For all the noise around tax season, there’s one thing Americans rarely get asked: If you could invent a tax or a penalty that solves a real problem, what would it be?
It’s a revealing question, because modern frustrations aren’t just about how much people pay. They are about who gets away with what. Rising prices, corporate corner-cutting, housing shortages, and a sense that powerful players are gaming the system have left many Americans feeling that the current tax landscape punishes the wrong people.
To find out what that looks like, PDFExpert.com, a productivity app for all things PDF, surveyed more than 3,000 adults, asking which penalties they would actually support.
A striking 76% of Illinoisans said businesses engaging in harmful workplace practices ought to face financial penalties. It’s a finding that reframes the tax conversation altogether – not around income brackets or government revenue, but around accountability.
The results show a population increasingly motivated by fairness: consequences for price-hiking companies, transparency in service fees, and stronger incentives for maintaining healthy workplaces.
Other survey findings:
What’s the most acceptable reason to introduce a new tax?
People are split across several priorities:
- 30% – Addressing inequality
- 26% – Protecting consumers
- 26% – Stabilizing housing
- 10% – Improving workplace standards
- 8% – Discouraging exploitation
If Illinoisans could invent one brand-new tax, what should it target first?
Wealth inequality is the clear leader at 39%, with housing affordability (20%) and corporate behavior (18%) forming the next tier. Environmental impact also received support (10%), while hidden fees and workplace standards each drew 6%.
Which current problem deserves a financial penalty the most?
- 38% – Companies driving up prices
- 28% – Hidden or misleading fees
- 14% – Businesses overworking staff
- 14% – Corporations skimping on training
- 4% – Empty property investors
- 2% – Firms with extreme turnover
If a new tax could fix one major issue in your state, what would it target?
Nearly half (48%) chose rising prices, followed by housing shortages (20%) and income inequality (18%). Corporate misconduct (8%) and workplace burnout (6%) rounded out the list.
Do people feel their state is missing important taxes that would improve life locally?
A notable 62% said yes.
Finally, when asked which taxes Illinoisans want introduced, the top 3 were as follows.
#1. Employee Turnover Tax
Support for an Employee Turnover Tax reflects Illinois’ ongoing frustration with churn across healthcare, transit, hospitality, and warehouse sectors. High turnover undermines service quality and strains remaining staff, and many Illinoisans believe the problem stems from employers not investing enough in retention or training. A turnover tax is seen as a push for more stable workplaces, especially in a state where dependable service — from CTA platforms to local diners — is something residents value deeply.
#2. Junk Fees Tax
Support for a Junk Fees Tax in Illinois reflects frustration with costs that only appear at the very end of a bill. From ticketing and utilities to rentals and everyday services, residents are tired of advertised prices creeping upward through fine print and add-ons. Many Illinoisans see these hidden charges as eroding trust rather than reflecting real value. A junk fees tax is viewed as a straightforward way to push transparency, ensuring prices are clear upfront in a state that values fairness and straight dealing.
#3. Understaffing Penalty Tax
Backing for an Understaffing Penalty Tax in Illinois comes from daily encounters with stretched teams across healthcare, retail, and public services. Long waits and inconsistent service have made chronic understaffing feel less like a temporary issue and more like a business strategy. Residents increasingly see the cost being passed to both workers and customers. A penalty tax is viewed as a nudge toward proper staffing, restoring reliability in a state that prides itself on professionalism and getting the job done right.
“The findings suggest Americans are really just looking for fairness in the things that affect them most,” says John Woods, VP of Marketing of PDF Expert. “That’s exactly what people expect from tax paperwork, too: fewer steps and easier forms.”
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