Illinoisans paid the highest state and local taxes for wireless cell phone services in the nation in 2024 – $136 per family more than the average. An increase in Illinois’ telecommunication tax July 1 just made them even higher.

Illinois wireless plan holders paid more on average in federal, state and local taxes than anywhere else in the U.S. The taxes were higher than the combined taxes of the two lowest-ranked states. Chicagoans managed to pay even more.

Smartphone owners in Illinois pay the highest taxes in the nation

Nearly one-third of the cell phone bills in Illinois are taxes

Taxes alone hike the average Illinois cellphone bill by 31%.

Illinois' fifth-largest city is moving to raise taxes on telecommunications and hotels, and fold homesharing into the latter.

Chicagoans already pay the highest in the nation 911 surcharge and a newly passed bill would raise that rate even higher.

Illinoisans already pay the nation’s fourth-highest wireless taxes. But a new bill awaiting Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature would make this burden even heavier.

Illinoisans pay nearly a quarter of their wireless bills in taxes, while Chicagoans pay more taxes on wireless service than residents of any other major city in the country.

Everywhere they look, Chicagoans see ads urging them to switch their cellphone service. One major provider urges customers to purchase a four-line family plan with all the texting, talking and data one could possibly use for only $100 per month. But the ad fails to mention that a Chicago family would actually have to pay...