Never-ending Taxation

They say that the only certainties in life are taxes and death. While we do dread paying our taxes every year, it’s something that we should become accustomed to as this money goes to good community causes, such as the roads we drive on and government programs that help the less fortunate. Although we will always have some debate related to the amount of taxes we pay due to our ongoing employment, we do know they are inevitable to keep the country running effectively. Elected officials, from Senators to Governors, are paid with our taxes. We also pay sales tax on the goods and services we buy and use every day, because we have to give the state and local governments money to help sustain the way we live. This money goes to local schools and libraries and helps the less fortunate in our immediate area.

Chicago is a large metropolitan city with a rich history as well as a high sales tax. Chicago residents pay as much as 10.25% in sales tax for certain purchases and state of Illinois has recently re-categorized candy from its original classification of just food to the classification of candy. Food is subject to a lower tax structure and many residents have enjoyed paying less tax on food items in the past. Now Illinois residents will have to pay more in sales tax for candy purchases. The new re-categorization is related to the ingredients in the candy itself as well. Candies that contain flour are still considered a food item rather than a candy item, so you will pay the larger tax amount on a Reeses’s product, but the lower tax rate on a Milky Way. Many small retailers will have to go through each type of candy offered and set it up so that the correct amount of tax is charged related to the candy’s ingredients, which will take extra resources and cost these retailers money.