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CHICAGO—Tax Freedom Day for the nation arrives on April 24, according to the non-partisan Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C.
“Tax Freedom Day is the day when the nation as a whole has earned enough money to pay its federal, state, and local tax bill for the year,” said Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA). “Tax Freedom Day this year is one day later than last year due to higher tax revenue.”
“The Tax Foundation states that Americans will pay $3.3 trillion in federal taxes and $1.5 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total bill of more than $4.8 trillion, or 31 percent of the nation’s income. Furthermore, Americans will collectively spend more on taxes in 2015 than they will on food, clothing, and housing combined.”
“The date of Tax Freedom Day varies from state to state. Connecticut (May 13) and New Jersey (May 13) are the highest-tax states, and have the latest date. According to the foundation, residents of Louisiana will bear the lowest average tax burden in 2015, with Tax Freedom Day arriving for them on April 2. Also early are Mississippi (April 4) and South Dakota (April 8).”
“Wisconsin used to be a higher-tax state, but under the leadership of Gov. Scott Walker (R), who took on the greedy government employee unions in 2011, forced pension reform upon them, and 
required them to contribute 10% of their salaries to their pension plans, the state is now a lower tax state than Illinois. Wisconsin’s Tax Freedom Day is April 25, whereas the date for Illinois is April 30.”
“Thanks to former Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn (D), considered by some to be the worst governor in the state’s history, Illinois is number 43 in total taxes. Forty-two states have total taxes lower than Illinois. The states surrounding Illinois have far lower tax rates, which is a very bad omen for Illinois. Kentucky is number 6 and Missouri is number 10, by far the two lowest tax states bordering Illinois. By contrast, Iowa is number 18, Michigan is number 28, and Indiana is number 24. Wisconsin, even with various reforms, is still number 37.”
“Fortunately, voters ousted the left-wing hack and union stooge, Patrick Quinn, and Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) appears to be working hard to steer Illinois in the right direction. But Illinois has a long way to go before it can compete with the lower tax states in the region.”
