Chicago drivers and online shoppers take note: the rules are changing for how you'll be paying for parking. Starting January 1, a new law will require more from the middlemen of metered street spots and garage stalls. According to Illinois Department of Revenue guidelines, booking intermediaries will now have to step up to the plate in collecting and remitting the parking excise tax.
The latest amendment to the Parking Excise Tax Act mandates that any entity helping you snag that coveted space will have to register with the IDOR if they facilitate the renting for unregistered operators or when they're tacking on a service fee for customers. It's no longer just the parking providers' responsibility; these intermediaries are getting roped into tax collection duties. "Booking intermediaries must register with IDOR, collect the tax, file returns, and remit the tax to IDOR," spells out the official statement.
This means that whether you're scoring your spot through a smartphone app or a third-party website, there's a likely chance they'll be handling the tax. It's a move that aims to close loopholes and ensure a fair playing field where everyone pays their share to the state. Gone are the days when only the big parking companies had to deal with the hassle of taxes, as now the digital facilitators will join in on the fun.
