Guide

Register for Illinois sales tax as a reseller

Registration is free, takes about 1 to 2 business days online, and does not require an LLC.

Who needs to register

If you sell physical goods to customers in Illinois, you generally register with the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) so you can collect and remit sales tax. Registration is a business registration, not a fee-based license.

How to register, step by step

1. Get your EIN first if you have an LLC or want one. It is free at IRS.gov.
2. Go to MyTax Illinois at tax.illinois.gov and choose Register a New Business (REG-1).
3. Enter your business details and the location you sell from.
4. Submit. Online approval usually comes back in about 1 to 2 business days. Paper takes longer.

Cost: $0. If a site asks you to pay for this, it is not the state.

Your Chicago rate

Since August 1, 2026, general merchandise sold at most Chicago addresses is taxed at 10.5% (6.25% state, 1.75% Cook County, 1.25% City of Chicago, 1.25% transit tax). Some locations differ. Use the Illinois Tax Rate Finder and choose August 2026 for your exact address, then update Square, Shopify or your marketplace settings.

How often you file

You do not pick your schedule. IDOR assigns it from your expected tax. Roughly: over $200 average monthly tax means monthly, $50 to $200 means quarterly, under $50 means annual. Returns are due on the 20th of the month after the period. If you had no sales, you still file a zero return.

The thank-you for filing on time

Illinois gives a vendor's discount of 1.75% of the tax you collect, or $5 a year if that is more, capped at $1,000 a month. File and pay late and you lose it.

Next

Once you are registered, use the CRT-61 resale certificate so you do not pay sales tax on inventory you resell.

Checked Oct 27, 2026 against IDOR. Confirm current rules at tax.illinois.gov.