Flat Income Tax? Progressive Tax? No State Income Tax? A Nationwide Overview | Reboot Illinois Flat Income Tax? Progressive Tax? No State Income Tax? A Nationwide Overview | Reboot Illinois The 1970 Illinois constitution states that Illinois' state income tax must be applied with one rate paid by all taxpayers. Illinois is one of nine states with flat-rate income tax. There are 34 states that use a graduated income tax system in which the percentage of income tax owed goes up with a taxpayer's income. Seven states, meanwhile, have no income tax. In 2011, Illinois raised its income tax from 3 percent to 5 percent in order to combat both a multibillion-dollar backlog of unpaid bills and to prop up a failing public pension system. But two years later, the backlog of unpaid bills hovers around $8 billion and despite nearly all the new tax money going into the pension system, the state now carries a $100 billion unfunded pension liability. The new tax rate brings in roughly another $7 billion a year, but most of that will disappear on Jan. 1, 2015, when the tax rate is scheduled to fall back to 3.75 percent.
Against this background, a bill has been introduced in the Illinois House to amend the state constitution to allow Illinois to consider adopting a graduated income tax. Proponents say a progressive system will bring in more money for the state while reducing tax bills for middle- and low-income taxpayers. (Here's one view in favor of a progressive tax system.) Opponents, though, say all of this is merely a money grab by a government that has run the state into the ground through poor management. They say that ultimately a progressive system would
result in the vast majority of taxpayers paying more each year -- especially when contrasted with the pre-2011 3 percent rate and even the 3.75 percent flat rate scheduled to become law in 2015. (Find a detailed explanation of this view here.) So where does Illinois fit in the national state income tax picture? Here's a look. We've also included a table at the bottom of the chart that shows the widely varying range of tax brackets and income levels other states use to define their progressive tax systems. You'll be hearing a lot about this issue in the months to come, as supporters of a progressive system for Illinois want to see a constitutional amendment placed on the November 2014 ballot. Click on the image to enlarge.
How likely is it that voters will get to decide on the November ballot whether Illinois should allow a progressive income tax? This "90-Second Drill" video sums it up. What do the candidates for governor have to say about the future of the Illinois income tax? Find out on our Election Scorecard.
See highlights from the Reboot Illinois/Union League Club of Chicago debate on progressive vs. flat income tax. Rep. David McSweeney wrote about his opposition to a progressive tax in this op-ed.
Illinois is in its worst financial condition since 2006. Here's a summary of the reports that prove it. Find Reboot Illinois on Facebook
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