Illinois counts on bad habits to raise $3.47B in sin taxes
Illinois counts on bad habits to raise $3.47B in sin taxes
Whether your vice is drinking, tobacco, cannabis or gambling, Illinois is enjoying $3.47 billion from taxing it.
Watching ‘Elf’ or ‘Home Alone’ costs $300M more in Chicago
Watching ‘Elf’ or ‘Home Alone’ costs $300M more in Chicago
Chicagoans pay extra to stream holiday movies on Netflix or Hulu because of the city’s 10.25% streaming tax. The cost was nearly $300 million in 2025.
Chicago adopts $16.6B budget, adds $535M in taxes
Chicago adopts $16.6B budget, adds $535M in taxes
Chicago aldermen for the first time pushed through their own budget, rejecting the mayor’s effort to impose a job-killing head tax. There are other taxes.
Property taxes rob ‘Home Alone’ house of nearly $52,000
Property taxes rob ‘Home Alone’ house of nearly $52,000
The owners of Kevin McCallister’s house from the “Home Alone” movie will pay nearly $52,000 in property taxes this year.
Gassing up in Illinois pricey during record holiday travel
Gassing up in Illinois pricey during record holiday travel
AAA estimates 5.7 million Illinoisans will travel this holiday season. Most will be driving, forced to pay the nation’s No. 2 gas taxes.
Judge rules Cook County tax sale illegal; lawmakers yet to act
Judge rules Cook County tax sale illegal; lawmakers yet to act
A federal judge ruled Cook County is illegally settling minor property tax debts by seizing the full value of properties. Illinois law still allows the practice.
High sales taxes suck a little joy out of Illinois holidays
High sales taxes suck a little joy out of Illinois holidays
Illinois sales taxes on holiday purchases rank No. 8 in the U.S., but Chicago charges shoppers as much as 10.25% with plans to go higher.
Report offers $1B in fixes as Chicago budget talks break down
Report offers $1B in fixes as Chicago budget talks break down
The Chicago City Council rejected Mayor Brandon Johnson’s economically harmful tax proposals, but a report offers $1 billion in solutions
Most Chicagoans, aldermen oppose Johnson’s 2026 budget
Most Chicagoans, aldermen oppose Johnson’s 2026 budget
Most Chicago City Council members and residents oppose Mayor Brandon Johnson’s 2026 budget, especially his plan to tax job creation.
$1B, unneeded tax hike coming to a tollway near you?
$1B, unneeded tax hike coming to a tollway near you?
Chicago-area drivers could end up paying $1 billion more in tolls each year as part of a deal state lawmakers admitted was made to get labor union support.
Transit sales tax hike makes suburbs pay for Chicago problems
Transit sales tax hike makes suburbs pay for Chicago problems
Chicago-area transit riders deserve safe, reliable service. But the Regional Transportation Authority board might soon ask the wrong people to pay for it.
Illinois lawmakers push retirement tax to keep spending more
Illinois lawmakers push retirement tax to keep spending more
As state lawmakers look to plug budget holes by removing limits on state income tax rates, Illinois’ spending is set to continue breaking records.
Handing out money without work fails, but Illinois trying it again
Handing out money without work fails, but Illinois trying it again
A 2024 study showed handing people money they hadn’t worked for hurt them, but Illinois lawmakers are putting $827,272 in tax dollars behind the idea again.
Chicago streaming tax adds 10% to NFL Thanksgiving costs
Chicago streaming tax adds 10% to NFL Thanksgiving costs
Streaming Thanksgiving football comes with extra costs just for living in Chicago. The city adds 10% to streaming prices through a local amusement tax.