Is Illinois About to Tax Your Netflix?

Illinois is getting serious about hitting residents right where it hurts.

It seems every time I look at headlines, I'm finding a new thing Illinois wants to tax residents for. I understand the state is in trouble financially, but taxing the heck out of those who live there doesn't seem like the right answer.

Illinois has already proposed tax spikes on sugary drinks, which would hit locally owned restaurants, bars and coffeehouses super hard. And now Netflix and your internet streaming services, are being targeted.

via GIPHY

But wait until you see the list of all the services they are looking to additionally tax.

According to IllinoisPolicy.org,

"State Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights, filed the amendment to Senate Bill 9, part of the package of bills that make up the Senate’s “grand bargain. In addition to TV and streaming services, SB 9 would expand the 6.25 percent statewide sales tax to an array of other services, including repairs, landscaping, laundry, tattoos, body piercings, tanning and much more."

Now I don't know what 'much more' all means, but Illinois can't take much more from people, or should it be worded, we can't be taken from much longer. How is this legally possible?

Well, it might not be. Chicago isn't taking this lightly.  They are already paying an 'amusement tax' and the city is looking take even more. According to the same IllinoisPolicy.org article I referenced above,

"The Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit on behalf of customers against the city, arguing that the tax is illegal and unconstitutional under state and federal law. A Cook County Circuit Court judge denied the city’s request to dismiss the lawsuit in July 2016, allowing it to proceed."

It seems more and more residents are expected to make up for the lack of fiscal responsibility and end up being the ones who are paying (literally) for the debt and budget crisis they didn't create.