The Illinois Department of Revenue says it will start accepting 2026 individual income tax returns Monday, the same day the IRS opens federal filing. Illinois returns are due Wednesday, April 15th.
IDOR urges taxpayers to file electronically and choose direct deposit, which can mean refunds in about four weeks for accurate returns. Director David Harris says filers should gather W-2s, 1099s, and other income documents and file early to avoid delays.
Taxpayers can file for free through MyTax Illinois, which also allows payments, responses to department questions, refund-status checks through “Where’s My Refund~?”, and lookups for IL-PINs, estimated payments, and 1099-G information. Filing is also available through tax software, a tax professional, or by mailing a paper IL-1040.
IDOR is also warning mail-in filers about a USPS postmark change that could affect time-sensitive documents, and recommends mailing returns and payments earlier than usual or requesting a manual postmark at the post office.
More information is available at tax.illinois.gov or by phone at 1-800-732-8866.