Illinois Resale Certificate (CRT-61): How to Get One, Fill It Out and Keep It Valid

An Illinois resale certificate is Form CRT-61, the Certificate of Resale. Distributors ask for it when you buy goods to resell. The Certificate of Registration the state gave you is not the same thing. The state says it can't be used on its own to buy goods without paying sales tax.

You need two things, in this order: an Illinois account ID, and then a filled-in CRT-61 for each distributor you buy from.

Illinois Resale Certificate vs Your Registration: Two Documents, Two Jobs

Your Certificate of Registration shows the state knows your business. The CRT-61 is a signed form you give one seller to say, "I'm buying this to resell." Distributors ask for the CRT-61. The registration can't take its place.

ST-587 is a different form. Illinois titles it an exemption certificate for manufacturing, production agriculture, and coal and aggregate mining. It is not for resale. If you are comparing ST-587 vs CRT-61, only the CRT-61 is the resale form.

Before the Form: Get Your Illinois Account ID

The CRT-61 needs an Illinois account ID, and you get one by registering with the Illinois Department of Revenue. Some people call it an Illinois sales tax ID for resale. Register online at MyTax Illinois and choose "Register a New Business (Form REG-1)." Online registration takes about one to two business days, and a mailed form takes weeks.

The state registers businesses that sell only for resale as resellers, and resellers send back a renewal packet every three years. That is a different date from the update on your CRT-61 (covered below), so track both. You can see your Certificate of Registration online. In MyTax Illinois, choose "View more account options," then "View Account Letters."

Do you sell from outside Illinois? The form has a separate box for out-of-state buyers who resell only to buyers outside Illinois. The state says to register if you do business in Illinois or with Illinois customers, with a few exceptions. Not sure which applies to you? Call the state's Central Registration office at 217-785-3707.

How to Fill Out CRT-61, Step by Step

The CRT-61 PDF has six steps. For the general version that works across states, see our line-by-line guide to filling out a resale certificate. Here is the Illinois form:

When you sign Step 6, you also agree that using the goods for something other than resale can mean you owe tax.

Which Step to Fill In, and How Long Is CRT-61 Good For?

Fill in only one of Steps 3, 4, or 5. Choose by how you buy from that distributor. For a one-time purchase, use Step 3. If everything you buy from the distributor is for resale and you plan to reorder, use Step 4, so you don't need a new form with every order. Step 5 is for goods that are only partly for resale. Most resellers buying finished goods won't need it.

Steps 4 and 5 make what the state calls a blanket certificate, which covers all your orders from one seller. A blanket certificate must be updated at least once every three years. You also need a new one if the percentage in Step 5 changes. The state doesn't say how long a single-purchase form lasts. Put the three-year date in your calendar on the day you sign, so the request to renew never surprises you.

What the Distributor Does With Your CRT-61

You don't mail the certificate to the state unless it asks you to. The distributor has to check that your account ID is valid and active, and keep the certificate for at least three and a half years, in case the state asks to see it. So if you mistype the ID, or it isn't active, the distributor finds out while your application is waiting.

Each distributor needs its own copy, and some have their own resale form. The state accepts another form or statement if it includes the names and addresses of the seller and buyer, a description of the goods, a statement that they are for resale, your signature and the date, and an Illinois account ID or out-of-state proof. A signed purchase order can work if it has all of that. Each distributor decides what it will accept, so ask first.

Each distributor runs its own check, so each application means another wait. It helps to know which ones are worth sending before you start.

5 Mistakes That Get a CRT-61 Sent Back

• Sending the Certificate of Registration alone. It can't take the place of the CRT-61.
• Sending ST-587. It covers manufacturing, farming, and mining, not resale.
• Filling in more than one of Steps 3, 4, and 5. Choose one.
• Stopping at the signature. Step 6 also asks for your printed name, email, phone, and date.
• Using an account ID that is mistyped or not active. The distributor checks it before it says yes.

Use your business name on the form exactly as it appears on your registration, so it matches when the distributor checks. Keep a dated copy of every certificate you send, with the name of the distributor that got it. When a renewal request comes in, you can see at once what you sent and when.

Certificate in Hand, Approval Still Ahead

A correct certificate clears the paperwork. It doesn't make a distributor say yes. Approval also depends on your business history and how you plan to sell, which we cover in what distributors look for before approving a seller. Most distributors also ask for an EIN. The EIN and the resale certificate do different jobs, as we explain in EIN vs resale certificate. For the permit side, see resale certificate vs sales tax permit.

Before you apply anywhere, search the product free and see real cost and real stock from the verified distributors in our network that carry it. You see the numbers first, and unlock a supplier only when they work. If the search comes back empty, Request a Supplier and our team will find an authorized wholesale distributor for the product. It is free on every plan, with an answer within 30 days either way.

This is general information about how Illinois handles this, not tax or legal advice for your situation. Check the details with the Illinois Department of Revenue or a tax professional.

Sign It, Copy It, Mark the Three-Year Date

The form is short: an account ID, six steps, and a signature. Get it right once, keep a copy, and mark the renewal date. After that, the harder job is finding the distributor that sells the product you already know sells.