Quick Answer: This post offers information on how to register for a sales tax permit in Illinois. Registration is best completed online at the My Tax Illinois website. More detailed information is included below.
Registration Fee: The sales tax permit registration fee in Illinois is free.
Renewal Required?: Sales tax permit renewal is automatic in Illinois.
Turnaround Time: In Illinois, you can usually verify within 24-48 hours, Wait for an email from the Department of Revenue with your sales tax permit account information.
Do You Need to Get a Sales Tax Permit in Illinois?
The first step in registering for a sales tax permit is determining if you even need one. In general, you need a sales tax permit in Illinois if you have a physical presence or meet economic nexus requirements. For more detailed information on the necessity of getting a permit, you can learn more at our blog post “Do You Need to Get a Sales Tax Permit in Illinois?”
If you are not sure where you should get sales tax permits, we can help determine that for you with our Sales Tax Starter Kit Service.
Once you’re sure you need a sales tax permit in Illinois, you can proceed with registering.
Types of Sales Tax Permits Available
In order to apply for a sales tax permit in Illinois, you will complete a Certificate of Business Registration. There currently is no charge to apply for an Illinois sales tax permit.
Where to Register for an Illinois Sales Tax Permit
There are two ways to register for a sales tax permit in Illinois, either by paper application or via the online website. We recommend submitting the application via the online website as it will generally be processed faster and you will receive a confirmation upon submission. Having a submission confirmation will help in the event that your application is not processed on-time, or in the event that it is not processed at all (which unfortunately can happen every now and again).
Online Application Location: The best place to register for a sales tax permit with the state of Illinois is by clicking here on their website.
Paper Application: https://www2.illinois.gov/rev/forms/reg/Documents/REG-1.pdf
If you’re already feeling a little overwhelmed, you should know that we can handle the entire permit registration process for you with our Sales Tax Permit Registration Service.
Where to Go if You Need Help Registering for a Sales Tax Permit in IIllinois
If you are stuck or have questions, you can either contact the state of Illinois directly or reach out to us and we can register for a sales tax permit on your behalf.
How to contact the Illinois Department of Revenue if you have questions: You can contact the Illinois Department of Revenue by calling (800) 732-8866 or (217) 782-3336. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 am – 5 pm.
How to contact TaxValet if you want someone to handle your permit registration for you: You can learn more about our sales tax permit registration service by clicking here.
Information Needed to Register for a Sales Tax Permit in Illinois
Before you begin the process of registering with the state, make sure you have access to the following information:
- Federal tax ID, typically called the EIN, issued by the IRS
- Knowledge of your business entity structure
- Business owner information
- North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) number
- Start date with the state of Illinois
- Your estimated yearly tax liability with Illinois
- If you sell through Amazon FBA warehouses, please make sure you have the warehouse location addresses handy. You may choose to reference this post for more information about amazon warehouse locations.
To get started, choose the link titled “Businesses” on the website.
Then select the link “Register a new business (Form REG-1).”
This will take you directly to the online application to start completing.
What Happens After You Apply for a Sales Tax Permit in Illinois?
Within 3-5 days of applying for your sales tax permit, you will receive an email at the email address provided on the permit application. Once you receive the email, please go to the My Tax Illinois website. Select “Sign up Now” and follow the directions to gain access to your account.
Once you have access to your account, you will need to contact the Illinois Department of Revenue at (217) 785-3707 to request that your Amazon locations be added (Amazon sellers only).
If at any point you are stuck and want a team of experts to handle all of this for you, don’t hesitate to contact us.
