The City of Chicago’s widely reported first-of-its-kind Social Media Amusement Tax (the Chicago SMAT) went into effect on January 1, 2026, promising to deliver tens of millions of dollars of additional revenue to the City. Whether the Chicago SMAT will actually deliver on that revenue promise is questionable, however, as its implementation and legality remain … Continue Reading
On January 21, 2021, the City of Chicago’s Department of Finance issued an informational bulletin clarifying its position regarding economic nexus for Chicago’s amusement tax as applied to streamed amusements and Chicago’s personal property lease transaction tax (“PPLTT”). It also announced a “safe harbor” that businesses can rely upon when analyzing nexus. Chicago states that … Continue Reading
