New Chicago taxes, fees in 2020: Congestion tax, parking meters, restaurant tax

Monday, December 23, 2019
CHICAGO (WLS) -- With the start of the new year in one week comes a bunch of new fees and taxes in Chicago in 2020.

Congestion Tax
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot's congestion tax begins on January 6, and changes the tax on all Uber, Lyft and Via rideshare rides from $0.72 for a single trip to $1.25 for a single trip and $0.65 for a shared trip. Trips from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. downtown will also have an additional surcharge of $1.75 per trip and $0.60 per trip for shared rides.

Wheelchair accessible vehicle trips will see a reduction in tax from $0.62 for each trip to $0.55 for each trip.

Parking Meters

Beginning January 1, parking meters will cost $0.50 more in downtown area. Rates will also increase in the West Loop, from $2 per hour to $4.50 per hour, to bring them into alignment with downtown rates. Dozens of new parking meters will also be installed, and free neighborhood street parking in the West Loop will decrease.
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The city said parking meter rates were last raised in 2013.

Restaurant Tax

Starting in January 2020, there will be a small tax increase on all food and beverages sold at restaurants, the city said. The current .25% tax will increase to .50%. The city said that will place Chicago on par with or below restaurant taxes in neighboring suburbs, and is expected to generate an additional $20 million a year in revenue.



The city said this is the first increase since the restaurant tax was implemented in 2004.
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