In Illinois, it’s possible to save a bit on Halloween candy this year if you know which sweets fall under the grocery tax instead of the more costly “Candy Tax.” While all candy may look the same in a trick-or-treat bucket, Illinois’ tax code makes some important distinctions.

Here’s what you need to know about tax-friendly treats and which ones will hit your wallet a little harder.

The Steep 6.25% Illinois Candy Tax

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Let’s start with the bad news. All the classic, purely sweet treats that don’t contain flour are taxed as candy. That means the sugary stars like the ones below will cost you extra:

  • M&Ms (peanut or plain – sorry, they both count)
  • Skittles
  • Starbursts
  • Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars (pure chocolate without flour = pure candy tax)
  • Sour Patch Kids
  • Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

The Floury and Friendlier 1% Grocery Tax

Now, here’s where the trick-or-treat tax loophole starts paying off. If a candy has flour as an ingredient, it counts as a grocery item and falls under the 1% grocery tax. That means you’ll pay less for treats like these:

  • Twix (cookie layer = flour, and you’re in the clear)
  • Kit Kats (thanks to that crunchy wafer)
  • Snickers (even with all those peanuts, the nougat flour saves the day)
  • Milky Way (flour-based nougat, same tax-saving magic)

Why the Candy Tax Loophole Exists

Under Illinois tax rules, foods containing flour are classified as groceries, not candy. So while this may seem like an odd distinction, it’s one that you can take advantage of when buying Halloween candy. The grocery tax will end at the state level in Illinois in 2026, according to mystateline.com.

Trick-or-Treat Candy with Tax-Saving Power

Hey, if kids start questioning why they’re getting so many Twix and Snickers, tell them it’s just part of Illinois’ “special candy selection.”

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