your S Corporation or C Corporation with us. You only need to file your certificate once. There is a fee levied by the Secretary of State of Illinois to cover your filing.
Business Licenses and Permits for Your Illinois Corporation
Depending on the type of Illinois corporation you’re running, you will need to obtain various business licenses and permits. These are not required to form your IL corporation, but you must have them to legally carry out business. It’s vital to understand the permits and licenses required for your business to operate in compliance in your jurisdiction.
A Local Business Permit or License From Your City
Various cities in Illinois have slightly different rules and fees for permits and licenses for corporations. Check with your local Illinois city administration to see what their rules are. You will need a separate permit or license for each city your Illinois corporation operates in.
Additional Local Business Permits and Licenses
Depending on the type of business you are running, you may need to get additional permits and licenses from the county or state of Illinois. You can get an idea of the types of permits and licenses your S Corporation or C Corporation might need from the State of Illinois website.
Federal Licenses and Permits
Depending on the type of Illinois business you are running, you may need to get licenses and permits from the federal government and various national agencies. You can find a complete list on the U.S. Small Business Administration website.
Incfile Business License Research Package for Your Illinois Corporation
Because permits vary widely depending on the type of Illinois corporation you are operating and where you are located, we provide a comprehensive Business License Research Package. It’s designed to tell you all of the licenses and permits necessary for your new corporation. It includes:
- A comprehensive package of all the licenses, permits and tax registrations required for your business
- The application forms to file with the appropriate licensing authorities
Your customized Business License Research Package will be emailed to you within two days of your Illinois Corporation being formed by the Illinois Secretary of State.
Special Illinois Corporation Requirements
Because you’re forming a corporation, there are certain other legal, regulatory and compliance areas you need to meet.
Create Bylaws for Your Illinois Corporation
Bylaws are the formal, internal rules that your Illinois corporation must follow to stay active. You will need to create and agree to bylaws in certain areas.
- Defining your Illinois registered office and IL Registered Agent
- Stating details of the Annual General Meeting (AGM), including date, place, time and other relevant information
- Other details from the AGM, including the order of business, notice, voting record, quorum, proxies, shareholder actions and more
- Stating when a special shareholders’ meeting may be held and the circumstances that could lead to it
- Details of stock certificates, ownership, issuing and transfer
- Details of the Board of Directors including how they are elected and appointed, their number, the powers they have, how they can be removed, regular meetings and agendas, executive committees, remuneration and other areas
- Details of the various officers in the corporation including how they are chosen and appointed
- Designations of officers in the Illinois corporation including president, vice presidents, secretary, assistant secretaries and treasurer
- Rules around dividends, declarations and reserves
- Any other formalities the corporation believes need to be documented
Issue Stock to Shareholders
Ownership in an Illinois corporation is expressed through the issuance of shares. You must create stock certificates and formally issue stock to any agreed initial shareholders in the corporation.
Appoint a Board of Directors
You must appoint directors to all positions in line with the agreed Illinois corporation bylaws. The Board of Directors is responsible for the strategic direction and overall management of the corporation. The board selects officers who will manage the day-to-day activities of the corporation.
Assign Officers to the Corporation
Officers are the individuals who manage the Illinois corporation on a day-to-day basis. At minimum a IL corporation should have a president, secretary and treasurer. Theoretically, one person could hold more than one position.
Get a Corporate Records Book
Your Illinois corporation will need a book to record important information about the business. This book will include details like your Articles of Incorporation, corporate bylaws, meeting minutes, AGM details, directors, officers, stock certificate information, transfer documents and more.
Hire Employees
You may need to hire additional employees for your Illinois corporation. You will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN). You may also need to get Worker’s Compensation Insurance and General Liability Insurance.
Hold an Annual General Meeting for Your Illinois Corporation
You must hold a yearly meeting that all directors, officers and shareholders of the IL corporation are invited to. The purpose of an AGM is generally to:
- Discuss important information
- Make strategic decisions
- Understand opportunities, risks and issues
- Vote on important resolutions and other matters
Illinois Corporation Tax Registration
You will need to register for certain taxes when you form your corporation. These include:
- Federal income tax
- Corporation tax (only for C Corporations)
- Illinois state tax
- Sales and Use Tax
- Employment taxes
You can find details on the Illinois Department of Revenue website.
Annual Report for Your Illinois Corporation
You must file an annual report with the Illinois Secretary of State on an annual basis. If you do not file your annual report each year, you will be charged a late fee and your corporation may be dissolved. Here at Incfile, we can file your annual report on your behalf.
As you can see, there are several forms and permits you need to submit to conduct business, both initially and on an annual basis.
Certificate of Good Standing for Your Illinois Corporation
You may need a Certificate of Good Standing for certain business-related services like opening a bank account. You can order one from us and we will also send you courtesy emails when your compliance due date nears.
Ready to Start Your Illinois Corporation?
Incfile provides a cost-effective service to help you create your Illinois corporation. We guide you through the process and handle most of the administrative steps, such as filing the necessary forms on your behalf.
Our basic package also provides a free Registered Agent service for the first year. If you're looking for help starting an S Corporation or C Corporation, our comprehensive services provide outstanding value.
