The Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois supports sound tax policy and fiscal practices that encourage economic growth in Illinois. The Federation evaluates Illinois’ overall state and local tax structure and individual tax provisions using the following guideposts:
Adequacy. A tax structure must raise enough revenue to properly fund government operations. Decisions about the nature and level of government services are outside the scope of tax policy, except to the extent overall tax burdens become unsustainably high. Tax revenues need to reflect economic growth, which usually requires that tax collections be balanced across multiple tax types.
Stability/Predictability. From the taxpayer’s perspective, tax liabilities should not fluctuate from year to year because of changes in the government’s position. From the government’s perspective, fluctuating revenues make it difficult to provide services consistently and effectively. Both taxpayers and governments function best when future tax liabilities and collections can be projected with some degree of confidence.
Equity/Fairness. Equity has two dimensions: horizontal equity and vertical equity. Horizontal equity compares similarly situated taxpayers. Vertical equity compares tax burdens across taxpayer income or wealth brackets. Identical houses situated side-by-side should have the same property tax bill; that is horizontal equity. A third, more valuable house should have a higher tax bill commensurate with the higher value; that is vertical equity. Both actual and perceived fairness are important.
Collectability/Transparency/Simplicity. These interrelated principles apply primarily to tax administration and are too often overlooked. Voluntary compliance is an essential ingredient in most state and local tax structures; these principles help maintain taxpayer confidence in and compliance with the system. In addition, if a tax is easy to comply with and administer it is also less costly to do so, and more funds are available for other business and government needs.
Efficiency. Taxes should not distort economic behavior. The notion of a broad base and low rate is a manifestation of the efficiency principle. Using the tax code to pick winners and losers, or to encourage or discourage certain actions, violates this principle.
Taxes matter. Individuals and businesses make decisions every day about where to live, to invest, to expand. Illinois’ overall business climate and economic prospects are critical factors in those decisions. Our state’s overall tax structure and each taxpayer’s anticipated tax burden are certainly not the only pieces of the puzzle, but they play an important role. Accordingly, specific tax provisions and our tax code as a whole should adhere as closely as possible to the principles set forth above. The Taxpayers’ Federation of Illinois supports those measures that do, and opposes those that do not comport with good tax policy.