Which City Has the Nation’s Highest Sales Tax Rate?
Chicago is known as the Windy city and for good reason. However, thanks to a recent vote by Cook County commissioners, where Chicago calls home, it could now be called the tax city. That’s because Chicago, which already had a sales tax rate of 9.25 percent is jumping into the double digits after county commissioners voted to raise the sales tax rate by 1 percent, to a whopping 10.25 percent, which is the highest city rate in the entire country.
The new sales tax rate will take effect on January 1 of next year, and is expected to give the sales tax in the county a $474 million boost every year. Officials said they passed the increase proposal because they need the additional funds to help fix the pension system for Cook County employees. According to Cook County officials, there is already a shortage in the retirement of about $6.5 billion and the problem is getting worse every year, as it is reportedly increasing by $360 million annually.
With the increase, Chicago will now pass four counties in Alabama that all had sales tax rates of 10 percent, to become the city with the highest rate. Time will tell if the increased sales tax income will be enough to make a difference in the pension shortfall, but Chicago can now claim it’s number ranking for a rather dubious distinction.
Municipal Bonds: A Source of Tax-Free Income
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]There’s one readily available and legal source of untaxed income that we know of: municipal bonds. These securities are issued by state and local governments, school districts, hospitals and other public agencies to support community projects and services. To permit these worthy endeavors to raise money economically, Uncle Sam exempts the interest that they pay…
Employers Offer Incentives for Weight Loss
Employers Offer Incentives for Weight Loss Looking to get some extra cash from the boss? Forget logging long hours, brokering that big deal or sucking up at the company holiday party. Employer weight loss programs Employers have begun dangling big incentives, such as cash bonuses and paid days off, to encourage workers to lose weight.…
“Values-based” Estate Planning
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] There are many facets of estate planning. Certainly, it’s important to craft a will that delineates how the fruits of years of hard work will be distributed to your loved ones—fairly and harmoniously. And, of course, crafting strategies that will maximize what you pass on at the minimum tax cost is an important goal.…
Passion Investments: Why High-Net-Worth Individuals are Turning to Luxury Collecting
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]by Alan L. Olsen, CPA, MBA (Tax) Mananging Partner Greenstein, Rogoff, Olsen & Co. Posted: 3/1/11 In times of economic uncertainty, bad news is good news for collectors and sellers. This uncertainty drives capital out of the stock market but at the same time, causes investments like art, wine and fine jewelry (among others) to…