Tax Planning & Strategy
Advancing Tax Education Through State Policy
A statewide tax policy initiative aimed at introducing tax education into Illinois high school curricula, advancing long-term financial literacy through legislative action.
overview
In 2023, motivated by the widespread financial disadvantage caused by tax illiteracy, we proposed a statewide initiative to make tax education a required part of every Illinois high school’s curriculum.
That proposal became HB 4129 — the Tax Education Advancement Mission (TEAM) Act, introduced by Representative Hoan Huynh in the Illinois General Assembly. While the bill did not advance during its initial legislative session, its introduction represented a meaningful step toward addressing a long-standing gap in public education and strengthening financial literacy policy at the state level.
Challenge
Despite the central role taxes play in everyday life, most students graduate without any formal education in how tax systems work, how compliance functions, or how tax policy supports public services.
The challenge extended beyond curriculum design. Any effective solution needed to be academically sound, scalable across Illinois’s diverse school districts, and credible to both education leaders and tax policy stakeholders.
Solution
We developed a comprehensive framework designed to teach students the foundations of federal, state, and local taxation, including filing basics, compliance responsibilities, and the civic purpose of tax systems.
The TEAM Act was structured around six core learning goals and designed to be modular and adaptable, allowing school districts to integrate tax education into existing coursework without disrupting broader academic requirements.
Result
The proposal was formally introduced as HB 4129 in the Illinois House, generating early legislative interest and constructive engagement from education and tax policy stakeholders.
Although the bill did not reach final passage during its initial session, the initiative increased visibility around the need for tax education, established a legislative reference point for future reform efforts, and created momentum for continued advocacy. Work is ongoing to refine the proposal and advance state-level tax education policy through future legislative sessions.
