WELCOME TO THE ILLINOIS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION Founded in 1914, the Illinois Restaurant Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, educating and improving the restaurant industry in Illinois.     IRA EVENTS & NEWS   CHICAGO GOURMET The second annual Chicago Gourmet, a weekend festival celebrating Chicago’s impressive food and wine community in Millennium Park, was held September 26-27, 2009.  Chicago Gourmet 2010 will be held September 25-26 in Millennium Park.  Visit www.chicagogourmet.org for more information.   RESTAURATEURS BALL The Illinois Restaurant Association’s annual Restaurateurs Ball was Friday, October 30, 2009 at The Drake in Chicago.  Congratulations to Vendor of the Year award winners Todd Hatoff, Bobby Hatoff, and Steve Amato of Allen Brothers and to ProStart Company of the Year winner Sara Rowe of Shaw’s Crab House.       INDUSTRY NEWS MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE EFFECTIVE 7/1/09 The minumum wage in Illinois increased to $8.00/hour on July 1, 2009. The minimum wage will increase to $8.25 on July 1, 2010.  Click here for information on how to calculate a tip credit and overtime wage.    COOK COUNTY SALES TAX INCREASE EFFECTIVE 7/1/2008  The Cook County sales tax increased from .75% to 1.75% on July 1, 2008.  Click here to view a detailed summary of the current sales tax in Cook County and Chicago.             Illinois Restaurant Industry Facts  Locations …………...31,780 Employees …………513,100* Sales……………….$18.8 Billion Projected 2009 Economic Impact of Eating & Drinking Places: $44.7 billion  *eating and drinking places only Are you looking to open a restaurant in Chicago? Are you a current restaurant owner with questions about permits or fees? Click here to access information about permits, fees, licenses, taxes and inspections in the City  of Chicago.   CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY TAXES AS OF 7/1/08 State Sales Tax 6.25% Chicago Sales Tax 1.25% Cook County Sales Tax 1.75% RTA Tax 1.00% Pier Tax 1.00% TOTAL SALES TAX 11.25% Plus   Restaurant Tax .25% TOTAL TAX 11.50% Notes: §         The MPEA Pier Tax (1.00%) only applies to downtown Chicago restaurants §         The Restaurant Tax only applies to Chicago restaurants §         The RTA Tax affects both Cook County and the collar counties (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and  Will).  In the collar counties the RTA Tax is .75%.

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