Illinois ranked No. 1 for cell phone taxes – before latest hike

By Charlotte Rotkis

07/11/2025

Illinoisans paid the highest state and local taxes for wireless cell phone services in the nation in 2024 – $136 per family more than the average. An increase in Illinois’ telecommunication tax July 1 just made them even higher.

TAGS: cell phone tax, Illinois, taxes

Illinoisans pay nation’s highest wireless cell phone service tax

By Patrick Andriesen

01/03/2024

Illinois wireless plan holders paid more on average in federal, state and local taxes than anywhere else in the U.S. The taxes were higher than the combined taxes of the two lowest-ranked states. Chicagoans managed to pay even more.

TAGS: cell phone tax

Illinoisans pay highest cellphone taxes in nation

By Dylan Sharkey

12/28/2022

Smartphone owners in Illinois pay the highest taxes in the nation

TAGS: cell phone tax, Illinois, taxes

Illinois cell phone taxes highest in nation

11/21/2020

Nearly one-third of the cell phone bills in Illinois are taxes

TAGS: cell phone tax, wireless tax

Illinois cellphone taxes are highest in nation, average $374 a year

By Brad Weisenstein

11/18/2019

Taxes alone hike the average Illinois cellphone bill by 31%.

TAGS: 911 fee, 911 tax, cell phone tax, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chicago, Connecticut, constitutional amendment, emergency fee, excise tax, exit tax, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, Lori Lightfoot, middle class, municipal pensions, pensions, progressive income tax, Rahm Emanuel, sales tax, taxes, wireless tax

Naperville aims to raise taxes on cellphones, Airbnb

By Vincent Caruso

01/21/2018

Illinois' fifth-largest city is moving to raise taxes on telecommunications and hotels, and fold homesharing into the latter.

TAGS: Airbnb, cell phone tax, Naperville, property taxes

Chicago prepares for yet another telephone tax hike

By Chris Lentino

06/02/2017

Chicagoans already pay the highest in the nation 911 surcharge and a newly passed bill would raise that rate even higher.

TAGS: cell phone tax, Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, wireless tax

Illinoisans pay the fourth-highest wireless taxes in the country

By Austin Berg

06/02/2017

Illinoisans already pay the nation’s fourth-highest wireless taxes. But a new bill awaiting Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature would make this burden even heavier.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, cell phone tax, Rahm Emanuel, wireless tax

Illinoisans pay nearly a quarter of their wireless bills in taxes

By Austin Berg

11/19/2015

Illinoisans pay nearly a quarter of their wireless bills in taxes, while Chicagoans pay more taxes on wireless service than residents of any other major city in the country.

TAGS: cell phone tax

Chicago cellphone taxes highest in nation

By Robert Steere

10/27/2014

Everywhere they look, Chicagoans see ads urging them to switch their cellphone service. One major provider urges customers to purchase a four-line family plan with all the texting, talking and data one could possibly use for only $100 per month. But the ad fails to mention that a Chicago family would actually have to pay...

TAGS: cell phone tax, taxes

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