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Illinois shoppers pay highest sales tax in Midwest, 8th in nation

By Dylan Sharkey
02/09/2023
Illinoisans shopping for Valentine’s Day will pay the highest sales tax in the Midwest and eighth-highest in the nation.

TAGS: sales tax

Shoppers pay 9% sales tax on Christmas gifts in Illinois

By Patrick Andriesen
12/22/2022
Illinois shoppers will pay an average 8.81% in sales taxes on presents this holiday, the eighth most nationwide. Some Cook County communities will charge up to 11.5%.

TAGS: Illinois, sales tax

Illinois holiday shoppers pay highest sales taxes in Midwest

By Dylan Sharkey
11/23/2022
Retailers should expect a record number of holiday shoppers this weekend. Shoppers in Illinois will get hit with some of the nation’s highest sales taxes.

TAGS: Illinois, sales tax

High gas prices mean Illinois’ sales tax adds $200 a year

07/30/2022
Surging gasoline prices mean Illinois is getting a boost in sales taxes from fuel, but that’s because drivers are paying the extra $200 a year. Most states don’t charge sales tax on gasoline, but Illinois adds it atop other taxes – taxing the taxes.

TAGS: gas prices, Illinois, inflation, sales tax

Illinoisans pay highest sales taxes in Midwest, 8th highest in nation

By Bryce Hill
02/28/2022
Illinois’ combined state and average local retail sales tax rate topped 8.8% in 2022. That’s the 8th-highest in the nation and the highest in the Midwest.

TAGS: Chicago, Illinois, sales tax

Sales taxes are holiday gift that keeps on taking

By Dylan Sharkey
12/13/2021
Illinois imposes some of the nation’s highest sales taxes on holiday shoppers, and this year online shopping will no longer offer a break.

TAGS: Christmas shopping, Illinois, sales tax

Illinois’ online shoppers face full local sales tax rates this holiday season

By Dylan Sharkey
11/04/2021
Sales tax revenue is up from pre-pandemic levels, in part because Illinois is now forcing online retailers to charge local sales tax rates as high as 10.25%. No tax breaks this Cyber Monday.

TAGS: Illinois, sales tax

Illinois state, local sales taxes rank 7th in U.S.

By Noah Shaar
07/17/2021
Illinoisans pay one of the highest sales tax rates in the nation when local and state sales taxes are averaged. The average rate of 8.83% was up slightly from a year earlier.

TAGS: Illinois, sales tax

Illinois’ sales taxes make holiday shopping painful reminder of fiscal woes

12/18/2020
Sales taxes can exceed 10% in Illinois depending on where consumers do their holiday shopping. The average has been creeping up in recent years.

TAGS: Chicago, Christmas, sales tax

Illinois sales tax revenues down 24% in May amid strict lockdown

By Adam Schuster
06/11/2020
Monthly sales tax collections in Illinois continued sharp declines compared to one year earlier amid strict COVID-19 restrictions. Neighboring states with more open economies fared better.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, sales tax

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Budget + Tax / Research Report

Illinois Forward 2024: A sustainable state budget plan


After years of enhanced revenue from federal aid, a return to the basic principles of budgeting can put Illinois on the path to long-term financial stability

View Report

Report Archive

Education / Your Story

John Jacob

Labor / Policy Point

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014
Illinois Policy In the News

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016

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