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A corporate head tax is a fee levied on businesses based on the number of employees they have working within city limits. Typically, companies with more than 50 employees face this tax, paying a flat fee per employee—often around $5 to $6 monthly in other cities. The intent is to generate revenue by targeting large employers, which tend to have a significant footprint in urban economies.
In the case of Chicago, Mayor Johnson has considered re-imposing a head tax that was eliminated by former Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2011, who described such taxes as “job killers.” Johnson, however, insists that “all options are on the table,” signaling an openness to policies that could discourage business growth or retention within the city.