Illinois Plans Amusement Tax on Movies, Concerts, Sports, and Streaming

The state of Illinois is scrambling to come up with new sources of revenue. Revenue, when the uses the word refers to taxes, fees, and fines. The state doesn’t make anything, so the way it brings in money is by making laws to take it via taxation. In Illinois, residents are taxed at levels only people living in California can understand. The spending keeps increasing, so the need for new and creative ways to extract “revenue” from citizens becomes a big job in Springfield.

The Capital of Illinoi$ flows to $pringfield

As spending continues to outpace revenue brought in, Illinois is considering applying new taxes and fines that push the boundaries way past comfortable. The state knows that property taxes are too high, so they can’t turn to that taxpayer asset again. Lawmakers have instead decided to mine something that most residents partake in, some more than others. Entertainment.

Read More: Illinois Projected to Lead Nation in Population Shrinkage to 2050

For the privilege of being in Illinois

Do you go to concerts, sporting events, movies? Do you watch shows and movies or music on streaming services at home? The state of Illinois has proposed a 7% “amusement tax” on these things. Prices never go down for any of these, but the cost will jump with a flat 7% increase on movie tickets in Illinois. A $5 increase on game tickets to see the Cubs, Blackhawks or Bears. Even the minor league sporting events will see a $5 bump if the venue holds at least 10,000 people, as the state needs more money, because they can’t curb spending. The streaming wars have already evolved into services being bundled together, or services being merged. This has had the effect of elevating prices for the streaming services and people having to decide which ones they are willing to pay for. Illinois wants you to pay 7% more for whatever streaming service you have.

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Illinois has watched as people have been moving out of the state in large numbers for over a decade. This new tax (which is only one of a handful proposed) will only push people to neighboring states where the movies, sporting events, concerts, and streaming services will not be taxed at a 7% bump. This is another step in that spiral effect where the state takes more from the residents here, but some families will decide they can’t keep handing money over in increasing amounts, so they choose to move out, leaving the growing bill with those who remain. I don’t blame them, they are essentially voting with their feet.