Last Updated: April 2026
Chicago occupies an unusual position in the US city tax landscape. Illinois's flat 4.95% state income tax applies to all Illinois residents, but unlike New York City or Philadelphia, Chicago itself does not levy an additional city personal income tax. This means Chicago residents' income tax burden, while not trivial, is lower than that of comparable NYC residents at the same earnings level. However, Chicago more than compensates with some of the most complex and highest local taxes in any major US city.
Chicago's 10.25% combined sales tax is among the highest in the country. Cook County's property taxes rank among the highest effective rates for any major US metro. And Chicago levies a web of unique local taxes — a Personal Property Lease Transaction Tax of 9%, a restaurant tax, an amusement tax, a parking tax, and more. For businesses and property owners especially, Chicago's total tax environment is significantly more burdensome than the absence of a city income tax might suggest.
Illinois levies a flat 4.95% income tax on all taxable net income regardless of earnings level. There are no graduated brackets — a $30,000 earner and a $3 million earner both pay the same 4.95% rate. Illinois also levies a 1.5% personal property replacement tax on certain business income. However, Chicago adds no city-level personal income tax — a meaningful contrast to New York City (3.876% city tax), Philadelphia (3.75% wage tax), or Ohio cities (up to 3%).
For an Illinois resident earning $100,000, the state income tax is a flat $4,950. Adding federal income tax of approximately $17,400, the combined income tax is approximately $22,350 — meaningfully lower than an NYC resident at the same income ($17,400 federal + $6,500 NY state + $3,794 NYC city = $27,694). Illinois's no-city-income-tax advantage saves a Chicago resident approximately $5,350 per year vs an NYC resident at $100,000 income, even after accounting for Illinois's flat state rate.
Chicago's combined 10.25% sales tax is assembled from multiple overlapping jurisdictions, each adding their own layer:
| Taxing Authority | Rate |
|---|---|
| Illinois state | 6.25% |
| City of Chicago | 1.25% |
| Cook County | 1.75% |
| RTA (Regional Transportation Authority) | 1.00% |
| Total | 10.25% |
Chicago was long the city with the highest sales tax rate among major US cities, though some areas have since exceeded it. For a household spending $50,000 on taxable goods and services annually, the 10.25% rate generates $5,125 in sales tax — versus $3,300 in Texas (8.25%) or $3,160 in Florida (Miami-Dade, 7%). The RTA component funds the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority), Metra commuter rail, and Pace suburban buses, providing transit infrastructure in exchange for the tax.
Cook County property taxes are assessed through a complex triennial system where different townships are reassessed on a rotating three-year cycle. The effective property tax rate in Chicago proper is approximately 1.8-2.2% of market value — comparable to Texas and significantly higher than California or Florida. A $400,000 Chicago home generates an estimated annual property tax bill of $7,200 to $8,800.
Illinois offers a Homeowner Exemption (reducing assessed value by up to $10,000) and a Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze for income-qualifying homeowners over 65. Cook County's property tax appeals process is administered by the Cook County Assessor's Office and the Cook County Board of Review — both of which accept appeals, and successful appeals are common. Chicago's TIF (Tax Increment Financing) districts divert property tax increments to economic development, which can result in higher overall property tax rates for properties outside TIF areas that must collectively fund public services.
Beyond sales and property taxes, Chicago levies a distinctive set of local taxes that affect daily life:
Personal Property Lease Transaction Tax (PPLTT): A 9% tax on leases of personal property — including software subscriptions, cloud services, and streaming subscriptions delivered or used in Chicago. This makes streaming services like Netflix and Spotify subject to a 9% Chicago surcharge. The tax extends to SaaS software used by businesses and has been a source of controversy for tech companies. Chicago was among the first cities to apply a local tax to streaming services, a move other cities have since followed.
Chicago Restaurant Tax: An additional 0.25% on food and beverage sales at restaurants, on top of the general sales tax. Amusement Tax: Ranges from 4% to 9% on tickets for live performances, sporting events, and streaming (the 'cloud tax'). Parking Tax: Chicago's parking tax is a percentage of parking charges ranging from 20% for garages in the Loop to 10% elsewhere — making $30 downtown parking cost an effective $36. These taxes collectively reflect Chicago's strategy of broad-based local levies to fund services without a city income tax.
For a single professional earning $100,000 and renting (no property tax exposure directly):
| Tax Type | Chicago | New York City | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|---|
| State income tax | $4,950 | ~$6,500 | ~$7,200 |
| City income tax | $0 | ~$3,794 | $0 |
| Federal income tax | ~$17,400 | ~$17,400 | ~$17,400 |
| Sales tax (on $30K taxable spend) | ~$3,075 | ~$2,670 | ~$3,075 |
| Total (approx) | ~$25,425 | ~$30,364 | ~$27,675 |
Chicago's income tax burden is lower than both NYC and LA, but Chicago's unique local taxes (streaming tax, parking, amusement) add incremental costs not captured in standard income+sales comparisons. For homeowners, Cook County's high property taxes can significantly narrow the gap compared to California. The overall picture: Chicago is a middle-of-the-road city tax environment for income, but above-average for property and consumption taxes.
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Get Matched with a Local CPA →No. Chicago and Illinois do not levy a city personal income tax. Illinois levies only a flat 4.95% state income tax, with no additional city-level income tax for Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, or any other Illinois municipality. This is a genuine advantage compared to NYC residents (who pay 3.876% city income tax) or Ohio city residents (who pay up to 3% city income tax). Illinois's overall income tax burden is relatively modest by high-tax state standards.
Chicago's Personal Property Lease Transaction Tax (PPLTT) at 9% applies to streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, and Apple Music accessed in Chicago. The city interprets streaming subscriptions as 'leases' of personal property under existing tax law. Chicago was the first US city to formally tax streaming services this way, beginning in 2015. The tax adds approximately $1.44/month to a $15.99 Netflix subscription for Chicago subscribers. Businesses using cloud software (SaaS, AWS, Azure) also face the 9% PPLTT on those subscriptions if used in Chicago.
Illinois's flat 4.95% rate places it in the middle of the pack among Midwest states. Indiana has a flat 3.05% (lower), Michigan has a flat 4.25% (lower), Wisconsin has a graduated system topping at 7.65% (higher at high incomes), and Ohio has a graduated system from 2.765% to 3.99% (lower for most incomes). Missouri has graduated rates up to 4.95% (similar). Iowa recently reduced to a flat 3.9% (lower). Among Midwest states, Illinois is generally mid-range on income tax, though the absence of grocery exemptions and other relief provisions means the effective burden can feel higher.
Yes. Illinois exempts pension income — including Social Security, state and local government pensions, federal government pensions, and private employer pensions — completely from Illinois state income tax. This makes Illinois one of the most favorable states for government retirees and pension recipients. A retired Illinois teacher or state employee receiving a $80,000 annual pension pays zero Illinois income tax on it. This exemption is embedded in the Illinois Constitution and cannot be reduced without a constitutional amendment, making it very durable.
Chicago's parking tax applies a surcharge of 20% on parking fees in the Loop (central business district) and 10% elsewhere in the city. For a $40 parking charge in a downtown Chicago garage, the parking tax adds $8 — bringing the effective cost to $48. This is among the highest parking taxes in any US city and reflects both the city's revenue needs and its desire to discourage car trips into the downtown core in favor of transit. New York City also imposes a parking tax, but Chicago's downtown rate is particularly high.
By effective rate (taxes paid as a percentage of market value), Cook County's approximately 1.8-2.2% effective rate is higher than the national average (~1.07%) and higher than most major metro areas. However, it is comparable to other high-tax Midwest areas like Wayne County (Detroit), Hamilton County (Cincinnati), and Cuyahoga County (Cleveland). Texas counties like Harris (Houston) and Travis (Austin) also reach similar rates. Cook County is notable because it combines high effective rates with high property values — Chicago home prices are lower than NYC or SF, but the combination of high value and high rate creates substantial bills.
Illinois voters rejected Governor Pritzker's proposed 'Fair Tax' constitutional amendment in November 2020, which would have replaced the flat 4.95% rate with a graduated structure. The amendment failed to pass the required 60% voter threshold. Illinois is constitutionally required to have a flat income tax rate unless voters approve a constitutional change. Another attempt would require a new constitutional amendment and another statewide referendum. Given the 2020 failure, another attempt in the near term is considered politically difficult.