Key Takeaways
- Illinois allows incoming LLC domestication directly (805 ILCS 180, Article 37 (§§37-30 through 37-40)) — your LLC keeps its original formation date
- Filing fee: $100 standard, $200 with expedited processing
- No new EIN is needed. Domestication under Article 37 continues the same legal entity rather than creating a new one, so the IRS treats your EIN as unchanged — update your address on file with Form 8822-B once your Illinois registered agent is set.
- No. Illinois doesn't require proof of formal withdrawal or dissolution from your old state as part of the Statement of Domestication filing — the Certificate of Good Standing you submit largely covers it, and any separate closing filing in your old state is handled under that state's own law.
- Same-day LLC domestication filing available through LLC Attorney, at no markup on state fees
If your LLC is formed in another state but you've relocated (or your business has) and want Illinois to be its new legal home, domestication lets you make that move without dissolving the company and starting over.
This guide covers exactly how to domesticate an LLC into Illinois in 2026 — the mail-only Statement of Domestication (Form LLC-37.33), the $100-$200 fee, and what happens to your EIN and formation date, since this is a relatively young statute worth understanding in detail before you file.
What Is LLC Domestication?
Domestication (sometimes called continuance or statutory conversion) lets you move your LLC from one state to Illinois without dissolving it and starting over. Done correctly, the LLC keeps its original formation date, its EIN, and its contracts — only its home state changes.
Can You Domesticate an LLC Into Illinois?
Yes. Illinois's LLC Act includes a statutory domestication provision (805 ILCS 180, Article 37 (§§37-30 through 37-40)), so an out-of-state LLC can become a Illinois LLC directly while retaining its original formation date.
How to Domesticate Your LLC in Illinois
- Filing agency: Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services
- Form: Statement of Domestication (LLC-37.33)
- Filing fee: $100 standard, $200 with expedited processing
- Processing time: About 10 business days once received, plus mail transit time — Illinois does not accept this filing online
- Expedited option: $200 total (the standard $100 fee plus a $100 expedite surcharge); still must be mailed in, expedited only speeds up processing once received
- Certificate of Good Standing: Required from your current state, dated within 60 days of filing.
- Plan of domestication: Illinois does not require a separate formal plan document beyond the standard filing.
- Member approval: Illinois's domestication statute doesn't spell out a separate approval threshold specific to domestication; the LLC Act's general default for fundamental structural changes is approval by a majority-in-interest of members unless your operating agreement sets a different threshold, so confirm your operating agreement's language before proceeding.
What Happens to Your EIN, Contracts, and Formation Date?
Domesticating to Illinois preserves your LLC's original formation date — the entity continues, it doesn't restart.
No new EIN is needed. Domestication under Article 37 continues the same legal entity rather than creating a new one, so the IRS treats your EIN as unchanged — update your address on file with Form 8822-B once your Illinois registered agent is set.
All existing contracts, bank accounts, licenses, and pending liabilities carry over automatically — Illinois's domestication statute treats the domesticated LLC as the same entity that existed in your old state, not a new one stepping into its shoes.
Do I Need to Close My LLC in My Old State?
No. Illinois doesn't require proof of formal withdrawal or dissolution from your old state as part of the Statement of Domestication filing — the Certificate of Good Standing you submit largely covers it, and any separate closing filing in your old state is handled under that state's own law.
If your business keeps operating in your old state after moving its legal home to Illinois — an office, employees, or regular in-state activity — you'll likely need to foreign-qualify there instead of maintaining it as your domestic entity. Check that state's foreign-qualification requirements once the Illinois domestication is final.
When Do Illinois's Taxes and Filings Start?
Illinois's tax and annual-report obligations begin on the effective date stated in your filed Statement of Domestication — Illinois LLCs owe an annual report to the Secretary of State each year, so get that due date on your compliance calendar right away.
You'll typically owe a final-year return to your old state covering the period before the domestication took effect, prorated to the effective date — confirm the exact requirement with that state's own tax agency, since it depends on where you're moving from.
Illinois's domestication statute is genuinely new: before the Illinois Entity Omnibus Act took effect on July 1, 2018, Illinois had no conversion or domestication provision at all for LLCs, which means there's less accumulated practice and precedent behind it than in states that have had this mechanism for decades. Combine that with a mail-only filing requirement and a fee ($100-$200) that runs higher than several neighboring states, and it's worth double-checking current requirements directly with the Secretary of State before filing.
How to Move Your LLC to Illinois Step by Step
If You Do It Yourself
Step 1 — Confirm your LLC is in good standing in its current state.
Illinois will require a Certificate of Good Standing from your current state, so resolve any lapsed filings there first.
Step 2 — Get member approval for the move.
Illinois's domestication statute doesn't spell out a separate approval threshold specific to domestication; the LLC Act's general default for fundamental structural changes is approval by a majority-in-interest of members unless your operating agreement sets a different threshold, so confirm your operating agreement's language before proceeding.
Step 3 — File the domestication paperwork.
File with Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services using the Statement of Domestication, $100 standard, $200 with expedited processing.
Step 4 — Confirm your EIN and contracts carry over.
No new EIN is needed. Domestication under Article 37 continues the same legal entity rather than creating a new one, so the IRS treats your EIN as unchanged — update your address on file with Form 8822-B once your Illinois registered agent is set. All existing contracts, bank accounts, licenses, and pending liabilities carry over automatically — Illinois's domestication statute treats the domesticated LLC as the same entity that existed in your old state, not a new one stepping into its shoes.
Step 5 — Appoint a registered agent in your new state.
Illinois calls this role a "Registered Agent" — required before or as part of the domestication filing.
Step 6 — Handle your old state's final obligations.
No. Illinois doesn't require proof of formal withdrawal or dissolution from your old state as part of the Statement of Domestication filing — the Certificate of Good Standing you submit largely covers it, and any separate closing filing in your old state is handled under that state's own law. You'll typically owe a final-year return to your old state covering the period before the domestication took effect, prorated to the effective date — confirm the exact requirement with that state's own tax agency, since it depends on where you're moving from.
Step 7 — Update your tax and compliance calendar.
Illinois's tax and annual-report obligations begin on the effective date stated in your filed Statement of Domestication — Illinois LLCs owe an annual report to the Secretary of State each year, so get that due date on your compliance calendar right away.
Step 8 — Watch for Illinois-specific domestication traps.
The most common Illinois-specific mistake is assuming this can be filed online — it can't. The Statement of Domestication (Form LLC-37.33) must be mailed to the Department of Business Services, and since Illinois's domestication statute is relatively young (effective 2018), first-time filers should expect more manual back-and-forth than in states with a longer track record.
If LLC Attorney Does It for You
- Submit your LLC's current-state details at llcattorney.com — name, formation date, and member information.
- LLC Attorney handles the domestication filing, obtains your Certificate of Good Standing, and serves as your registered agent in Illinois once the move is complete.
- Receive confirmation of your completed move, plus access to flat-fee attorney consultations (no retainer) for any old-state wind-down questions.
When Should You Talk to an Attorney About Moving Your LLC to Illinois?
Talk to an attorney before domesticating your LLC to Illinois if your operating agreement doesn't clearly address the approval threshold for a domestication, if you want the mail-only Statement of Domestication reviewed before it's submitted to avoid a rejected filing, or if your old state has unusual final-tax-return requirements you want confirmed ahead of time.
What You Actually Get With LLC Attorney's Illinois Domestication Service
The part of Illinois LLC domestication that trips people up is assuming there's an online option — there isn't, and Illinois's mail-only Statement of Domestication is a comparatively new filing (in place only since 2018) that's easy to get wrong on a first attempt. LLC Attorney handles it correctly from the start.
- LLC domestication to Illinois, starting at $149.
- Certificate of Good Standing retrieval, filing prep, and registered agent service all handled in one order.
- Old-state withdrawal and final-tax-obligation guidance specific to your prior state — not a generic multi-state template.
- Access to professionally trained Business Success Advisors at no charge, plus flat-fee attorney consultations (no retainer) for move-specific questions.
Moving your LLC's legal home to Illinois is manageable once the mail-only filing is prepared correctly — LLC Attorney makes sure nothing gets missed before it's submitted.
Ready to Move Your LLC to Illinois?
LLC Attorney handles the domestication filing for LLCs moving to Illinois, starting at $149. See our full pricing for all service tiers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, since 2018. Illinois's domestication statute (805 ILCS 180, Article 37) was created by the Illinois Entity Omnibus Act, effective July 1, 2018 — before that, Illinois had no domestication mechanism at all. Today, an out-of-state LLC can become an Illinois LLC directly while retaining its original formation date.
Yes. Domesticating to Illinois preserves your LLC's original formation date, EIN, and contracts — only the home state changes, since Illinois's domestication statute treats it as a continuation of the same entity rather than a new one.
$100 for standard processing, or $200 with expedited processing — both filed by mail, since Illinois does not accept the Statement of Domestication online.
No. Your EIN stays the same — domestication continues the same legal entity rather than creating a new one. Update your address with the IRS via Form 8822-B once your Illinois registered agent is set.
Illinois doesn't require proof of withdrawal from your old state as part of its own filing, but you'll typically still need to file a closing document in your prior state under its own law once Illinois's domestication is confirmed.
Illinois's obligations begin as soon as the domestication is effective. Illinois LLCs owe an annual report to the Secretary of State each year — get that deadline on your compliance calendar right away.
Illinois's domestication statute doesn't set its own specific approval threshold; the LLC Act's general default for structural changes is majority-in-interest approval unless your operating agreement provides otherwise, so check your operating agreement's language first.
About 10 business days once your mailed Statement of Domestication is received, or faster with the $200 expedited option — plus mail transit time in both directions, since Illinois doesn't accept this filing online.
Yes. LLC Attorney handles the domestication filing for LLCs moving to Illinois, starting at $149.