Florida vs. Illinois Taxes
Illinois applies a 4.95% flat income tax. Florida's 0% headline rate produces straightforward savings — but the more material delta for many relocators is property tax, where IL is among the highest in the US and FL is meaningfully lower.
- State income tax: $0
- Federal income tax: $13,404
- FICA: $7,650
- State income tax: $4,819
- Federal income tax: $13,404
- FICA: $7,650
| Salary | Illinois state tax | Florida state tax | Annual savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $75,000 | $3,581 | $0 | $3,581 |
| $100,000 | $4,819 | $0 | $4,819 |
| $150,000 | $7,294 | $0 | $7,294 |
| $200,000 | $9,769 | $0 | $9,769 |
| $300,000 | $14,719 | $0 | $14,719 |
At $100,000, IL income tax is roughly $4,800. Florida produces $0.
Cook County effective property-tax rates exceed 2% in most North Shore and West suburban communities. Most Florida counties run effective rates well below 1%.
For Chicago-area relocators with $1M+ home equity and high incomes, the combined annual tax delta frequently exceeds $20,000.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Illinois property tax so high?+
Illinois leans on property tax to fund schools and pensions more heavily than most states. Median IL property-tax effective rate is roughly 2.2% — among the top three nationally.