To change an LLC name in Illinois, file Articles of Amendment (Form LLC-5.25) with the Illinois Secretary of State and pay a $50 filing fee. The filing itself is quick. The follow-up work — updating the IRS, the Illinois Department of Revenue, your bank, your insurers, and every license or contract that carries the old name — is where most of the effort goes.
Confirm the New Name Is Available and Legal
Before you file anything, search the Illinois Secretary of State’s Business Entity Search database to confirm no other registered entity already uses the name you want. Illinois requires your new name to be distinguishable from every other LLC, corporation, limited partnership, and reserved name on file.
The name also has to follow the Illinois Limited Liability Company Act. It must include “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC.” It cannot include words that suggest a different structure — “Corporation,” “Corp.,” “Incorporated,” “Inc.,” “Ltd.,” “Co.,” “Limited Partnership,” or “L.P.” It cannot include “trust,” “trustee,” or “fiduciary” unless the Secretary of Financial and Professional Regulation has given permission under the Corporate Fiduciary Act. Words restricted by other Illinois statutes, such as terms implying you are an insurance company or a bank, are off-limits without the required regulatory approval.1Justia. Illinois Code 805 ILCS 180 – Article 1 General Provisions
If the name clears both tests but you aren’t ready to file the amendment, you can reserve it with the Secretary of State so no one else claims it in the meantime.
Get Member or Manager Approval First
Your LLC has to formally authorize the change according to its own rules before you file with the state. Check your operating agreement. It probably specifies how many members must approve an amendment and whether the vote is a simple majority or unanimous. If the operating agreement says nothing about amendments, the default rules in the Illinois LLC Act apply.
Document the vote with a written resolution signed by the members or managers who approved it. The resolution should identify the current name, the new name, and the date of the vote. Keep it in your company records. The Secretary of State will not ask to see it during filing, but a bank, a business partner, or a future buyer may.
File Form LLC-5.25 With the Secretary of State
The filing is Articles of Amendment, Form LLC-5.25, governed by 805 ILCS 180/5-25. The statute requires three things: the current name of the LLC, the text of the amendment being adopted, and a statement that the amendment was approved as required by the operating agreement or the LLC Act.2Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Code 805 ILCS 180 5-25 – Articles of Amendment
In practice, the form also asks for your LLC’s file number (the unique identifier assigned when your LLC was formed) and the date you want the change to take effect. If you leave the effective date blank, the change takes effect when the Secretary of State files the document. If you set a future date, it cannot be more than 30 days out. An authorized manager signs if the LLC is manager-managed; a member signs if it is member-managed. Include a daytime phone number and email so the filing office can reach you about minor corrections.
Filing Online
The Secretary of State runs a dedicated online portal for LLC name-change amendments at apps.ilsos.gov. You enter your file number and the system walks you through the rest. Online filing takes electronic payment immediately and generally processes faster than mail because certain fields are validated during entry.3Illinois Secretary of State. LLC Articles of Amendment Effecting a Name Change
Filing by Mail
You can mail two copies of the completed form to the Department of Business Services in Springfield with a check or money order for the total due. Standard processing for mailed documents runs anywhere from five to fifteen business days depending on office volume. Once approved, the Secretary of State returns a stamped copy of the amendment as your legal proof of the change.
Fees
The standard filing fee is $50. Expedited service adds $100 and provides 24-hour processing for online and in-person submissions.4Illinois Secretary of State. Limited Liability Company Publications and Forms
Tell the IRS the Right Way
A name change alone does not require a new Employer Identification Number. The IRS is explicit: if you’re only changing your LLC’s name or location, your existing EIN stays.5Internal Revenue Service. When to Get a New EIN
How you report the change depends on how your LLC is taxed. If your LLC files as a partnership on Form 1065, check the name-change box on Page 1, Line G, Box 3 of your next return. If you’ve already filed for the year, write to the IRS at the address where you filed, with the letter signed by a partner. If your LLC is a single-member LLC that files on Schedule C, write to the IRS at the address where you filed, signed by the owner or an authorized representative.6Internal Revenue Service. Business Name Change
One common mistake to avoid: Form 8822-B is not the form for a name change. It updates your business address or responsible party. If either of those has also changed, file Form 8822-B separately for them, and note that responsible party changes must be reported within 60 days.7Internal Revenue Service. About Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party – Business
Update Illinois Tax Accounts, Assumed Names, and Licenses
Update your records with the Illinois Department of Revenue through MyTax Illinois, by phone at 217-785-3707, or by email. If your LLC collects sales tax, has employees, or has any other state tax obligation, those accounts need the new name to prevent confusion during audits or filings.8Illinois Department of Revenue. Updating Your Business Information
If your LLC previously adopted an assumed name (a DBA), check that filing for consistency. In Illinois, LLC assumed names are filed with the Secretary of State, not at the county level.9Illinois Secretary of State. Adopting an Assumed LLC Name
Local business licenses and permits from your city or county each have their own update process. If your LLC holds professional licenses issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, update those too.
Update the Bank, Insurance, Contracts, and Trademarks
Banks will not change your account name over the phone. Expect to bring a certified copy of the approved Articles of Amendment, an updated resolution reflecting the new name, and possibly new signature cards. Order several certified copies from the Secretary of State when the amendment is approved. You’ll use them repeatedly.
Contact your insurance carriers to update commercial general liability, professional liability, workers’ compensation, and umbrella policies. A general liability name change is usually handled by endorsement. Professional liability policies can be more involved; the insurer may need to keep your old name on the policy alongside the new one to preserve coverage continuity for work performed under the prior name. A claim denied because the policy lists a name that no longer legally exists is preventable, so don’t leave this one for later.
Review contracts, leases, and vendor agreements that reference the old name. Most well-drafted contracts survive a name change without formal amendment, but notifying the other parties in writing creates a clear record and prevents confusion when invoices arrive under a name they don’t recognize.
If your LLC owns federal trademarks, record the name change with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office through its Assignment Center. You’ll need a USPTO.gov account to submit the request.10United States Patent and Trademark Office. Assignment Center
Once the amendment is approved and the outside updates are done, amend your operating agreement to reflect the new name. Reference the section being changed, include the new language, state that all other provisions remain in effect, and have the members sign.