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Illinois State Excise Taxes 2024 - Fuel, Cigarette, and Alcohol Taxes

Gasoline:
19.00¢ per gallon		 Cigarettes:
$1.98 per pack		 Liquor:
$8.55 per gal		 Wine:
$1.39 per gal		 Beer:
23¢ per gal

What is an Excise Tax?

An excise tax is a tax directly levied on certain goods by a state or federal government. The most prominent excise taxes collected by the Illinois state government are the fuel tax on gasoline and the so-called "sin tax" collected on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.

An excise tax is not the same thing as the Illinois Sales Tax.

The Illinois Sales Tax is collected as a percentage of the final purchase price of all qualifying sales, and is collected directly from the end consumer of the product.

Illinois' excise taxes, on the other hand, are flat per-unit taxes that must be paid directly to the Illinois government by the merchant before the goods can be sold. Merchants may be required to attach tax stamps to taxable merchandise to show that the excise tax was paid.

Even though excise taxes are collected from businesses, virtually all Illinois merchants pass on the excise tax to the customer through higher prices for the taxed goods.

Illinois per capita excise tax

Illinois collects an average of $696 in yearly excise taxes per capita, one of the highest average per capita excise taxes in the country.

Illinois General Excise Taxes - Gasoline, Cigarettes, and More

Illinois collects general excise taxes on the sale of motor fuel (gasoline and diesel), cigarettes (per pack), and cell phone service plans. Other general taxes, similar to excise taxes, may be collected on other items including tanning salons, firearms, transportation tickets, vehicle sales, gas guzzlers, and more.

Gas sales tax in Illinois - Illinois oil and gasoline excise taxes

Illinois Gas Tax

15th highest gas tax

The Illinois excise tax on gasoline is 19.00¢ per gallon, higher then 70% of the other 50 states. Illinois' excise tax on gasoline is ranked #15 out of the 50 states. The Illinois gas tax is included in the pump price at all gas stations in Illinois.

Tax on buying cigarettes in Illinois - Illinois cigarette excise taxes

Illinois Cigarette Tax

16th highest cigarette tax

The Illinois excise tax on cigarettes is $1.98 per 20 cigarettes, higher then 68% of the other 50 states. Illinois' excise tax on cigarettes is ranked #16 out of the 50 states. The Illinois cigarette tax of $1.98 is applied to every 20 cigarettes sold (the size of an average pack of cigarettes). If a pack contains more then 20 cigarettes, a higher excise tax will be collected.

Tax on phone service in Illinois - Illinois phone taxes

Illinois Cellphone Tax

5th highest cellphone tax

The average tax collected on cell phone plans in Illinois is $15.85 per phone service plan, one of the highest cellphone taxes in the country. Illinois' average cellphone tax is ranked #5 out of the 50 states. The Illinois cellphone tax is already included in the service plan price you pay to your service provider, and may be listed as "Misc. taxes and Fees" or "Other" on your monthly bill.

Automobile / Vehicle Tax In Illinois - Illinois car road tax

Illinois Car Tax

Illinois collects a registration fee and a title fee on the sale or transfer of cars and motorcycles, which are essentially renamed excise taxes. Unlike standard excise taxes, however, the end consumer must pay the tax directly to the Illinois Department of Transportation and receive documentation (registration and title papers) proving the fees were paid.

Illinois Alcohol Excise Taxes - Liquor, Wine, and Beer

Illinois collects special excise taxes on the sale of all types of alcohol, subdivided into specific taxes on wine, beer, and liquor (hard alcohol other then wine and beer). Alcohol taxes are sometimes collectively referred to as "sin taxes", which also include excise taxes on cigarettes, gambling, drugs, and certain other items.

Please note that the IRS also collects a federal excise taxes on alcoholic beverages, which are included separately from Illinois' alcohol taxes in the final purchase price.

Tax on beer in Illinois - Illinois beer excise taxes

Illinois Beer Tax

26th highest beer tax

The Illinois excise tax on beer is $0.23 per gallon, lower then 52% of the other 50 states. Illinois' beer excise tax is ranked #26 out of the 50 states. The Illinois beer tax is already added to the purchase price of all beer bought in Illinois, whether in kegs, bottles, or cans.

Tax on buying wine in Illinois - Illinois wine excise taxes

Illinois Wine Tax

11th highest wine tax

The Illinois excise tax on Wine is $1.39 per gallon, higher then 78% of the other 50 states. Illinois' excise tax on wine is ranked #11 out of the 50 states. The Illinois wine tax is already added to the purchase price of all wine bought in Illinois.

Tax on buying liquor in Illinois - Illinois Liquor & Spirits excise taxes

Illinois Liquor Tax

14th highest liquor tax

The Illinois excise tax on liquor is $8.55 per gallon, higher then 72% of the other 50 states. Illinois' excise tax on Spirits is ranked #14 out of the 50 states. Illinois state taxes on hard alcohol vary based on alcohol content, place of production, size of container, and place purchased. The Illinois liquor tax applies to all hard alcohol (alchoholic beverages other then beer and wine), and is already included in the purchase price by the retailer.

Illinois Excise Tax Deductions & Refunds

Can I deduct my Illinois Excise taxes?

Unlike the Illinois Sales Tax, excise taxes are not generally deductible on Illinois income tax returns or on your federal tax return. However, the IRS occasionally allows certain excise taxes to be deducted for certain tax years.

Vehicle Tax Deduction
Illinois sales and excise taxes on cars or vehicles bought during 2009 may be deducted once from your federal tax return. You cannot deduct excise taxes for vehicles bought during other years.
Phone Tax Deduction
You may deduct excise taxes paid on long-distance phone calls between the years of 2003 and 2006 from your federal tax return.

Can I get a Illinois Excise Tax Refund?

While sales tax refunds are available for goods that are purchased in Illinois and exported, Illinois excise taxes paid on goods are generally non-refundable. Incentives may exist allowing certain state of federal excise taxes to be refunded on goods bought for specific uses, but such incentives change frequently.

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Illinois Excise Tax - References

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