Illinois lawmakers push new $2.7B sales tax on haircuts, Netflix, Uber and other services

By Bryce Hill, Dylan Sharkey

05/15/2025

Illinois lawmakers are looking to expand sales taxes to include things such as streaming services, gym memberships, vehicle repairs, hair care and other services to bail out Chicago’s failing transit systems and put more money in government budgets.

TAGS: sales tax

Illinois might revive back-to-school sales tax holiday

By Dylan Sharkey

04/09/2025

Illinois lawmakers are looking at a bill that would cut sales taxes during back-to-school shopping. Illinois hasn’t had a sales tax holiday in years. The bill would lower the state sales tax from 6.25% to 1.25% on clothes and school supplies for six days in August 2025.

TAGS: sales tax

Illinois holiday shoppers pay sales taxes as high as 11.5%

By Jerry Barmore

12/22/2024

Sales taxes up to 11.5% will greet some Cook County shoppers this holiday season. Illinois averages 8.85% in sales taxes statewide, slightly more than last year and the seventh highest nationwide.

TAGS: sales tax

Illinois sales taxes 7th highest in U.S.

By Dylan Sharkey, Kurtis Karg

09/10/2024

Illinois’ combined state and average local sales tax is the seventh highest in the nation. It is the highest among the most populous states.

TAGS: sales tax

Illinois retailers taxed $186M by capping sales tax credit

By Patrick Andriesen

05/30/2024

A cap on the retailers’ sales tax credit will effectively hikes taxes on Illinois retailers by $186 million. Retailers are already facing razor-thin margins, but the record $53.1 billion state budget required $1.1 billion in new taxes.

TAGS: sales tax

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

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

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Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

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Allan Luzbetak

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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