City suspends tax collection on Bears seat licenses

June 18, 2009 (CHICAGO) The city has temporarily suspended efforts to collect taxes on the resale of seat licenses. The licenses allow people to buy Bears season tickets.

Attorneys had filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of license holders who were told they may owe amusement taxes.

The suspension is likely to remain in place until a ruling is issued, probably within 60 days.

The city of Chicago is seeking to retroactively collect a nine percent amusement tax from 2,700 permanent seat license holders who were not the original owners.

Law Department spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyle says just because the city has agreed to the judge's request does not mean the city is throwing in the towel.

Bears season ticket-holders say the city's demand for back taxes is double-taxation. They say the nine percent amusement tax already applies to the face value of game day tickets.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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