Illinois Department of Revenue

Illinois has given companies more than $830M in EDGE tax credits since 1999

By Robert Steere
10/08/2014
Illinois’ Economic Development for a Growing Economy, or EDGE, tax credit program has been making the news from time to time during recent months, mostly in the context of discussions on how to reform Illinois taxes and grow Illinois’ economy simultaneously. The program is on the chopping block. Notably, talk of changes to the EDGE...

TAGS: EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy

Illinois corruption watch, August 2014

By Brian Costin
09/05/2014
At least 84 corruption-related stories have been reported from across the state of Illinois in August alone. Atop August headlines is the recent revelation that a federal grand jury subpoenaed the emails of Gov. Pat Quinn’s ex-chief of staff in relation to Quinn’s anti-violence grant program. The case, which has been referred to by some...

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, cronyism, transparency, waste

Lawmakers ‘borrow’ taxpayers’ charitable donations to fund government

01/31/2013
Mike Billy Illinois News Network Illinois taxpayers can use the state’s income tax form to donate to child abuse prevention, childhood cancer research and military family relief. But if you want to make sure your money actually gets to the charities, you might want to give them a check directly instead of using the state...

Preckwinkle’s proposed $1 per-pack cigarette tax hike doesn’t add up

By Benjamin VanMetre
10/25/2012
Since 2002, cigarette taxes increased 105 times across the country. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle wants to make it 106. To help fill Cook County’s $267.5 million budget shortfall, Preckwinkle has proposed increasing the per-pack tax on cigarettes by $1. The tax hike is only expected to bring in about $25 million in new revenue. Preckwinkle’s new money...

Online affiliate tax: Struck down

By Chris Andriesen
04/26/2012
by Peter White, Liberty Justice Center Yesterday morning I sat in the Daley Center and listened as Cook County Circuit Judge Robert Lopez Cepero struck down Illinois’ internet affiliate tax law and, in so doing, handed victory to thousands of internet entrepreneurs across the state. While the outcome of the case will rest ultimately with...

Expanding sales tax collection to remote retailers

11/16/2011
by Emily Dietrich The debate over sales tax collection for remote retailers and traditional sellers continues to rage. As the Institute reported last month, the state law that forces remote sellers to remit taxes to the Illinois Department of Revenue on behalf of Illinois residents has cost many families in Illinois both jobs and income. Now, federal...