Illinois Property Tax Cycle

Non-Farmland Property Assessment Administration Cycle

  1. County Clerk: Prepares two sets of real estate assessment books and delivers them to the Chief County Assessment Officer (CCAO) by January 1.
  2. Chief County Assessment Officer (CCAO):
    1. Meets with township assessors before January 1 and establishes guidelines.
    2. Delivers one set of books to township assessors.
  3. Township Assessor: Values real estate as of January 1 and returns books to the Chief County Assessment Officer.
  4. Chief County Assessment Officer (CCAO):
    1. Reviews assessments made by township assessors and makes changes when deemed necessary.
    2. Equalizes assessments within County by class and/or by township.
    3. Mails change of assessment notice to taxpayer.
    4. Publishes changes in newspaper of general circulation.
    5. Delivers books to Board of Review.
    6. Prepares tentative abstract of assessment books and mails to the Department of Revenue.
  5. Illinois Department of Revenue
    1. Develops tentative equalization factor.
    2. Publishes factor in newspaper.
    3. Holds public hearing.
  6. Board of Review
    1. Assesses omitted property.
    2. Acts on all homestead exemptions and mails recommendations on non-homestead exemptions to the department for approval.
    3. Hears complaints and makes changes on any property when deemed necessary.
    4. Mails change of assessment notices to taxpayers.
    5. Equalizes assessments within county if necessary.
    6. Delivers books to County Clerk.
    7. Mails report on equalization to the department.
    8. Publishes changes in newspaper of general circulation.
  7. County Clerk: Prepares the final abstract of assessments and mails it to the Illinois Department of Revenue.
  8. Illinois Department of Revenue: Certifies the final equalization factor to the County clerk and publishes the factor.
  9. County Clerk: Applies equalization factor to all local assessments (except farmland, farm buildings, and coal rights).
  10. Illinois Department of Revenue: Certifies state assessments and mails them to the County Clerk.

Budget, Levy, Tax Extension, & Collection Cycle

  1. County Clerk: Totals the equalized assessed value for each taxing district.
  2. Taxing Body:
    1. Prepares tentative budget. (Dates differ based on type of taxing district.)
    2. Publishes notice of public hearing; puts tentative budget on public display 30 days before public hearing.
    3. Holds public hearing.
    4. Passes budget with changes in form of ordinances.
    5. Publishes levy and holds public hearing.
    6. Truth-in-Taxation publication and, if required, public hearing.
    7. Gives certificate of levy to County Clerk by the last Tuesday in December.
  3. County Clerk
    1. Calculates tax rates for each combination of taxing districts.
    2. Extends taxes on equalized assessed value and enters in collector's books.
    3. Delivers collector's books to County Treasurer by December 31.
  4. County Treasurer (Collector)
    1. Prepares and mails tax bills by May.
    2. Collects first installments for real estate by June.
    3. Distributes tax money proportionately to taxing districts as tax money is collected.
    4. Collects second installment for real estate by August.
    5. Collects third installment for real estate by September.
    6. Collects fourth installment for real estate by November.
    7. Prepares delinquent tax list and sends notice of application for judgment and sale of a lien on real estate due to non-payment of taxes.
  5. Circuit Court: Pronounces judgment for sale of a lien on real estate due to nonpayment of taxes and rules on tax objections.
  6. County Clerk and Treasurer: Administers sale of lien on real estate due to nonpayment of taxes.