Accountant for Illinois small businesses
Online bookkeeping, payroll support, sales tax tracking and tax-ready books for businesses in Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Rockford and Springfield — and every other part of Illinois.
Illinois pass-throughs pay a replacement tax that owners in other states never see, and Chicago-area sales tax is among the steepest anywhere.
What makes accounting in Illinois different
- Besides income tax, Illinois charges a Personal Property Replacement Income Tax on corporations and pass-through entities.
- Chicago and Cook County add some of the highest local sales and service taxes in the country.
- Illinois eliminated its 1% state tax on groceries from January 1, 2026.
Rates shown are state-level 2026 rates published by the Tax Foundation; local taxes are extra. Always confirm current rates and deadlines with the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Accounting services for Illinois businesses
Monthly bookkeeping for Illinois businesses
Every transaction categorized and every account reconciled, with a P&L and balance sheet by the 15th — for companies in Chicago, Aurora, Naperville and everywhere else in Illinois.
Open →IL3.2Illinois sales tax tracking
Illinois's state rate is 6.25%, plus any local rates. We configure collection by location and reconcile what you collect to what you remit to the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Open →IL3.3Illinois payroll support
State withholding (flat 4.95%), unemployment insurance and any local or paid-leave requirements set up through Gusto, ADP or QuickBooks Payroll.
Open →IL3.4Tax-ready books for Illinois filings
Besides income tax, Illinois charges a Personal Property Replacement Income Tax on corporations and pass-through entities. We prepare the books and schedules your tax professional needs for it.
Open →Illinois industries we know well
Professional services
A common client profile for us in Illinois. We tailor the chart of accounts, reports and tax tracking to how professional services businesses actually work.
Manufacturing
A common client profile for us in Illinois. We tailor the chart of accounts, reports and tax tracking to how manufacturing businesses actually work.
Restaurants
A common client profile for us in Illinois. We tailor the chart of accounts, reports and tax tracking to how restaurants businesses actually work.
Open →Illinois accounting FAQ
No. Bookkeeping, payroll support and financial reporting are done in cloud software, so we serve Illinois businesses — from Chicago to Springfield — entirely online, with video calls scheduled in Central time. What you need is someone who knows Illinois's rules, which is what this page is about.
Yes. For 2026, Illinois's individual income tax is: flat 4.95%. Owners of LLCs and S corporations generally pay it on their share of business profit, so accurate books directly affect the tax bill.
The state-level rate is 6.25%. Local rates can add more depending on where the sale happens or is delivered, so your systems need to charge the combined rate for each location. Confirm current rates with the Illinois Department of Revenue.
We are an accounting and bookkeeping firm, not a CPA firm, so we do not sign or file returns. We prepare the books, schedules and Illinois-specific details your CPA or Enrolled Agent needs, and coordinate with them directly. If you need a preparer, we can introduce you to one.
- 1Free call in Central timeTell us about your business, your software and which states you operate in.
- 2Hours estimate at $15/hourA written scope and an hours estimate at $15 per hour within one business day.
- 3Books current in weeksCatch-up first if you are behind, then monthly books closed by the 15th.
Get a free quote from a Illinois accountant
Reply from Jay within one business day with a written scope and an estimate of hours at $15 per hour. No obligation.
Neighboring states we also serve
Accountant in Wisconsin · Accountant in Indiana · Accountant in Kentucky · Accountant in Missouri · Accountant in Iowa
Ready for books you can trust in Illinois?
Twenty minutes, no obligation. You will leave the call knowing what your books need and what it costs.