Salem was one of 20 municipalities and local governments throughout Illinois that raised sales taxes at the beginning of the new year, according to an Illinois Policy Institute's report.
The majority of the sales tax increases went into effect in business districts, with only some going into effect for entire cities. Salem was one of the municipalities that raised its sales tax, although it limited its increase to only the business district.
The increase was published by the Illinois Department of Revenue. Prior to Jan. 1, the Marion County city had an effective tax rate of 7.5 percent. The added 1 percent increase brings the tax rate to 8.5 percent. According to the Department of Revenue, these locally imposed sales taxes do not apply to qualifying sales of food, drugs or medical appliances, or items that must be titled or to dealer-filed transaction returns. To learn more about tax rates, visit the Tax Rate Database on the Department of Revenue’s website.
This latest increase could be seen as an additional hardship for already struggling working class families in the Land of Lincoln where residents pay the highest property taxes in the nation. That’s not the only significantly higher tax rate. The state has the highest sales tax amounts in the Midwest, and Chicago’s tax rate is the highest of any U.S. city. The combined tax burden for Illinois residents, made up of all taxes paid, is the fifth highest in the nation.
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