What Gov. Pritzker won’t tell you is that since the Iran war began, Illinois state and local governments have been collecting roughly 11–13¢ MORE per gallon in additional sales tax revenue alone. Illinois drivers are getting hammered at the pump, and Gov. Pritzker is cashing in.

Illinois is one of only a few states that impose both state and local sales taxes on gasoline, meaning higher gas prices automatically trigger higher taxes for the government.

And Illinois has TWO tax increases taking effect July 1 that will further increase taxes tied to gasoline purchases: the annual CPI-linked state gas tax increase and Gov. Pritzker’s new 0.25% regional sales tax hike tied to the CTA bailout in parts of the Chicago region.

Illinois politicians attack rising gas prices while profiting from them. That’s hypocrisy.Taxes have gone up at least 57 times under JB Pritzker’s reign as Illinois Governor, with an estimated taxpayer cost of more than $77 billion since 2019. The median Illinois household now pays nearly $1,400 more per year in state taxes than it would have under prior levels.

If you purchase a gallon of gas in Chicago, your first $.92 is taxes alone! And will increase every year, in perpetuity thanks to JB Pritzker and the Illinois Democrats codifying yearly gasoline tax increases into law. That’s why Illinois is amongst the highest gas prices in the nation ✅ fact ❗️

JB Pritzker claims to care about every day hard working families as he taxes them into oblivion.

Almost $.70 per gallon of gas in Illinois is taxes.

Illinois makes exponentially more on a gallon of gas than the people who own the gas stations.

The actual tax difference depends on whether you look at state excise taxes alone or the total taxes and fees (federal, state, and local). As of May 2026, Illinoisans pay roughly 63% to 66% more in total taxes per gallon than the national average.

Current Tax Breakdown (May 2026) Illinois Total:
Drivers pay approximately 85 cents per gallon in combined federal, state, and local taxes and fees.
National Average Total: The average driver in the U.S. pays about 52 cents per gallon in total taxes.
The Difference: Illinois is 33 cents higher per gallon than the national average, which is a 63% to 66% increase.

Illinois is one of the few states that applies a “tax on a tax.” It layers multiple charges on every gallon:

State Excise Tax: Currently 48.3 cents per gallon (set to rise to 49.6 cents on July 1, 2026).
State Sales Tax: A 6.25% sales tax is applied to the price of the fuel after the other taxes are already added.
Federal Tax: A flat 18.4 cents per gallon.
Local Taxes: Counties like Cook and cities like Chicago add another 8 to 11 cents per gallon on top of everything else. Illinois currently has the 2nd highest total gas tax in the U.S., trailing only California.

Example: When you spend $50.00 at an Illinois gas pump (at the May 2026 average price of $4.94/gallon), you are buying about 10.12 gallons of fuel.

⛽ The $50.00 Fill-Up Breakdown
Total Spent: $50.00
Actual Cost of Gas: $40.20
Total Taxes Paid: $9.80

Where that $9.80 goes Illinois is one of the few states that applies a “tax on a tax.” It charges a flat tax per gallon first, then adds a percentage-based sales tax on top of that total.

Tax Type: Amount: How it’s calculated:

State Excise Tax $4.8948.3¢ per gallon (fixed)
Federal Excise Tax $1.8618.4¢ per gallon (fixed)
Environmental Fees $0.11~1.1¢ per gallon (fixed)
State Sales Tax $2.946.25% of the total price (variable)
TOTAL TAX $9.80~97¢ per gallon

The “Tax on a Tax” Explained

The state sales tax is the “double dip” that drives the cost up.

1. The state calculates the price of the gas + federal tax + state excise tax.
2. Then, it applies the 6.25% sales tax to that entire sum.
3. The Result: You are literally paying a tax on the money you already paid for the other taxes.

🚩 If you are in Chicago or Cook County, the tax is even higher. Local taxes add roughly another $1.10 to $1.40 to a $50 fill-up, bringing your total tax paid to over $11.00.