2026 Cook County South District Reassessment: What Homeowners Need to Know

Cook County reassesses one district each year, and 2026 is the reassessment year for the South District. If you own property in one of the reassessed townships, you’ll receive a new reassessment notice this year.

Which Townships Are Being Reassessed?

The South District includes 17 of Cook County’s 38 townships:

Berwyn, Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Cicero, Lemont, Lyons, Oak Park, Orland, Palos, Proviso, Rich, River Forest, Riverside, Stickney, Thornton, and Worth.

All properties in these townships will be reassessed in 2026.
Continue reading →

Cook County 2025 Property Tax Exemptions Now Open: What Homeowners Need to Know

Homeowners in Cook County can now file for their 2025 property tax exemptions, which help reduce the amount owed on upcoming tax bills. These exemptions are one of the most effective ways for homeowners to lower their annual property tax burden.

Several exemptions are available depending on eligibility, but the most common is the Homeowner Exemption. To qualify, you must own the property (or have a lease/contract making you responsible for the taxes) and occupy it as your primary residence on January 1, 2025. According to the Cook County Assessor’s Office, the Homeowner Exemption saves the average homeowner about $950 per year.
Continue reading →

Cook County 2025 Property Tax Bills Delayed — Start Planning Your 2026 Appeal Now

Cook County property owners will receive their First Installment 2025 property tax bills later than usual.

  • Mailing Date: March 2, 2026
  • Due Date: April 1, 2026

This delay is due to the late issuance of the 2024 Second Installment bills.

While you’re preparing to pay your 2025 property taxes, now is the time to start preparing your Cook County property tax appeal for 2026.

2026 Reassessment: South District Property Owners Take Action

The Cook County Board of Review has closed its final 2025 appeal session. Appeal windows move quickly, and missing a deadline can cost you a year of potential savings.

If your property is located in the South District, 2026 is especially important. The following townships are up for reassessment:

Continue reading →

Cook County Board of Review Opens 2025 Property Tax Appeals for Group 7

The Cook County Board of Review has opened 2025 property tax appeals for the seventh group. The Board’s deadline to appeal your 2025 assessed value is February 18, 2026. Below are the townships that are currently open in Group 7: Cook County Property Tax Appeals: Triennial Assessments for Chicago

  • Bloom
  • Hanover
  • Niles
  • Rich
  • North Chicago
  • South Chicago

Assessments can be appealed every year, regardless of when a township was reassessed. If you missed your appeal opportunity at the Assessor’s office earlier in the year, or if you did appeal and weren’t satisfied with the result, you have a second opportunity to appeal at the Board of Review. Appealing your home’s 2025 assessed value is the only way to achieve property tax relief on your second installment property tax bill in the fall of 2026, other than selling your home or claiming a new exemption.

Contact us before the February 18th, deadline for a free, no-obligation, and professional analysis of your home’s assessment level compared to similar properties in your neighborhood. We’ll tell you if we don’t think you have a strong case for an appeal. If we feel there is a solid factual-based argument to be made, then you can choose if you would like to hire us to assist you with the appeal. There is no risk in using our service because you pay nothing unless your appeal is successful.

Get Your Free Property Tax Reduction Estimate

Cook County Board of Review Opens 2025 Property Tax Appeals for Group 6

The Cook County Board of Review has opened 2025 property tax appeals for the sixth group. The Board’s deadline to appeal your 2025 assessed value is February 03, 2026. Below are the townships that are currently open in Group 6:

  • Lake
  • Orland
  • Palatine
  • Schaumburg
  • Thornton

Continue reading →

Happy Holidays! Don’t Miss Out on 2025 Property Tax Savings!

There are only 11 townships left to open at the Board of Review for the 2025 Cook County tax appeal cycle. If your property is in Lake, North Chicago, Orland, Palatine, Rich, Schaumburg, South Chicago, or Thornton, you could be next—and you may be leaving thousands of dollars in potential savings on the table.

At Kensington Research & Recovery, we can run a free, no-obligation analysis on your property to see if you have a strong case for a tax appeal. Many homeowners in these townships are already seeing potential savings of $1,000 or more!

Here’s why you shouldn’t wait: Continue reading →

Don’t Miss Your Second Chance to Lower Your Property Taxes in 2025

If you’re a homeowner, you’ve probably noticed your property taxes creeping up year after year. The good news? The Board has reopened several townships, giving homeowners a rare second opportunity to appeal their property tax assessments—even if you missed the original deadline.

Why does this matter? Commercial property owners often secure significant assessment reductions, which can shift a bigger tax burden onto homeowners. Filing an appeal is your chance to make sure you’re not paying more than your fair share.
Continue reading →

Update: Board of Review to Reopen Appeal Window for Closed Townships

We’ve received news that the Cook County Board of Review: will be reopening for certain Townships that previously closed. This decision is due to the delayed release of property owners’ second-installment tax bills.

While many Townships already had their initial 30-day appeal period—beginning with the first group on July 7, 2025—the Board’s decision offers a second chance for homeowners who may have missed their original filing deadline.

The Board has not yet released specific details, including:

  • Which Townships will reopen
  • Exact opening dates
  • How long the reopening period will last

We will share updates as soon as the Board publishes additional information.

Townships That Previously Closed at the Board of Review: Continue reading →

Cook County Board of Review Opens 2025 Property Tax Appeals for Group 5

The Cook County Board of Review has opened 2025 property tax appeals for the fifth group. The Board’s deadline to appeal your 2025 assessed value is December 19, 2025. Below are the townships that are currently open in Group 5:

  • Jefferson
  • Proviso
  • Wheeling

Assessments can be appealed every year, regardless of when a township was reassessed. If you missed your appeal opportunity at the Assessor’s office earlier in the year, or if you did appeal and weren’t satisfied with the result, you have a second opportunity to appeal at the Board of Review. Appealing your home’s 2025 assessed value is the only way to achieve property tax relief on your second installment property tax bill in the fall of 2026, other than selling your home or claiming a new exemption.
Continue reading →

Bloom Township 2025 Assessment Notices Mailed

The Cook County Assessor’s office mailed 2025 property assessment notices on October 24, 2025, to Bloom Township property owners. The window to appeal your 2025 assessed value is now open until the deadline of December 09, 2025. The following cities, towns, and villages are in Bloom Township: Chicago Heights, Flossmoor, Ford Heights, Glenwood (almost all), Homewood (portion), Lansing, Lynwood, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, Sauk Village (almost all), South Chicago Heights, and Steger.

We recommend homeowners review their assessments annually and appeal whenever there is a strong evidence-based argument that your property may not be assessed fairly. Bloom Township’s next triennial reassessment is scheduled for 2026. However, if you feel that your assessment is unfair, there is no need to wait to appeal; property owners have the right to appeal yearly at the Assessor’s office and the Board of Review. If you’d like a professional opinion on your home’s assessed value as it compares to similar properties in your neighborhood, contact us for a free, no-obligation review and analysis of your home.

Continue reading →