Illinois: tax incentives, credits and advisors
Illinois' largest state incentive for production is its film credit, expanded in 2025 to 35% of qualified Illinois spending, and the credit can be transferred. Its historic rehabilitation credits run through 2028.
Facts checked 2026-10-26 against the official sources linked below.
Below are the major Illinois incentives we could verify against an official source, grouped by type. This is not an exhaustive list of every state program. Credits flagged Transferable can be sold or assigned to another taxpayer under state rules; see transferable state tax credits. Each row shows the date we last checked it.
Illinois film and media incentives
| Incentive | Type | Who qualifies | Amount, rate or cap | Transferable | Refundable | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Film production services tax credit | Credit | Accredited productions with qualifying Illinois spending | 35% of qualified Illinois spending and resident salaries up to $500,000 per worker; 30% on limited non-resident salaries; +15% on wages of residents of high-unemployment areas; +5% outside the Chicago-area counties; +5% for relocating TV series; +5% for certified green productions; no program cap; 5-year carryforward | Transferable: Yes; to up to 10 transferees within one year of issuance, with transfer fees | Not stated | Active; scheduled for legislative renewal in 2039 | Illinois DCEO, Illinois Film Production Tax Credit; Illinois DCEO, Film Tax Credit FAQs Last verified 2026-10-26 |
Illinois historic and building rehabilitation incentives
| Incentive | Type | Who qualifies | Amount, rate or cap | Transferable | Refundable | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historic preservation tax credit | Credit | Owners of income-producing certified historic structures doing a certified rehabilitation | 25% of qualified expenditures, up to $3 million per project; $25 million a year statewide | Not stated | Not stated | Program runs through December 31, 2028 | Illinois DNR, State Historic Tax Credit Last verified 2026-10-26 |
| River Edge historic tax credit | Credit | Rehabilitation of certified historic buildings in River Edge Redevelopment Zones | 25% of qualified expenditures | No; cannot be sold or transferred, but can be syndicated through partnerships | Not stated | Through December 31, 2028 | Illinois DNR, Tax Incentives Last verified 2026-10-26 |
Illinois jobs, investment and enterprise zones incentives
| Incentive | Type | Who qualifies | Amount, rate or cap | Transferable | Refundable | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise zone investment credit | Credit | Taxpayers placing qualified property in service in an Illinois enterprise zone | 0.5% of the basis of qualified property; 5-year carryforward; recapture if moved or disposed of within 48 months | Not stated | No | Active (river edge zone property not eligible for tax years beginning on or after July 12, 2016) | 86 Ill. Adm. Code 100.2131 Last verified 2026-10-26 |
| EDGE tax credit | Credit | Companies in eligible sectors approved by DCEO for job creation | Set by DCEO agreement; claimed against corporate income tax (Tier I) or withholding (startups, optionally Tier II) | No; cannot be sold or transferred | Not stated | Active | Illinois DCEO, EDGE FAQ Last verified 2026-10-26 |
Illinois research and development incentives
| Incentive | Type | Who qualifies | Amount, rate or cap | Transferable | Refundable | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research and development credit | Credit | Taxpayers increasing qualifying research in Illinois | 6.5% of qualifying expenditures above the 3-year base average; 5-year carryforward | Not stated | No | Tax years ending before January 1, 2032 | 86 Ill. Adm. Code 100.2160 Last verified 2026-10-26 |
Advisors located in Illinois
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Common questions
Can Illinois film tax credits be transferred?
Yes, to up to 10 transferees within one year of issuance, subject to transfer fees.
Can the River Edge historic tax credit be sold?
No. It cannot be sold or transferred, but it can be syndicated through partnerships.
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Education only; not tax, legal or investment advice. State rules change; confirm with the official source and a qualified professional.