Illinois Sales Tax Calculator 2026 — 6.25% Rate

Calculate Illinois sales tax on any purchase instantly. The state sales tax rate is 6.25%, and the average combined rate (state + local) is 8.86%. Enter your purchase amount to see state tax, local tax, and the total amount due — all calculated privately in your browser.

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Illinois Sales Tax Rate: State vs Combined

The Illinois state sales tax rate is 6.25%. However, most shoppers pay more than the state rate because counties and cities add their own local taxes on top. The average combined rate across all jurisdictions in Illinois is 8.86%, according to Tax Foundation 2026 data. This means a $100 purchase could cost between $106.25 (state only) and more in high-tax localities.

What Is and Isn't Taxed in Illinois

Illinois taxes groceries at a reduced 1% state rate rather than the standard 6.25%, one of the lowest grocery tax rates among taxing states. Illinois exempts most clothing items from state sales tax, making it a tax-friendly state for apparel purchases. Prescription drugs are also exempt from sales tax in Illinois.

Illinois Sales Tax Holidays

Illinois taxes groceries at a reduced 1% rate. Clothing is exempt from state tax but may be subject to local taxes. During a sales tax holiday, qualifying items are sold without collecting state sales tax — and sometimes local sales tax too. Check the Illinois Department of Revenue website for exact dates, eligible items, and price limits each year.

How to Calculate Illinois Sales Tax

To calculate Illinois sales tax: multiply the purchase price by the applicable rate. For the state rate only: price × 6.25% = tax. For the combined rate: use 8.86% for an average estimate, or enter the exact local rate from your receipt or the Illinois Department of Revenue website. Example: a $200 purchase at the 8.86% combined rate = $17.72 in tax = $217.72 total.

Tips for Accurate Sales Tax Calculations

Always confirm the exact local rate for your specific city or county — the combined average (8.86%) is a statewide mean and may differ from your actual checkout rate. Large purchases like vehicles, appliances, or electronics are where the difference between state-only and combined rates matters most. Keep receipts that show the tax rate used; this helps verify correct tax was charged and supports any refund claims for exempt purchases. If you are making a business purchase, check whether your state offers a sales tax exemption certificate to avoid paying tax on resale items.

Chicago Sales Tax: 10.25% Combined — Highest Major U.S. City

This Illinois sales tax calculator uses the 8.86% statewide average, but Chicago has the highest combined sales tax of any major U.S. city at 10.25%: 6.25% state + 1.25% Cook County + 1.25% City of Chicago + 1.0% Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) + 0.5% Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. A $1,000 electronics purchase in Chicago = $102.50 sales tax vs $62.50 in Indiana (just across the border, 7% combined). For groceries, Illinois applies a reduced 1% state rate (one of the lowest grocery tax rates), but Chicago adds local rates so grocery tax in the city = 2.25%. Per Illinois Department of Revenue tax rate lookup, you can verify the exact rate for any Illinois ZIP code.

Illinois Sales Tax Rate by Major City (2026)

Use this 2026 reference table to confirm the combined rate at your destination — the statewide 8.86% average is meaningless if you live in Chicago or shop in the suburbs. Rates sourced from the Illinois Department of Revenue Tax Rate Database:

If you live in a high-rate Cook County suburb and shop a few miles into DuPage (Naperville/Wheaton, 7.75%) or across the IN border (East Chicago, 7.0%), the savings on a single $2,000 appliance is roughly $50–$65. Illinois enforces use tax on out-of-state vehicle purchases though, so border-shopping mostly works for small/medium items. Updated 2026-06-26.

Illinois Grocery Tax Elimination 2026: What Changed on January 1

Effective January 1, 2026, Illinois eliminated the 1% state grocery tax entirely — the first major change to grocery taxation since 2008. This was passed as part of the FY2026 state budget and applies to all unprepared food items sold for home consumption (see Illinois Department of Revenue publications). However, LOCAL grocery taxes (typically 1.25% in Chicago and Cook County) remain — so a grocery bill in Chicago is now 1.25% instead of the previous 2.25%. Downstate cities without local grocery add-ons (Peoria, Rockford, Champaign) now have TRUE $0 grocery tax. Restaurant meals, candy, soft drinks, and prepared foods still tax at the full combined city rate (10.25% in Chicago, 7.75%–9.75% elsewhere). This is one of the largest state-level consumer tax cuts of 2026 and saves an average Illinois household roughly $80–$120/year on groceries. Updated 2026-07-12.