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 2010 One of the nation's most anticipated culinary events, Chicago Gourmet will be hosted in Millennium Park, September 24-26, 2010. This epicurean extravaganza, presented by Bon Appétit magazine, will feature more than 100 of Chicago's finest chefs and hundreds of renowned vintners, spirit makers and premium breweries from around the world. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit: www.chicagogourmet.org.     INDUSTRY NEWS MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE EFFECTIVE 7/1/10 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 7/1/2010 The Cook County sales tax rolls back to 1.25% on July 1, 2010 bringing the overall sales tax to 10.75%. CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY TAXES AS OF 7/1/10 State Sales Tax 6.25% Chicago Sales Tax 1.25% Cook County Sales Tax 1.25% RTA Tax 1.00% Pier Tax 1.00% TOTAL SALES TAX 10.75% Plus   Restaurant Tax .25% TOTAL TAX 11.00%   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%.