Illinois gasoline gets another automatic tax increase today to 47 cents per gallon

Starting today, it’s going to cost even more to fill up at gas stations in Illinois.

As of July 1, the state’s new motor fuel tax goes up from 45.4 cents a gallon to 47 cents a gallon, an increase of 3-and-a-half percent.

According to Forbes magazine, over the last seven years, Illinois’ fuel tax has increased by a whopping 147 percent. The state tax was 19 cents before Gov. J.B. Pritzker doubled it in 2019 to help fund $45 billion in infrastructure. State lawmakers voted that the tax would be adjusted automatically for inflation each July 1.

Illinois already has the second-highest state gas tax, and Monday’s increase will put the state within four cents of California’s rate of 51 cents per gallon.

According to government watchdog website Illinois Policy, besides the state’s share there is also a federal tax, the prepaid state sales tax, an underground storage tank fee and environmental impact fee. Some local governments also tack on their own taxes: motorists in Cook County pay an added motor fuel tax and sales tax. .

All told, taxes and fees add over $1 per gallon to the price at Illinois pumps, or about 40% of the cost.

The tax on diesel fuel also increases today, from 52.9 cents to 54.5 cents a gallon.



(AP file photo)