Illinois Articles of Organization: Form LLC-5.5 & Fee (2026)
The Illinois Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5) are the document you file with the Illinois Secretary of State to create a limited liability company. The filing fee is $150, and a series LLC uses Form LLC-5.5(S) for $400. File online through the Department of Business Services or by mail; your LLC legally exists once the Secretary of State accepts the document.
Quick Answer
- Document
- Articles of Organization, Form LLC-5.5
- Filing fee
- $150 (2026); series LLC (LLC-5.5(S)) is $400
- Agency
- Illinois Secretary of State - Department of Business Services
- Registered agent
- Required - named on the form; Illinois resident or authorized entity
- Amendment
- Form LLC-5.25, $50 filing fee
- Statute
- Illinois Limited Liability Company Act, 805 ILCS 180
What the Illinois Articles of Organization Are
The Articles of Organization are the charter document that legally forms an Illinois limited liability company. Under Section 5-5 of the Illinois Limited Liability Company Act (805 ILCS 180), an LLC comes into existence only when the Articles of Organization are filed with and accepted by the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services. The Secretary of State's official form for this filing is Form LLC-5.5.
People sometimes search for an Illinois "certificate of formation" or "certificate of organization," but Illinois does not use those names for an LLC. The correct Illinois document is the Articles of Organization; a corporation instead files Articles of Incorporation. If you are comparing terminology across states, see our overview of the Articles of Organization and what "Illinois certificate of formation" means. For the complete step-by-step process, see how to form an LLC in Illinois.
What Information Form LLC-5.5 Requires
Form LLC-5.5 collects the core facts the state records about your LLC. Getting these right the first time avoids rejection. The form asks for:
- LLC name. The name must include an LLC designator - "LLC," "L.L.C.," or "Limited Liability Company" - and must be distinguishable in the Secretary of State's records from existing entity names.
- Principal place of business. The main business address, which may be in or outside Illinois.
- Effective date. The filing takes effect on the date the Secretary of State accepts it, or a later date you specify (up to 60 days out).
- Registered agent and registered office. The name of your Illinois registered agent and the Illinois street address of the registered office (no P.O. box alone).
- Purpose. Illinois accepts a general statement that the LLC may engage in any lawful business, unless it is organized for a professional service.
- Management. Whether the LLC is managed by its members or by managers, and the names and addresses of the initial managers or managing members.
- Organizer. The name and signature of the organizer completing the filing.
The organizer does not have to be a member of the LLC. Ownership percentages and internal governance are handled privately in your operating agreement, not on Form LLC-5.5.
How to File the Articles of Organization
You have two ways to submit Form LLC-5.5 to the Illinois Secretary of State:
- Online. File through the Department of Business Services online LLC filing system. Online filing is the fastest option and confirms your registered agent details before you pay. Payment is by credit card.
- By mail. Download and complete the paper Form LLC-5.5, then mail it in duplicate with a check or money order for the filing fee to the Secretary of State in Springfield. Mailed filings take longer to process.
Before filing, run a business entity search to confirm your name is available, and clear it against federal trademarks so you do not build a brand on a name you cannot protect. If you are not ready to file but want to hold a name, file an Application to Reserve a Name (Form LLC-1.15) for a $25 fee, which holds the name for 90 days.
Illinois Articles of Organization Filing Fees (2026)
The fees below are set by statute in Section 50-10 of the Illinois LLC Act and are paid to the Illinois Secretary of State. They are effective for 2026 and are the same whether you file online or by mail. For the full cost of forming and running an LLC, see Illinois LLC cost.
| Filing | Form | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (standard LLC) | LLC-5.5 | $150 |
| Articles of Organization (series LLC) | LLC-5.5(S) | $400 |
| Application to reserve a name (90 days) | LLC-1.15 | $25 |
| Articles of Amendment | LLC-5.25 | $50 |
| Change of registered agent / office | LLC-1.36/1.37 | $25 |
| Annual report (each year after formation) | LLC-50.1 | $75 |
Expedited (24-hour) processing is available from the Secretary of State for an additional fee. Because expedite and certified-copy charges are not fixed in the LLC Act fee schedule and can change, confirm the current amount with the Department of Business Services before you file.
Processing Time and Effective Date
Illinois processes online filings fastest, often within a few business days, while mailed filings take longer because they wait in the mail queue and are keyed by hand. Once accepted, the Secretary of State returns a stamped copy of the Articles of Organization; banks generally ask for this stamped copy plus your EIN to open a business bank account.
Two timing points matter. First, the LLC does not legally exist until the Secretary of State accepts the Articles - not when you submit them - so wait for confirmation before signing contracts in the LLC's name. Second, you may set a delayed effective date up to 60 days after filing, which is useful if you want the LLC to begin on the first day of a month or a new tax year.
The Registered Agent Section of the Articles
Every Illinois LLC must name a registered agent and registered office directly on Form LLC-5.5, and Section 1-35 of the LLC Act requires the LLC to continuously maintain them. The registered agent is the person or entity that accepts service of process and official state mail on the LLC's behalf. The agent must be an individual Illinois resident or an entity authorized to transact business in Illinois, with a physical Illinois street address.
You may act as your own registered agent, name a manager, or hire a commercial service. If your agent or their address changes after formation, file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office (Form LLC-1.36/1.37) for a $25 fee - do not simply change it on the next annual report. Letting the registered agent lapse can lead to administrative dissolution. See Illinois registered agent requirements and the national do I need a registered agent guide.
Series LLCs and Professional LLCs
Illinois recognizes the series LLC, a structure in which one master LLC creates internal "series," each of which can hold separate assets and liabilities. To form a series LLC you file Form LLC-5.5(S) instead of the standard LLC-5.5, and the filing fee is $400. Each series can, but need not, be treated as a distinct entity for liability purposes if the master articles and operating agreement provide for it. Series LLCs are more complex and are best paired with legal advice.
If your business provides a licensed professional service - such as medicine, law, or accounting - you may need to organize as a professional LLC and confirm licensing-board requirements before filing. In either case the base document is still an Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State. Compare Illinois with a neighboring state on our Indiana and Missouri formation guides.
Amending or Restating the Articles
After formation, you change the public record by filing Articles of Amendment (Form LLC-5.25) with a $50 fee. You amend to change the LLC name, alter the stated purpose, switch between member-managed and manager-managed, or correct information in the original articles. Internal changes that are not part of the articles - such as adjusting profit splits among members - are handled in the operating agreement and are not filed with the state.
If the LLC's name changes, update your EIN records with the IRS, your bank, and any licenses. When you eventually wind down the business, you file a Statement of Termination rather than an amendment; see how to dissolve an LLC in Illinois.
After Your Articles Are Approved
Filing the Articles of Organization creates the LLC, but a few tasks complete the setup:
- Get an EIN. Apply for a free federal EIN from the IRS. By default the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC as a partnership; either can elect S-corporation treatment.
- Adopt an operating agreement. Illinois does not file it, but banks and investors often ask to see it. See operating agreements.
- Register for Illinois taxes. Use Form REG-1 with the Illinois Department of Revenue for sales tax or withholding accounts. See Illinois LLC tax filing.
- Calendar the annual report. Every Illinois LLC files Form LLC-50.1 with a $75 fee each year; see Illinois annual report.
Common Reasons Articles Get Rejected
Most rejections are avoidable. The Secretary of State frequently returns Form LLC-5.5 when the proposed name is not distinguishable from an existing entity, when the name lacks a required LLC designator, when the registered office is a P.O. box without a street address, when the filing fee is wrong or missing, or when required signatures are left blank. Running a name search first and double-checking the fee and registered agent block clears the most common problems before you pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Illinois Articles of Organization?
They are Form LLC-5.5, the document you file with the Illinois Secretary of State to legally create an LLC. The filing fee is $150, and the LLC exists once the Secretary of State accepts the form.
How much does it cost to file Articles of Organization in Illinois?
$150 for a standard LLC (Form LLC-5.5) and $400 for a series LLC (Form LLC-5.5(S)). See Illinois LLC cost for the full breakdown.
How do I file Illinois Articles of Organization?
File online through the Department of Business Services or mail the paper Form LLC-5.5 with a check. Online is fastest. You must name an Illinois registered agent and registered office.
Do I file Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation in Illinois?
An LLC files Articles of Organization (Form LLC-5.5). Articles of Incorporation form a corporation. See LLC vs corporation to choose.
Can I change my Illinois Articles of Organization after filing?
Yes. File Articles of Amendment (Form LLC-5.25) for a $50 fee to change the name, purpose, management, or other article content.
Related
- How to form an LLC in Illinois
- Illinois business entity search
- Illinois certificate of formation explained
- Illinois registered agent requirements
- Illinois LLC cost and filing fees
- Illinois LLC annual report
- Illinois DBA (assumed name) filing
- Articles of Organization (national overview)
- How to form an LLC (cluster hub)
Sources
- Illinois LLC Act - 805 ILCS 180/5-5, Articles of organization (required contents; formation on acceptance).
- Illinois LLC Act - 805 ILCS 180/50-10, Fees ($150 Articles; $400 series; $50 amendment; $25 name reservation; $75 annual report).
- Illinois LLC Act - 805 ILCS 180/1-35, Registered office and registered agent.
- Illinois LLC Act - 805 ILCS 180/1-10, Limited liability company name (designator; distinguishability).
- Illinois LLC Act - 805 ILCS 180/1-15, Reserved name (90-day reservation).
- Illinois LLC Act - 805 ILCS 180/5-25, Amendment of articles of organization.
- Illinois LLC Act - 805 ILCS 180/37-40, Series of members, managers, or interests.
- Illinois LLC Act - 805 ILCS 180/50-1, Annual report.
- Illinois Secretary of State - Limited Liability Companies (Department of Business Services).
- Illinois Secretary of State - Business Services home (online filing).
- Illinois Department of Revenue - Business Registration (Form REG-1).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
- Cornell Law LII - 26 CFR § 301.7701-3, Classification of certain business entities.
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Illinois Secretary of State and Illinois Department of Revenue before acting.