Income Taxes Leave You Feeling Flat?

Did the tax man take a big bite out of your wallet this month? With tax season almost behind us, let's take a look at an issue before the state legislature — should Illinois switch from a flat income tax rate to a graduated rate?

The last year Illinoisans escaped paying income tax to the state was 1969. Just seven states still collect no income tax. Thirty-four states use the graduated income tax system, while eight others join Illinois in imposing one rate on all. Our friends at Reboot Illinois put together a graphic look at various aspects of the flat tax vs. graduated tax debate, excerpted here on Patch. 

Check out the full graphic at RebootIllinois.com.

Want to know more?

• Would a graduated tax rate be a big money grab? Read John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute: Now that the 2011 state tax increase has failed to satisfy Springfield’s appetite for overspending, expect the big government crowd to move on to another tax hike: a progressive tax. 
• Or would it actually drive down taxes on most Illinoisans? Read Ralph Martire, executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability: The state's mix of tax revenues is so poorly designed that it fails to satisfy any principles of sound, fair, efficient or stable taxation for a modern, capitalist economy.

This article is posted throughout the Chicago-area Patch network.