What is Chicago's combined sales tax rate?

Chicago's combined general merchandise sales tax is 10.25%, one of the highest in the United States. It stacks the 6.25% Illinois state rate, a 1.75% Cook County rate, a 1.00% RTA transit rate, and a 1.25% City of Chicago rate.

Are groceries taxed in Chicago?

Qualifying grocery food for home consumption was historically taxed at a reduced 1.00% Illinois rate. Chicago has moved to a low local grocery rate as the statewide reduced rate phases out. This tool applies a reduced grocery rate so you can estimate either case.

What items are exempt from Chicago sales tax?

Most prescription and over-the-counter medicines qualify for a reduced rate, and certain medical devices and resale purchases are exempt. Use the exempt option to model a zero-rated purchase.

Does this include the Chicago restaurant tax?

No. Restaurant meals in central Chicago carry an extra 0.25% to 0.50% restaurant tax on top of the combined rate. This tool covers general retail sales tax, not the restaurant or amusement surtaxes.

Is the rate the same everywhere in Cook County?

No. The 10.25% figure applies inside the City of Chicago. Suburban Cook County and collar counties have different combined rates because the city and special-district portions change. This tool models the Chicago city rate.

Chicago Combined Sales Tax Calculator

Chicago carries one of the highest combined sales tax rates in the country at 10.25%. This calculator applies that rate to any purchase, then breaks it down so you can see exactly how much goes to the state, the county, regional transit, and the city itself.

How it works

The combined general merchandise rate is the sum of four layers:

Illinois state    6.25%
Cook County       1.75%
RTA transit       1.00%
City of Chicago   1.25%
-----------------------
Combined         10.25%

tax   = amount × rate
total = amount + tax

Qualifying groceries are taxed at a reduced rate rather than the full combined rate, and exempt items are taxed at zero. Selecting an item type swaps in the correct rate before the multiplication.

Example and tips

A 100 dollar general merchandise purchase incurs 10.25 dollars of tax for a total of 110.25 dollars. The same 100 dollars of qualifying groceries is taxed far lower under the reduced rate. Remember that restaurant meals downtown add a separate restaurant tax, so a dinner bill will show a higher effective rate than the 10.25% retail figure shown here.