Illinois Tax Filling

Filing Your Illinois State Taxes

It is tax season again! Figuring out and filing your tax forms can be intimidating – but there is help. Here you will find answers, forms and more that will make your paperwork easier, faster and less stressful. The information below will help you determine your residency status, find the correct forms you need and give you other information you want to get started.

State income tax returns for 2012 are due April 15.

Comparing Your Options in Online Tax Software

TurboTax and H&R Block are the most prominent online tax software providers for those who do their own taxes. All are appropriate for many types of personal and business tax preparation. They differ in pricing and each has its own positives and negatives. So check them out, compare and read the reviews to pick the one that’s best for you.

TurboTax offers FREE Illinois State tax filing services. Click on the provider to find out if you qualify.

Illinois Tax Forms

• Illinois Form IL-1040-ES - Illinois Individual Estimated Income Tax Payment Form
• Illinois Form IL-1040-X - Illinois Amended Individual Income Tax Return
• Illinois Form IL-1310 - Illinois Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due to Deceased Taxpayer Form
• Illinois Form IL-2210 - Illinois Individual Penalty Computation Form
• Illinois Form IL-4562 - Illinois Special Depreciation Form
• Illinois Form IL-505-I - Illinois Automatic Extension for Payment
• Illinois Schedule 1299-C - Illinois Income Tax Subtractions and Credits
• Illinois Schedule 1299-S - Illinois Enterprise Zones, Foreign Trade Zones, and Sub-Zones Schedule
• Illinois Schedule 4255 - Illinois Recapture of Investment Tax Credits Form
• Illinois Schedule ICR - Illinois Tax Credits Form
• Illinois Form IL-4644 - Illinois Gains from Sales of Employer's Securities of a Qualified Employee Benefit Plan
• Illinois Form IL-4852 - Illinois Substitute for Unobtainable W-2
• Illinois Form UI-WIT - Combined Return for Household Employers
• Illinois Form IL-W-5-NR - Illinois Employees Statement of Nonresidence
• Illinois Publication 104 - Illinois Common Sales Tax Exemptions
• Illinois Section 130.120 - Illinois Nontaxable Transactions (in reference to use/sales tax)
• Illinois Form IL-1040 - Illinois Individual Income Tax Return
• Illinois Schedule NR - Nonresident and Part-year resident Computation of Illinois Tax

Determine Your Residency Status

The amount of your taxes depends on your residency status, so check below to see which category you fall in.

You Are a Resident of Illinois

If you reside in Illinois you have to file your taxes if you submitted a federal tax return or if your exemption allowance is lower than your base income. In order to file your Illinois resident return, you have to use Form IL-1040.

You Are a Part-Year Resident of Illinois

Are you a part-year resident of Illinois? Then you need to file your part-year resident taxes in several cases: if you earned money from sources in Illinois while being a nonresident, if you earned money while being a resident, no matter the source of the income, or if you are requesting a refund of withheld income in Illinois.

To file your taxes as an Illinois nonresident, use Form IL-1040 and Schedule NR.

You Are an Illinois Resident Who Works in a Different State

Illinois has reciprocal agreements with Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin. So, if you reside in Illinois and worked in any of the above states, you will have to file Illinois Form IL-1040 and declare all income made in these other states. How does the system work? Any wages made in these states is taxed only by the state of residency (which is Illinois, if you are a resident of Illinois).

If you work in any of these states and your employer withholds taxes, you may have to file additional papers in order to release that income. Another thing to remember is that you are not able to claim tax refunds in Illinois for money earned in any of these states.

If you earn income in any state other than Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan and Wisconsin, you have to pay taxes to Illinois. In this case, however, you can claim a tax refund to Illinois, to avoid dual taxation. You have to use Schedule CR to file for a tax refund.

You Are a Nonresident but Worked or Sold Property in Illinois

If you did not reside in Illinois for any part of the previous tax year, you are considered a nonresident of Illinois. In this case, if you need a refund of Illinois tax withheld by mistake, or if your Illinois exemption allowance is less than your Illinois base income as stated in Schedule NR, you have to file Schedule NR and Form IL-1040. You also need to include a letter of explanation from your employer.

If you are a resident of Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan or Wisconsin, and worked in Illinois, then Illinois will not collect taxes from you on salaries, wages and tips, thanks to reciprocal agreements among these states. If you however earned income in Illinois from lottery, property sales, or any other source, you have to pay taxes no matter which state you reside in. If you want to pay taxes on these other income sources, or if you want to claim a refund on income tax withheld by Illinois, you have to use Form IL-1040 and Schedule NR.

If your employer is withholding Illinois tax, fill out Form IL-W-5-NR and hand it to your employer in order to stop the employer from withholding income. In order to have withholdings refunded to you, you have to submit an Illinois return.

If you reside in a state other than Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan or Wisconsin and you worked inside Illinois, you have to pay taxes on income from Illinois sources, so you have to file Form IL-1040 and Schedule NR. Ask the authorities in your state of residence about necessary steps in order to avoid dual taxation.