Lake County Gazette

Lake County taxpayers paid the fourth largest sum in sales taxes in February, according to Illinois tax records.

In total, residents paid just under $6.6 million in sales taxes during February.

The county also ranked fourth in the Prairie State the month before, with just over $8 million spent in sales taxes.

The largest share of sales taxes paid by Lake County residents in February came from the County Share of RTA Sales Tax.

The County Share of RTA Sales Tax, a crucial revenue stream, is primarily allocated for other taxing jurisdictions' use.

A 2025 WalletHub study found that Illinois has the highest overall taxes in the U.S., with rates more than 50% higher than the national average. The study estimates that a median household in Illinois pays an effective tax rate of 16.58%, or about $13,099 per year.

Type of Tax	Total Amount Collected	% Change From Previous Month
County Share of RTA Sales Tax	$3,341,848	-18.3%
Countywide Sales Tax	$2,698,089	-21.6%
County Sales Tax	$549,633	7%