Are You Eligible for a Cook County Property Tax Exemption?

Are you eligible for a Cook County Property Tax Exemption?

Eligibility CRITERIA FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND OTHER RELATED EXEMPTIONS

For ALL homestead exemptions including the General Exemption, a taxpayer must:

• Live in the property as of January 1 of the tax year;

• Use the property as his or her principal dwelling place; and

• Assume legal responsibility to pay the property taxes.

For the Senior Citizen Exemption, a taxpayer also must:

• Be at least 65-years-old anytime in the tax year.

For the Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Exemption, a taxpayer also must:

• Be at least 65-years-old anytime in the tax year; and

• Have a household income of $55,000 or less.

For the Returning Veterans’ Exemption, a taxpayer also must:

• Have served in the U.S. Armed or Reserve Forces or the Illinois National Guard; and

• Have actively served in an armed conflict involving U.S. Armed Forces.

For a Disabled Veterans’ Standard Exemption, a taxpayer also must:

• Be honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed or Reserve Forces or the Illinois National Guard; and

• Suffer a service-related disability of at least 50%.

• Live in a property with an equalized assessed value of no more than $250,000 (excluding any part used for business or rented for 6 months or longer.)

For a Disabled Veterans’ Exemption, a taxpayer also must:

• Qualify for the Disabled Veterans’ Standard Exemption (see above); and

• Live in a property with an assessed value of no more than $70,000; and

• Have a disability of such a nature that the Federal Government has authorized payment for purchase or construction of Specially Adapted Housing or as otherwise specified in Section 15-165 of the Property Tax Code.

• Note: Anyone who claims this exemption may not also claim the Disabled Veteran’s Standard Exemption (see above) or the Disabled Persons’ Exemption (see below).

For the Disabled Persons’ Exemption, a taxpayer also must:

• Be unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

For the Long-Time Occupant Exemption, a taxpayer also must:

• Have a total household income of $100,000 or less;

• As of January 1 of the tax year, have occupied the property as principal residence for at least 10 continuous years OR have occupied the property as principal for at least 5 continuous years if the taxpayer received the property as part of a government or nonprofit housing program; and

• Face a property assessment increase that exceeds limits set out in Section I S-177 of the Property Tax Code.

Additional information on all exemptions is available online at www.cookcountyassessor.com and in the Illinois Property Tax Code at www.ilga.gov.

Source: Cook County Assessor’s Office