Stand up for the facts!

Our only agenda is to publish the truth so you can be an informed participant in democracy.
We need your help.

More Info

I would like to contribute

Gov. Tony Evers said in November 2018 he wouldn't raise any taxes. But the budget he unveiled here on Feb. 28, 2019, included $1 billion in tax increases. Photo by Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP Gov. Tony Evers said in November 2018 he wouldn't raise any taxes. But the budget he unveiled here on Feb. 28, 2019, included $1 billion in tax increases. Photo by Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP

Gov. Tony Evers said in November 2018 he wouldn't raise any taxes. But the budget he unveiled here on Feb. 28, 2019, included $1 billion in tax increases. Photo by Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP

By Hope Karnopp June 25, 2025

GOP candidate for governor says income taxes are lower in Illinois than Wisconsin. Is that true?

If Your Time is short

  • Illinois has a flat tax of 4.95%, which applies to all filers.
  • Wisconsin has progressive tax, which ranges from 3.5% to 7.65% depending on marital status and income level.
  • Many middle-class earners fall in the third bracket with a 5.3% rate, which is higher than Illinois.
  • But two brackets are lower, and the highest rate isn’t quite double Illinois’ rate.

While Wisconsin’s 2026 race for governor is getting a slow start as Democratic Gov. Tony Evers mulls whether to seek a third term, at least one Republican candidate is off and running.

That’s Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, who launched his campaign in early May with a focus on keeping young people and retirees in Wisconsin, instead of losing them to other states.

Schoemann hit on that theme during a June 2, 2025, appearance on conservative radio host Vicki McKenna’s show.

"The state of Illinois has a lower income tax rate than we do, and a flat tax," Schoemann said. "It’s almost half of what the top bracket here in Wisconsin is."

Income taxes are likely to stay a big topic in the race for governor. 

Sign up for PolitiFact texts

Republicans in the state Legislature are pushing for a tax exemption on some retirement income. Conservatives have also criticized Evers for vetoing previous tax relief proposals.

PolitiFact Wisconsin found this claim interesting. Does the state just south of us have lower income taxes, theoretically an incentive for Wisconsinites to move there?

Let’s check it out.

Comparing income tax rates in Illinois, Wisconsin

We reached out to Ben Voelkel, a spokesman for Schoemann’s campaign, who pointed us directly to the different rates in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Both states’ Departments of Revenue have simple tables showing the individual income tax rates, so we’ll recap those here. 

In Illinois, the individual income tax equals 4.95% of net income. That rate has been in place since July 1, 2017. 

In Wisconsin, individual income tax rates range from 3.5% to 7.65%, depending on marital status and income. Here’s a breakdown of those brackets for single filers:

  • 3.5%: Income of $0 - $14,320
  • 4.4%: Income of $14,320 - $28,640
  • 5.3%: Income of $28,640 - $315,310
  • 7.65%: Income over $315,310

Clearly, it’s not true that each Wisconsin bracket is lower than Illinois’ blanket 4.95% rate. The two lowest tiers in Wisconsin are actually less. 

But many Wisconsinites fall within that third category, which is 0.35 percentage points higher than Illinois. 

"If you make more than $28,640 as a single person or $38,190 as a married couple, you pay more in state income taxes in Wisconsin than in Illinois," Voelkel said.

There’s still the second part of Schoemann’s claim, that Illinois’ rate is almost half of the top bracket in Wisconsin.

Illinois’ rate of 4.95% isn’t quite half of Wisconsin's top rate of 7.65%. If doubled, that would be a 9.9% rate in Wisconsin. 

But Schoemann did say "almost."

Lawmakers have debated flat tax versus progressive tax

Let’s give a little more context about flat taxes, since that debate has occurred in previous campaigns for governor in Wisconsin.

A progressive tax applies different rates to different incomes, requiring people making more money to pay a larger share of their income than people making less. That’s the system Wisconsin uses.

In comparison, a flat tax applies the same rate to everyone. That’s what Illinois uses.

According to the Tax Foundation, 27 states use progressive taxes, while 14 states have a flat tax. In addition to Illinois, Midwestern states with a flat tax include Iowa, Michigan and Indiana.

Featured Fact-check

In a separate appearance on conservative radio host Jay Weber’s show on May 5, 2025, Schoemann said of Wisconsin’s income tax: "I believe we got to flatten it, on a trajectory to eliminating it, eventually."

Nine states don’t have state income taxes, including Florida, a popular destination for Wisconsin snowbirds.

Flat taxes were a discussion in the last race for governor in 2022 — Republican candidate Tim Michels said he was open to it and suggested a figure just below 5%. 

In early 2023, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu pitched a 3.25% flat tax, but the proposal never made it to Evers.

Fast forward to 2025, and state lawmakers are now considering more tweaks to the progressive tiers as part of the budget process.

Republicans proposed expanding the second-lowest bracket, applying the 4.4% rate to single filers making up to $50,480. 

Evers, meanwhile, suggested creating a new bracket with a 9.8% rate for single filers earning $500,000 or more or married couples making $1 million or more.

Our ruling

Schoemann said "the state of Illinois has a lower income tax rate than we do, and a flat tax."

And, he added, "it’s almost half of what the top bracket here in Wisconsin is."

Schoemann clearly understands that Illinois has a flat tax of 4.95%, while Wisconsin has several tiers. The bottom two brackets in Wisconsin are actually lower. 

And 4.95% isn’t quite half of the top bracket here, which is 7.65%, but Schoemann did hedge his claim with "almost."

Still, a large swath of filers in Wisconsin certainly see higher income taxes than their counterparts in Illinois.

Our definition of Mostly True is "the statement is accurate but needs clarification or additional information." That fits here.

Our Sources

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Gov. Tony Evers drops no hints at Democrats' convention on plans for seeking a 3rd term, June 15, 2025.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann kicks off GOP 2026 campaign for governor, May 4, 2025.

iHeart Radio, Vicki McKenna Show, June 2, 2025.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Republican tax cut calls for shielding retirement income from Wisconsin income taxes, June 16, 2025.

PolitiFact Wisconsin, Has Wisconsin's governor vetoed multiple middle-class tax cuts this year?, Dec. 19, 2023.

Email exchange, Ben Voelkel, spokesman for Josh Schoemann for Governor, June 23, 2025.

Illinois Department of Revenue, Income Tax Rates.

Wisconsin Department of Revenue, Tax Rates.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, What’s the average hourly pay in Wisconsin? See how your paycheck compares to the average, June 6, 2025.

Tax Foundation, The State Flat Tax Revolution: Where Things Stand Today, Jan. 7, 2025.

The Jay Weber Show, Wash Co Exec Josh Schoemann Announces Run for Governor, May 5, 2025.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin Republicans back $1.3 billion tax cut plan that lowers bills for 1.6 million residents, June 13, 2025.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Big spending plans plus both tax cuts and increases. Takeaways from Gov. Tony Evers' new budget, Feb. 18, 2025.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Economists say Tim Michels' flat tax idea would only benefit the rich, Oct. 26, 2022.

Wisconsin State Legislature, Assembly Bill 1, 2023-24.

Browse the Truth-O-Meter

More by Hope Karnopp

slide 4 to 6 of 15

GOP candidate for governor says income taxes are lower in Illinois than Wisconsin. Is that true?

Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!

In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.

Sign me up