According to the Illinois Landscape Contractors association, there is a state legislative attempt to establish a tax on landscaping services. The proposed amendments to Senate Bill 9 (SB9) would also add an "Opportunity Tax" to all payrolls and increase corporate income tax rate to 7% and personal income tax rate to 4.99%.

The association says the landscaping industry is the only construction trade to be singled out for an excise tax. The ILCA views this as a tax on the environment since no other construction trade benefits the natural world as much as landscaping.

In raw numbers, the average landscape company can expect an estimated $8,500 in additional admin costs on top of revenue lost to the tax. The ILCA believes senior citizens, the physically disabled and single-parent households will be impacted the most.

The association is asking its members to reach out to their representatives and voice their concern. Visit the ILCA to do so.