Illinois Sales Tax Calculator

Illinois's state sales tax rate is 6.25% on most goods, with a reduced rate of 1% on groceries and drugs. Local city and county taxes add significantly on top — Chicago's combined rate is 10.25%, while most downstate Illinois cities range from 7.25% to 9.25%.

Chicago has a combined sales tax rate of 10.25% — one of the highest of any major US city. This includes the 6.25% Illinois state rate, Cook County's 1.75% rate, Chicago's 1.25% city tax, and a 1% Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) surcharge.

No. Illinois does not host an annual or recurring sales tax holiday, and there are none scheduled for 2026. The state previously held a one-time, 10-day back-to-school tax reduction in August 2022, but the legislature has not renewed it. Additionally, rather than a temporary holiday, Illinois permanently eliminated its statewide 1% grocery sales tax effective January 1, 2026.

Illinois taxes most groceries at a reduced state rate of 1% instead of the standard 6.25%. Local taxes still apply on top, but the effective rate on unprepared grocery items is significantly lower than the standard combined rate. Prepared food and restaurant meals are taxed at the full rate.

Yes. Illinois charges a private party vehicle use tax on used car purchases. The rate depends on the purchase price — for vehicles over $15,000 it is 6.25% plus any applicable local taxes. Purchases from licensed dealers are subject to the standard sales tax rate.

Chicago's 10.25% combined rate results from multiple overlapping tax layers: Illinois state tax, Cook County tax, Chicago city tax, and a Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) surcharge funding the CTA, Metra, and Pace transit systems. Each layer was added independently over decades to fund different services and infrastructure.