How many allowances should I claim in Illinois?
On Illinois's IL-W-4, a single filer with no dependents usually claims 1 and a married couple 2, plus one for each dependent. Each allowance takes $2,925 a year off the wages Illinois withholding is figured on. On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks, one allowance more than that raises each paycheck by about $5.57. Claiming fewer means more withheld now and a bigger refund later.
How to count your allowances on the IL-W-4
On line 1 you count 1 for yourself (unless someone else can claim you), 1 for your spouse, and 1 for each dependent. Each of those basic allowances takes $2,925 a year off the wages withholding is figured on. Line 2 adds smaller allowances for being 65 or older, being blind, or having large deductions.
There is no filing status on the IL-W-4 because Illinois taxes everyone at one flat rate. You can claim exempt, but your employer must ignore that claim unless your federal W-4 also says exempt.
If you never file an IL-W-4, your employer withholds on all your pay with no allowances.
Illinois withholding by number of allowances
Single filer earning $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks, federal W-4 with no adjustments. The highlighted row is the usual count for a single filer with no dependents.
| Allowances | Illinois tax withheld | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $114.23 | $1,823.85 |
| 1 | $108.66 | $1,829.41 |
| 2 | $103.09 | $1,834.98 |
| 3 | $97.52 | $1,840.55 |
| 4 | $91.96 | $1,846.12 |
| 5 | $86.39 | $1,851.69 |
Married couple on one $100,000 income, paid every two weeks:
| Allowances | Illinois tax withheld | Take-home pay |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $190.38 | $3,067.69 |
| 1 | $184.82 | $3,073.26 |
| 2 | $179.25 | $3,078.83 |
| 3 | $173.68 | $3,084.40 |
| 4 | $168.11 | $3,089.97 |
| 5 | $162.54 | $3,095.54 |
Should you claim more or fewer?
Allowances only change how much is withheld during the year. Your actual Illinois tax is settled on your state return. Claim more than you qualify for and you may owe at tax time. Claim fewer and you get the difference back as a refund. If you would rather keep the count simple, most forms also let you ask for an extra dollar amount from each paycheck.
The federal Form W-4 dropped allowances in 2020, so your federal and Illinois forms work differently. See how many allowances to claim and how to fill out a W-4. To see your own numbers, open the Illinois paycheck calculator and set the allowances under the state form step.
Sources
Illinois Department of Revenue, Form IL-W-4 and Illinois Department of Revenue, Booklet IL-700-T. Withholding figures come from the same 2026 formulas the calculator uses; see how we calculate.