Illinois' Gas Tax Increase

Currently, the tax stands at 45 cents a gallon. On Monday, July 1, 2024, the gas tax increased to 47 cents a gallon. Illinois is behind only California, which charges residents 60 cents per gallon in gas taxes.

Before 2019, the state had a 19 cents per gallon gas tax. It was doubled that year to 38 cents to help fund a $45 billion infrastructure bill. At the same time, lawmakers set the tax to increase each year to adjust for inflation, sparing a public vote on a tax hike. In addition, in July 2022, the state put a freeze on the gas tax for six months as part of a package tax relief legislation as the economy recovered from government-mandated COVID-19 shutdowns.

A bill that would suspend the automatic Illinois Motor Fuel Tax for two years was proposed in May 2024 to help residents suffering from high inflation. House Bill 5252 was referred to the Rules Committee, awaiting further action.

Electric vehicle (EV) owners, who are exempt from the gasoline fuel tax are charged a flat $100 a year, on top of their annual registration fee, to make up for lost tax revenue.