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The tribunal’s jurisdiction is limited to certain Illinois
statutes and it generally hears cases involving more than
$15,000 of interest and penalties.
Illinois Independent Tax Tribunal Chief Administrative Judge
James Conway told the Illinois Senate Appropriations Committee
that Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2027
would eliminate the tribunal.
“Everyone I’ve talked to thinks this is a terrible idea, except
the budget people at the governor’s office who won’t answer my
questions about what it all means,” Conway said.
Conway said the tribunal’s budget request was under $700,000.
Illinois Department of Revenue Director David Harris told the
appropriations committee that Pritzker recommended transferring
the tribunal’s responsibilities back to IDOR.
Conway said anyone who disagrees with his tribunal’s decision
can appeal for free, but people have to pay tax amounts up front
if they appeal a decision by the Department of Revenue.
“So that is really bad for every taxpayer and businessman who is
trying to survive out there and figure out their tax bill,”
Conway said.
The judge said the Council on State Taxation gave Illinois a D
grade for tax administration before the tribunal was created,
but the grade has been an A since the tribunal was established.
State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said the Illinois Department
of Revenue should not have the final say.
“The state of Illinois should not be judge, jury and
executioner. The whole point of the independent tax tribunal was
the first word in that sentence, independent,” Rose said.
Rose noted that he and Harris, a former state rep, both voted
for the tribunal to be created.
“It’s absolutely nuts, and there’s going to be additional budget
costs. It proves again that the governor doesn’t care one whit
about the people of this state,” Rose said.
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