TAX AMNESTY PROGRAM BEGINS NEXT WEEK
As part of this legislative session's grand bargain and pro-business reform package,
Illinois taxpayers that owe outstanding eligible tax liabilities can participate in both the Illinois Department of Revenue's Illinois Tax Delinquency Amnesty and the Illinois Secretary of State's Illinois Corporate Franchise Tax Amnesty programs
and have eligible penalties and interest forgiven on taxes paid in full during this amnesty period. In other words, if you owe the state tax dollars from a specific time period, you can pay that tax without any penalty or interest.
The Illinois Department of Revenue tax amnesty
will take place from 10/1/ - 11/15/19.
This new amnesty program covers periods after June 30, 2011 and prior to July 1, 2018 for the tax amnesty period beginning on October 1, 2019 through November 15, 2019. For more information on the Dept. of Revenue's tax amnesty program, see
here
.
Franchise Tax amnesty will take place
from 10/1/19 - 11/15/19. The Franchise Tax Amnesty applies to franchise tax or license fee liabilities for any tax period ending after March 15, 2008 and on or before June 30, 2019. For more information on the Sec. of State's franchise tax amnesty program, see here.
The Chamber advocated for and supported this measure.
ETHYLENE OXIDE UPDATE
The House
Energy & Environment Committee
will hold a subject matter hearing on Oct. 10 concerning ethylene oxide and the recent events surrounding the Sterigenics facility in Willowbrook.
To recap events of the last few weeks, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued a construction permit last week which once completed will allow Sterigenics to reopen following an IEPA-issued seal order earlier this year. Sterigencis will need construction permit approval from the Village of Willowbrook. However, Rep. Durkin filed a new piece of legislation (HB3885) which would allow home-rule units of government to pass additional regulations/ bans on EO sterilization operations. Rep. Mayfield has filed legislation (HB3888) that would phase out the use of ethylene oxide statewide for both industrial sterilizers and hospitals. Sen. John Curran also has introduced additional EO legislation that will be read in when the Senate convenes.
Ethylene oxide provides a vital role in keeping our medical supply chain safe. For many products, there simply isn't an alternative available. Nationwide we are seeing similar efforts to ban EO, including Georgia. The Chamber is opposed to additional restrictions on EO not just due to the impact to Illinois job creators, but for the very safety of our health system. We will continue to keep you posted on this important issue.
WAGE HISTORY LAW GOES INTO EFFECT 9/29
This summer, Governor Pritzker signed HB 834 into law as PA 101-177, effective September 29, 2019. This legislation is similar to legislation vetoed by former Governor Rauner.
With Governor Pritzker's signature of HB 834 into law, all Illinois employers face more regulation and greater risk of lawsuits with much higher financial awards. The Illinois Chamber opposed HB 834 as it diminished employer defenses and dramatically increased the value of litigation.
The Illinois Chamber urges employers to review their pay systems to assure compliance. The Illinois Chamber provides resources that can assist employers in complying with this new law and other new regulation recently enacted into law. For a more detailed summary of this new law contact Jay Shattuck.
VAPING BAN PICKS UP STEAM
On Monday the Illinois House held a hearing regarding the slew of hospitalizations resulting from vaping-related illness. IDPH testified in support of a ban on flavored vaping products (which the Governor also supports). Of note, several legislators have already introduced flavored tobacco/nicotine bans including Rep. Deb Conroy and Rep. Grant Wehrli.
Advocates also discussed making e-cigarettes regulated just as tobacco, including tax treatment parity and adding them to the Smoke Free Illinois Act. Due to the rash of vaping-related illnesses reported, we are very likely to see at least a flavored e-cigarette ban in Veto Session.
GRADUATED INCOME TAX PORTAL
On behalf of our members and businesses throughout the state, the Illinois Chamber is dedicated to providing information, resources, and advocacy to help defeat the constitutional amendment that would overturn our currant fair flat income tax. Visit the Chamber's Graduated Income Tax portal for more information and arm yourself with the real facts. Visit www.ilchamber.org/graduated-income-tax for more.
CHAMBER'S QUARTERLY BIZ LEADER NOW OUT
The Chamber's quarterly Business Leader magazine is now out in print and digital format. This quarter's magazine celebrates the Chamber's 100th birthday celebration by highlighting its longstanding members, celebrating women across the globe, a Chamber throwback newsletter, and also highlighting the Chicago Bears 100th year birthday too!
You can view the publication here.
