If you live, shop, or own property in Taylorville, Illinois, taxes come at you from three main directions: an 8.25% combined sales tax at the register, a property tax built on one-third of your home’s fair market value, and a 5% hotel tax on lodging. A notable shift took effect January 1, 2026, when Illinois eliminated its 1% state grocery tax and gave local governments the option to replace it with a local levy of their own.
Sales Tax at the Register
Most retail purchases in Taylorville carry a combined sales tax of 8.25%, made up of three layers:
- State of Illinois: 6.25% on general merchandise
- Christian County: 1.00%
- City of Taylorville: 1.00%
Retailers collect the tax at checkout and remit it to the Illinois Department of Revenue.1Illinois Department of Revenue. Use Tax Rates The rate applies to tangible goods such as electronics, clothing, and household items.
Groceries and the 2026 Change
As of January 1, 2026, Illinois ended its 1% state-level sales tax on qualifying groceries. The same law authorized municipalities and counties to impose their own local grocery tax of up to 1% by ordinance.2Illinois Department of Revenue. Illinois Department of Revenue Qualifying groceries cover most unprepared food you would find at a grocery store, but not hot prepared food, candy, soft drinks, or alcohol. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs, along with medical appliances, carry a reduced rate.
Whether you actually see savings at the register depends on whether Taylorville or Christian County adopted a replacement local grocery tax. The city clerk’s office can confirm the current local rate.
How Property Tax Is Calculated
Property tax in Taylorville follows the standard Illinois framework. The Christian County Assessor determines each property’s fair market value, then sets the assessed value at one-third of that amount, as state law requires.3Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/9-145 – Statutory Level of Assessment A home worth $180,000 on the open market would have an assessed value of $60,000.
The Illinois Department of Revenue then applies an equalization factor to keep county assessments uniform statewide. Christian County’s most recent factor was 1.0000, meaning local assessments already matched the statutory target. The resulting number is your equalized assessed value, or EAV, and that is what your tax rate is applied against.
Each year, the Taylorville City Council and other local taxing bodies set a levy, the total dollar amount they need to fund operations.4Taylorville, Illinois. City Treasurer The tax rate equals the total levy divided by the combined EAV of all property in the jurisdiction. Your bill is your EAV multiplied by that rate.
Exemptions That Lower Your Bill
Several exemptions reduce your taxable EAV. You apply through the Christian County Assessor’s office.
General Homestead Exemption
Anyone who owns and occupies a home as their primary residence qualifies. It reduces your EAV by up to $6,000 in Christian County.5Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/15-175 – General Homestead Exemption The reduction depends on increases in your EAV above the 1977 base-year value, so the actual benefit varies by property.
Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption
Homeowners 65 or older who occupy the home as their primary residence can reduce their EAV by up to $5,000 in Christian County. This exemption stacks on top of the General Homestead Exemption.6Illinois Department of Revenue. Property Tax Relief – Homestead Exemptions, PTELL, and Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program
Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze
The Senior Freeze locks your EAV at the level it was when you first qualified, blocking increases from rising property values. For the 2026 tax year, you must be at least 65 and have a total household income of $75,000 or less. You reapply every year with Form PTAX-340.6Illinois Department of Revenue. Property Tax Relief – Homestead Exemptions, PTELL, and Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program The freeze only caps your EAV. Your bill can still rise if tax rates go up or you improve the property.
Paying Your Property Tax Bill
Christian County mails tax statements in November. Each bill lists your EAV, the applicable tax rates, and the amount due. Check that the name, property description, and EAV match your records, and contact the Christian County Assessor before the payment deadline if anything looks wrong.
You need your Property Index Number (PIN) for any tax transaction. It appears on your tax bill and assessment notice and links your payment to the correct parcel.7Illinois Department of Revenue. Property Tax Number Information
Payments go to the Christian County Collector at 101 South Main Street in Taylorville.8Illinois Treasurers. Christian County, Illinois You can pay in person, by mail, or online. Online and credit card payments typically carry a convenience fee. Mailed payments count as timely if postmarked by the due date on the bill.
Late Penalties
Missing a property tax deadline triggers interest at 1.5% per month, or any portion of a month, on the unpaid balance.9Illinois General Assembly. Illinois Compiled Statutes 35 ILCS 200/21-15 – Delinquent Property Tax Interest Three months late on a $3,000 bill costs you $135 in interest, and charges keep accruing until the balance is paid or the property is forfeited. The statute builds in no grace period. One day past the deadline starts the clock.
Appealing Your Assessment
If you believe your assessed value is too high, you can challenge it. File a written complaint with the Christian County Board of Review within 30 days of the date the assessment list is published in the local newspaper.10FindLaw. Illinois Statutes Chapter 35 Revenue 200/16-55 Miss that window and your appeal cannot be heard for that tax year.
Appeals typically rest on one of two arguments. A market-value appeal argues the assessor overestimated what your property would sell for, supported by comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or a recent purchase price. An equity appeal argues your assessment is disproportionately high compared with similar properties nearby, supported by the assessed values of those comparables.
If the Board of Review rules against you, you can appeal to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) within 30 days of the Board’s final decision. PTAB conducts a more formal review, and the burden of proof stays with you. Representation is optional, and fees for residential appeals range from a few hundred dollars to a contingency arrangement based on tax savings.
Hotel and Motel Tax
Taylorville imposes a 5% tax on the gross room charge for each 24-hour period or any portion of one.11American Legal Publishing. Taylorville Code 3-2-6 – City Hotel/Motel Tax Operators must list the tax separately on the guest invoice and remit it to the city. It applies on top of any state or county lodging taxes.
Federal Deduction for Your Taylorville Taxes
If you itemize on your federal return, you can deduct state and local taxes paid during the year, including Illinois income tax and Taylorville property taxes. Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, 2025, the SALT deduction cap rose to $40,000 for most filers, up from $10,000, for tax years 2025 through 2029.12Internal Revenue Service. One, Big, Beautiful Bill Provisions The cap phases down for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income above $500,000. For most Taylorville homeowners who itemize, the higher cap means a larger share of property and state income taxes can reduce the federal bill.