On January 1, 2026, the 1% grocery tax will be eliminated officially in Illinois, but many cities, villages, and towns throughout the state are opting to keep it in place. Here’s why.
Illinois Grocery Prices
I think I can speak for everyone in Illinois when I say that it is painful to go grocery shopping these days. It has always been a task I dread doing, but the prices for groceries these days makes it even more miserable.
Back in August of 2024, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a law eliminating the state’s 1% grocery tax starting in 2026, with the hopes it would lift some of the financial burden for residents.
On paper, eliminating a tax may sound like a win, but in reality it won’t make much difference. That is why many towns, cities, and villages in the Stateline area have opted to keep the grocery tax in place.
Illinois Communities Keeping the Grocery Tax
When Governor Pritzker signed the law eliminating Illinois’ statewide grocery tax (effective Jan. 1, 2026), it did leave the final decision up to individual communities, and many communities throughout Northern Illinois have voted to keep it.
Rockford Alderman Kevin Frost told mystateline.com:…