Eliminating grocery tax would help Illinois families

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is supporting an end to Illinois’ 1% grocery tax. Illinois is one of only 13 states with a grocery tax, and the only one of the nation’s 10 largest states.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced his support for eliminating the 1% state grocery tax in his sixth budget proposal – a move that Illinois Policy Institute polling showed 70% of voters support.

States similar to Illinois get along without taxing people at the grocery store. Illinois is among only 13 states with a grocery tax and the only one among the 10 most-populated.

The institute supported permanently repealing the grocery tax back when Pritzker and sitting lawmakers suspended it in 2022 during their bids for re-election. Taxing essentials such as groceries falls hardest on low-income families. Illinoisans saved an estimated $360 million from a one-year suspension alone.

Pritzker’s proposed budget also includes $800 million in new taxes, mainly on businesses and sportsbooks. Ditching the tax on eggs and milk would be a step in the right direction, but not adding taxes so Pritzker can set a new, $52.7 billion record for a state budget. The cost to run Illinois has ballooned nearly $13 billion just since Pritzker took office in 2019.

In 2023, state Sen. Donald DeWitte, R-St. Charles, introduced legislation repealing the grocery tax, but the bill died in committee. Pritzker’s support makes the idea more politically viable.