By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
In 2020, Illinoisans rejected Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his legislative allies’ push for a progressive income tax scheme in Illinois. And with it, they rejected claims a progressive tax would “modernize” Illinois’ income tax.
Right they were. Over the past decade far more states have moved to a flat tax structure than vice-versa. Since 2010 seven states have flipped or are in the process of flipping to flat income taxes from progressive ones: North Carolina, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arizona, Idaho, Georgia, and Iowa.
The list has the potential to grow further. Both Virginia and Oklahoma have proposed moving to a flat tax as well.
And the “flattening” of income taxes goes beyond just flat tax states. Many progressive tax states are decreasing their number of brackets in an effort to simplify their tax structure. Most notably Ohio, which once boasted nine tax brackets in 2010, is now down to just two, both with rates below 4 percent.
Other states, like Missouri, are already practically flat tax states. The Show-Me state applies its top income tax rate of 4.8 percent to all income above just $8,911.
In contrast, only one state, Massachusetts, has flipped to a progressive state income tax, and even then only barely. The state implemented a single new surtax on millionaires – a 9 percent rate on incomes over $1 million in 2023. All other income below $1 million has a flat rate of 5 percent.
The transition from progressive to flat has been referred to as a revolution in some circles. Revolution or not, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the trend is in favor of flat taxes.
It’s also more clear Illinois voters made the right choice by rejecting Gov. Pritzker’s “fair tax” push.
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With $162 billion more from taxpayers, couldn’t you deliver a few bond upgrades, too
Audio and summary 
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.
Consider da Dems pols in Illinois and Sheeetcago and their masters da public sector unions like a Black Hole.
How do you stop da Black Hole from sucking in more and more of your wealth via higher and higher taxes.
Get as far away as you can from it.
Illinoisans, vote with your feet and flee da Illinois Black Hole!!
this was pretty good article regarding Indiana flat tax going down from a couple days ago.
fox32chicago.com/news/indiana-tax-cuts-2024
The usual gang of idiots will continue to
Tax people out of this state.
Not one part of this state is working well,
Crime is out of control, all taxes are to high, communist run the legislature and
If you are not a minority you are NOT
Welcome. Investors will not use this state
and it will flounder as it currently does.
Unless massive subsidies are given out by
baby Huey.
Turnaround does not apply to Illinois.
Never fear. Our Neanderthal governor is on ‘the wrong side of.history’ (a phrase I dislike) with the ‘fair’ tax too—just like he was with school choice. Back to the Stone Age, citizens !
“Fair Tax” is as deceitful as Prtizker’s Safe-T Act. He’ll try again though and without Rauner or Griffin’s millions to counter fallacious ads will sadly become one more straw added to break Illinois.
Flat tax or progressive argument misses the point. How is it several states don’t tax income yet offer aĺl the same services?
Hopefully Illinois will keep the flat tax but that will be up to the voters. Unfortunately that flat tax rate will probably need to increase so Illinois can pay for all of its prior commitments. Bills need to be paid.
Illinois politicians are elected on so many feel good fuzzy wuzzy cuddly vote buying programs and ideas but when the bills come in the money just isn’t there. As we have seen the pension piggy bank has been raided via the ramp scheme to its limit thereby creating a crisis and just the other day I read here something about a ramp for educational spending meaning a new piggy bank for the politicians to raid. Meanwhile the average Illinoisan smiles, comments on how some great new program has been started and bringing up the real issues is sure to generate… Read more »
One thing is working extremely well: The Machine. Madigan’s rules still control the legislature. An army of well-organized workers, largely from public unions, give them the best ground game in America. They raise a ton of money. They’ve captured the schools, courts and most of the media.
Yes, an army of well-organized workers, largely from public unions – misidentified by some as “the voters”.
They are a voter every bit as much as you. They represent a small slice of the voters unlike the nonunion voters such as yourself.