Illinois Voters to Consider Graduated Income Tax

In November 2020, Illinois residents will vote on an amendment to the state constitution that would permit the state to shift to a graduated income tax, allowing lower-income people to pay proportionately less in state taxes.

Lawmakers passed the proposal earlier this year, but voters must also approve a ballot referendum.

Currently, every taxpayer pays a flat rate of 4.95 percent of their income, a burden that falls more heavily on low-income people.

AARP Illinois will work throughout next year to educate voters about the potential move to a graduated income tax.

The organization will put informational inserts in Illinois newspapers and create a tax calculator for the Chicago Sun-Times website so voters can see how much they would pay under the proposed system.

Go to aarp.org/il for more information.