Chicago’s commercial property taxes 2X U.S. city average, kill opportunity

By Cameron Jasper, LyLena Estabine

08/01/2025

Chicago’s high commercial property taxes hurt both businesses and homeowners. The result is less business, fewer jobs and growing inequality across communities.

TAGS: property taxes

Vallas: Illinois’ woes say more about Pritzker, Johnson than Trump

By Paul Vallas

02/11/2025

Illinois leaders have built a legacy of massive government spending deficits, extortionate taxes, marauding criminals and failing schools. Instead of Trump-proofing Illinois, maybe we need to Pritzker- and Johnson-proof it.

Our perspective: Chicago’s commercial real estate market still hasn’t recovered from pandemic

By Hilary Gowins

02/08/2024

Editor’s note: There is a lot of information coming at you every day, but not a lot of context. The Illinois Policy Institute is launching "Our Perspective" to give you our take on topics of the day so you can better shape your take on them.

TAGS: housing market, real estate

Vallas: Call Johnson’s real estate transfer tax what it really is: a commercial property tax

By Paul Vallas

09/29/2023

Brandon Johnson’s ‘Bring Chicago Home’ transaction tax is primarily a tax on the already overburdened and depressed commercial property owners.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Chicago has 2nd-highest commercial property taxes in U.S.

By Justin Carlson

07/07/2023

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and progressive allies said the city can find fiscal flexibility by taxing big business. The city is already home to the second-highest commercial property taxes in the nation.

TAGS: corporate income tax

Report: TIFs fall short of economic development promises

09/19/2018

A new report analyzes the effects of “tax increment financing” on communities across the nation – and calls into question the merits of the widely used development tool.

TAGS: Chicago, John F. Curran, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing, William Davis

Puzzled by property taxes: Improving transparency and fairness in Illinois’ assessment system

By Amy Korte

07/19/2018

Illinois should take steps toward more accurate and frequent property assessments to ensure the tax burden is distributed as fairly as possible.

Real relief: What Illinoisans looking for property tax reform can learn from Virginia

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

03/08/2018

If Illinois adopted Virginia’s spending habits along with policies that can reduce costs and raise home values, the Prairie State could vastly reduce the property tax burden that Illinois homeowners currently face.

Rising property tax burdens squeeze Illinois families

By Orphe Divounguy

01/06/2018

While effective property tax rates might be on the decline in some communities, census data show Illinois families are seeing a larger share of their household budgets eaten up by property tax bills.

Illinois is a high-tax state

By John Klingner

08/17/2016

Illinois had the fourth-highest combined state and local tax burden as a share of state income in the country.

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Chicago’s commercial property taxes 2X U.S. city average, kill opportunity

Vallas: Illinois’ woes say more about Pritzker, Johnson than Trump

Our perspective: Chicago’s commercial real estate market still hasn’t recovered from pandemic

Vallas: Call Johnson’s real estate transfer tax what it really is: a commercial property tax

Chicago has 2nd-highest commercial property taxes in U.S.

Report: TIFs fall short of economic development promises

Puzzled by property taxes: Improving transparency and fairness in Illinois’ assessment system

Real relief: What Illinoisans looking for property tax reform can learn from Virginia

Rising property tax burdens squeeze Illinois families

Illinois is a high-tax state

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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