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Electronic Filing Program for Sales & Use Tax Returns

The Department is able to electronically receive and process the following return types:

  • Forms ST-1, Sales and Use Tax and E911 Surcharge Return; ST-2, Multiple Site Form; ST-1-X, Amended Sales and Use Tax and E911 Surcharge Return; and ST-2-X, Amended Multiple Site Form;
  • Forms ST-4, Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Food and Beverage Tax Return, and ST-7, Multiple Site Form;
  • Forms ST-8, Tire User Fee; and
  • Forms ST-14, Chicago Soft Drink Tax Return.

Participation in the Illinois Electronic Filing Program for sales and related tax returns is available to software developers, transmitters, Electronic Return Originators (EROs), and taxpayers. To enroll, complete the Business Electronic Filing Enrollment Application located on MyDevPortal.

Note: Participants using our free MyTax Illinois program should not complete the Business Electronic Filing Enrollment Application unless they plan to use the Illinois Electronic Filing Program in addition to the MyTax Illinois Program.

To use this method of electronic filing, you can write your own software or buy software from an accepted electronic filer (third party). If you wish to create your own software for filing or create software to sell, please refer to the corresponding implementation guide below. Once we have received your electronic filing enrollment form, we will contact you regarding testing.

Form ST-1 electronic filing documentation (version ST1V5.0 and ST1XV5.0, effective for reporting periods January 2024 and after)

  • STS-81 - Implementation Guide for Direct Electronic Filing of Sales and Use Tax (ST-1) 
  • STS-81-EC - ST-1 Error Codes
  • STS-81-RL - ST-1 Record Layouts and Files Specifications (Updated 03/05/25)
  • STS-81-XEC - ST-1-X Error Codes (Coming soon.)
  • STS-81-XRL - ST-1-X Records Layouts and Files Specifications (Coming soon.)

Form ST-1 electronic filing documentation (version ST1V4.0 and ST1XV4.0, effective for reporting periods December 2023 and before)

  • STS-81 - Implementation Guide for Direct Electronic Filing of Sales and Use Tax (ST-1)  
  • STS-81-EC - ST-1 Error Codes
  • STS-81-RL - ST-1 Record Layouts and Files Specifications

  • STS-81-XEC - ST-1-X Error Codes (Available for vendor testing only.)

  • STS-81-XRL - ST-1-X Records Layouts and Files Specifications (Available for vendor testing only.)

Form ST-4 electronic filing documentation (version ST4V1.0)

Form ST-8 electronic filing documentation (version ST8V1.0)

Form ST-14 electronic filing documentation (version ST14V1.0)

Level the Playing Field for Illinois Retail Act
For information regarding Certified Service Providers (CSPs) and Certified Automated Systems (CASs), refer to the Resource Page for the Level the Playing Field for Illinois Retail Act.