Illinois tax relief for groceries, gas takes effect Friday
IL to send rebate checks to eligible residents
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Tax relief is on the way for people in Illinois.
Starting Friday, the state is suspending the 1% tax on groceries. That suspension will be in place for a year.
The state will also suspend the inflation adjustment for the motor fuel tax rate starting Friday. That suspension will be in place for six months.
RELATED: Governor JB Pritzker signs Illinois state budget, touting relief or taxpayers
The skyrocketing price of gas has made many Illinoisans reconsider the way they travel and commute, and some are skeptical that the suspension of the 2.2 cent gas tax hike will do much for their pocketbooks.
"Two cents, like for real real?" said Keith Glover, drier. "So it won't be $5.98, it will be like $5.96. OK, so buy me a Snickers or something like that."
And many are also feeling the pinch when shopping for groceries.
"We ended up spending like $87 and it's not even 20 items. Maybe. And it's just ridiculous that run up on the food like this," said Billie Jean Henderson, who is on a fixed income.
Direct rebate checks are coming for people making less than $200,000 for an individual household or $400,000 for joint filers. The checks will be for $50 per individual and $100 per-child up to three children.
Comptroller Susanna Mendoza will issue the rebates and expects to begin cutting checks the week of September 12. Distribution will take roughly eight weeks after the rollout begins.
Governor JB Pritzker said the tax relief plan in total will provide $1.8 billion in relief.
But skeptical or not, some shoppers will take any savings they can get.
"Every little bit helps I guess," said Stephen Santoro, Shopper.
The governor's tax relief package also includes a 10 day tax reduction on back-to-school supplies set for August as well as some property tax relief checks being sent out automatically to qualified homeowners in September.
