Headline rate, caps, minimum spend, payroll fringe, and the official film office for Illinois. Reference data for producers, line producers, and financiers structuring a Illinois shoot.
+15% for hires from disadvantaged ZIPs; 30% non-resident crew
Illustrative reference. Verify before deal.
Illinois' transferable tax credit was expanded under SB 1911 in December 2025, bringing the base rate to 35% for resident labor and in-state vendor expenditures, with 30% on non-resident crew and a 15% uplift for hires from designated economically disadvantaged areas. The program is uncapped, has no sunset, and carries a low minimum spend of $100,000 for productions over 30 minutes ($50,000 for shorter formats). Chicago anchors the state's production ecosystem with deep IATSE crew strength, established stage facilities including Cinespace and Chicago Studio City, and one of the most architecturally diverse cityscapes in the country. The state's ability to double for virtually any major American city has made it a consistent draw for scripted television and feature films. Credits are transferable and have a well-established broker market, though productions should plan for Illinois's higher payroll burden (27–32%) relative to Southern competitors.
The questions producers ask first when sizing a Illinois shoot, answered against the state's current program structure and fringe environment.
Headline rate is the start, not the end. Compare Illinois side-by-side with every other U.S. jurisdiction on caps, minimum spend, refundability, and fringe before locking the location.
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