Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Illinois to Georgia
The property tax surprise. Illinois' 4.95% flat rate beats Georgia's 5.49%, but property tax reverses everything. At $100,000 income: Illinois $4,950 vs Georgia $5,490—IL saves $540/year on income tax. BUT Illinois has 2nd-highest property tax (2.08%) vs Georgia (0.87%). On $400K home: IL pays $8,320 property tax vs GA $3,480—GA saves $4,840/year. Total at $100K + $400K home: Georgia saves $4,300 annually. Atlanta's boom (16 Fortune 500 HQs, film industry) plus lower cost of living makes Georgia attractive despite higher income tax rate.
Flat Tax
Flat rate + high property
Flat Tax
Changed to flat 5.49% in 2024
At $100,000 income:
That is Complex—see breakdown back in your pocket!
| Income | IL Tax | GA Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,475 | $2,745 | IL saves $270 (income only) | $2,700 |
| $75,000 | $3,713 | $4,118 | IL saves $405 (income only) | $4,050 |
| $100,000 | $4,950 | $5,490 | IL saves $540 (income only) | $5,400 |
| $150,000 | $7,425 | $8,235 | IL saves $810 (income only) | $8,100 |
| $250,000 | $12,375 | $13,725 | IL saves $1,350 (income only) | $13,500 |
| $500,000 | $24,750 | $27,450 | IL saves $2,700 (income only) | $27,000 |
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Moving from Illinois to Georgia? Multi-state returns are tricky—partial-year residency, different deadlines, avoiding double taxation. Get matched with a CPA who specializes in state moves. Virtual meetings, fixed pricing.
⚠ Not for simple single-state returns. Free filing is fine for straightforward W-2 situations.
Get Matched With a CPA →Yes! Illinois 4.95% flat beats Georgia 5.49% flat. At $100K income: IL $4,950 vs GA $5,490—IL saves $540/year on income tax alone. BUT property tax reverses this. Illinois has 2nd-highest property tax nationally (2.08% average) vs Georgia 0.87%. On $400K home: IL pays $8,320/year property tax vs GA $3,480—GA saves $4,840/year. Total burden at $100K + $400K home: IL pays $13,270 (income + property) vs GA $8,970. Georgia wins by $4,300/year despite higher income tax.
At $100K income + $400K home: GA saves $4,300/year total ($540 more income tax BUT $4,840 less property tax). Over 10 years: $43,000. Atlanta metro median home $450K vs Chicago $350K (Atlanta slightly pricier), but GA property tax so low it doesn't matter. Add sales tax: IL 8.5% average vs GA 7.35%—GA saves another $575/year on $50K spending. Total GA advantage: $4,875/year at $100K + $400K home + $50K spending.
Chicago for: Finance (CME Group, Citadel), manufacturing (Boeing, Caterpillar), healthcare (Abbott, Baxter). Fortune 500 HQ count similar (Chicago 35, Atlanta 16). Salaries: Chicago $88K median vs Atlanta $79K (Chicago 11% higher). Atlanta for: Film/TV production ("Hollywood of South"), logistics (Hartsfield-Jackson hub), Coca-Cola/Home Depot/UPS HQs, tech (Microsoft, Google offices). Growth: Atlanta +1.3%/year, Chicago -0.2% (declining). Choose Chicago for peak earnings + established industries, Atlanta for growth + lower costs.
Illinois has $140 billion unfunded pension liability—worst in US. State constitution protects pensions, limiting solutions. Many analysts expect future tax increases (income tax currently 4.95% could rise to 5.5-6% to address shortfall). This uncertainty drives outmigration (-104,000 residents 2021-2022). Georgia has no such crisis—pension systems well-funded. For long-term tax stability, Georgia is safer bet. If staying IL, expect potential tax hikes within 5-10 years.
Yes. Establish genuine Georgia residency (GA driver's license, spend majority time in GA), and you pay Georgia taxes (5.49%), not Illinois (4.95%). At $100K: GA costs $540 MORE per year in income tax. BUT combine with property tax savings ($4,840/year on $400K home) and overall you save $4,300/year. Many Chicago remote workers move to Atlanta suburbs (Alpharetta, Johns Creek), keep Chicago salaries ($80-120K), pay GA taxes, save on property/cost of living. Optimal for remote workers with families (better weather, lower housing costs).