Calculate your federal and Illinois state taxes on freelance, contract, and self-employment income. Free, instant, and accurate for 2026.
If you're a freelancer, independent contractor, or self-employed professional in Illinois, you need to understand how your taxes work. Unlike W-2 employees who have taxes automatically withheld, 1099 workers are responsible for calculating and paying their own taxes throughout the year.
As a Illinois freelancer, you're required to make quarterly estimated tax payments if you expect to owe $1,000 or more in taxes. The IRS due dates are:
Missing these deadlines can result in underpayment penalties. WorkMade automatically calculates and can even pay your quarterly taxes for you.
Reduce your tax bill by tracking these common business expenses:
In Illinois, you'll owe federal self-employment tax (15.3%), federal income tax (10-37% depending on income), and Illinois state income tax (4.95%). Use our calculator above for an exact estimate.
Yes, Illinois has a state income tax rate of 4.95% that applies to your self-employment income. This is in addition to federal taxes.
Quarterly estimated tax payments for Illinois freelancers are due on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following year. These dates are the same as federal due dates.
Illinois freelancers can deduct business expenses like home office costs, equipment, software, professional development, travel, and health insurance premiums. These deductions reduce both federal and state taxable income.
Self-employment tax is 15.3% of your net self-employment income (92.35% of your profit). This is the same whether you're in Illinois or any other state—it's a federal tax for Social Security and Medicare.
WorkMade tracks your income, finds write-offs, calculates quarterly taxes, and files your return. No spreadsheets required.
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