This flawed policy will impose a nearly 10% tax on small businesses throughout Illinois that rely on marketing to reach their consumers. The proposed tax will destroy many small businesses in Illinois and will make Main Street Illinois a ghost town.
Small businesses are the backbone of Illinois' economy. From the family owned and operated car dealership in Joliet to the real-estate agent in Chicago, small businesses rely on advertising to drive sales. Simply put, less advertising will mean less sales and people will lose their jobs and their businesses.
A tax on advertising will mean that for every $100 dollars spent on advertising, $10 will now go to the government. A tax on ads is another nail in the coffin of Illinois small businesses.
If you own or work for one of the following industries your advertising dollars and subsequent revenue will dwindle if this tax goes into effect: Realty, Auto, Local Grocery Stores, Local Hardware Stores, Florists, Restaurants, Equipment Sales, Pet Grooming, Beauty/Cosmetic, Landscaping, Insurance, Law, Financial Services, Medical Care.
No state in the United States applies a sales tax to advertising and we need to send a message to Springfield that Illinois needs to create jobs, not tax small business to death.