Springfield, IL— Donald Trump promised “record-setting tax refunds” — but today on Tax Day, Illinoisans are seeing lower-than-promised refunds hitting their bank accounts, and most importantly, refunds won’t cover the higher costs under Trump or the spike in gas prices caused by his war of choice in Iran. Meanwhile, billionaires and big corporations enjoy tax breaks paid for by historic cuts to health care, food assistance, and education for millions of Americans because of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill.
Reminder: Illinois Congressional Republicans Mike Bost (IL-12), Mary Miller (IL-15), Darin LaHood (IL-16) all voted for the Big Ugly Bill which provides more in tax breaks to the top 1% than to the bottom 80% combined, and ultimately raises taxes on the poorest 40% of Americans.
In response, Democratic Party of Illinois Chair Hernandez said the following:
“This Tax Day, Illinoisans are seeing lower-than-promised refunds that are barely a drop in the bucket to cover the higher costs Republicans have forced them to shoulder. Donald Trump promised families lower prices, lower taxes, and bigger refunds. What did Illinoisans get instead? Tariffs that have raised costs on everyday goods, massive tax breaks for billionaires, and a deadly and costly taxpayer-funded war with Iran. Meanwhile, Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’–which received full support from Illinois Congressional Republicans–stole from families to give a windfall to the ultra-rich. It couldn’t be clearer: Trump and the Illinois Republican Party aren’t on the side of working families.”
Americans are expected to pay an additional $740 at the pump this year — that’s more than twice as much as the average refund increase. In Illinois, gas prices are now on average $4.36 a gallon, a 43% increase since Trump started his war on Iran. And Trump’s reckless tariffs cost the average Illinois household $766 in 2025 and are estimated to cost families $2,500 in 2026. Now his war with Iran is pushing prices even higher.
While Trump touts the No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, and No Tax on Social Security provisions of his Big Ugly Bill, these temporary provisions only impact a small handful of workers who will be worse off by Trump’s massive cuts to health care and food assistance. His handouts for billionaires are permanent. Republicans have conceded that they have nothing to show for the Illinoisans aside from their deeply unpopular tax bill, with one House Republican even saying, “It’s all we have to run on…This is it.”
