Why do you never see gasoline taxes itemized on your receipt?
In April 2014, I suddenly realized that when you buy gasoline, the receipt does not list all the different taxes you have to pay.
So I emailed the Illinois Policy Institute (https://www.illinoispolicy.org) and asked them to make up a facsimile of a gas receipt.
Here's what they came up with, and they featured it in a story on their website.
Turns out a gallon of gas in Chicago has eight taxes on it. In Park Ridge adds two cents more. (I think today they are higher.)
I went to a neighborhood gas station – the owner was a nice guy. I asked him if people get angry with him when gasoline goes up in price.
He said of course they do. I said, "Why don't you put a sign in your window, listing all the taxes the customers are paying on a gallon of gas?"
He said, "That's illegal in Illinois. I would get fined and could lose my gas station!"