Combined sales taxes in Illinois have leaped past those of every other state in the region.

The sales-tax hike Cook County officials approved in July takes effect Jan. 1, 2016, just in time for end-of-season holiday shopping deals.

“Pay to play” might take on a whole new meaning in Chicago.

The low-tax Land of Lincoln is a myth.

Emanuel says, ‘we haven’t left any stone unturned ... not done yet’

Too bad it doesn’t solve any real problems.

Each Chicago household is on the hook for more than $63,800 in future tax bills – much of it for services already rendered.

City officials are pushing property-tax hikes, sales-tax hikes, and even a commuter tax and financial-transaction tax.

Buying local just got a lot less appealing for Chicagoans. The city reclaimed the highest sales-tax rate of any major city in the nation on July 15, when the Cook County Board, which oversees Illinois’ largest city, voted to raise its portion of the sales tax, bringing Chicago’s combined rate to 10.25 percent from 9.25...