ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Starting January 1, 2026, Illinois will eliminate its 1% statewide grocery tax.
The repeal, part of a broader tax relief package signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, applies to most food for home consumption, excluding alcohol, candy, soft drinks, and prepared meals.
For many families, that means saving $1 for every $100 spent on groceries. But in much of northern Illinois, the relief won’t be universal. Hundreds of municipalities and several counties have voted to impose their own 1% local grocery tax, effective the same day the state repeal kicks in.
Why Local Leaders Are Keeping the Tax
City officials say the move is about preserving essential services. Rockford, for example, expects to retain nearly $9 million annually by continuing the tax…