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Property Tax Relief
Under Illinois law, several programs designed to provide property tax relief are available to homeowners. This guide will familiarize you with these programs.
Eligibility requirements vary widely among these programs and you should review each program's qualifications carefully. The staff at the Chief County Assessment Office or your Township Assessor's office will be happy to provide additional information and we encourage you to contact them, if you have questions about these programs.
Various exemption programs can either reduce or defer an increase in the equalized value of your property. These exemptions lower the assessed valuation, and then the tax rate is applied. Qualifications and application procedures vary for each program.
If you should have any questions, you may call the Chief County Assessor's Office or contact your Township Assessor.
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Charitable Exemption
To be exempt for property tax purposes, the property must be owned by a "beneficent and charitable" organization and used exclusively for charitable and beneficent purposes and not leased or otherwise used for profit.
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Disabled Persons Exemption
Under this program, $2,000 of the equalized assessed value of a home owned by a qualifying disabled person is exempt from property taxes.
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Disabled Home Vet Exemption
Under this program, up to $100,000 of the equalized assessed value of a home owned by a qualifying veteran, the veteran's spouse or unmarried surviving spouse is exempt from property taxes.
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Disabled Veterans Standard Exemption
This exemption provides a reduction in a property’s EAV to a qualifying property owned by a veteran with a service-connected disability certified by the U. S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
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Fraternal Organization Freeze
Illinois State Law allows a qualified fraternal organization chartered by the State of Illinois prior to 1900 to elect to freeze the assessed value of the property it owns and uses.
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Historic Property Exemption
Certain owner-occupied residences could qualify for a preferential assessed value for an eight-year period of time.
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Home Improvement Exemption
This exemption defers, for four years, any increase in the assessment of your property as a result of improvements such as a deck, addition, garage, porch, finished Ground-level, etc., for which the assessor would add value.
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IDNR Forest & Conservation Program Benefits (PDF)
View and download the IDNR Forest and Conservation Program Benefits document.
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Model Home Assessment
If the construction of a single family dwelling, townhome, or condominium unit is completed in the current assessment year, and that dwelling, townhome, or condominium unit is not occupied as a dwelling but is used as a display or demonstration model home, townhome or condominium unit for prospective buyers of the dwelling or of similar homes, townhome, or condominium units to be built on other property, the assessed value of the property on which the dwelling, townhome, or condominium was constructed shall be the same as the assessed value of the property prior to construction.
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Natural Disaster Homestead Exemption
This exemption is on homestead property for a rebuilt residential structure following a widespread natural disaster occurring in the taxable year 2012 (property taxes payable 2013) or any taxable year thereafter.
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Open Space Exemption
In all counties, in addition to valuation as otherwise permitted by law, land which is used for open space purposes and has been so used for the 3 years immediately preceding the year in which the assessment is made, upon application under Section 10-160, shall be valued on the basis of its fair cash value, estimated at the price it would bring at a fair, voluntary sale for use by the buyer for open space purposes.
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Owner Occupied Exemption
Also known as the General Homestead Exemption, this exemption lowers the equalized assessed value of your property up to $6,000.
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Returning Veterans Exemption
Under this program, $5,000 of the equalized assessed value of a home owned by a qualifying returning veteran is exempt from property taxes.
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Senior Freeze Exemption
This exemption freezes the taxable assessment on your property, but does not freeze the tax rate.
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Senior Homestead Exemption
This exemption lowers the equalized assessed value of your property by $5,000 and may be claimed in addition to the Owner Occupied Exemption.
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Seniors Tax Deferral
This program is designed to allow senior citizens to defer payment of part or all of the property taxes on their homes. This program functions as a loan, with an annual interest rate of 6%.
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Veterans Organization Freeze
Illinois State Law allows a qualified veterans organization chartered under federal law to elect to freeze the assessed value of the property it owns and uses.
Downloads
- Charitable Exempt Form - Federal and State - PTAX-300-FS (PDF)
- Charitable Exempt Form - Religious - PTAX-300-R (PDF)
- Charitable Exemption Form - Hospital - PTAX-300-H (PDF)
- Hospital Schedule A (PDF)
- Hospital Schedule E (PDF)
- Affidavit for Hospital Property Tax Exemption (PDF)
- Charitable Exemption Form - PTAX-300 (PDF)
- Disabled Persons Homestead Exemption - PTAX-343 (PDF)
- Disabled Persons Physician's Statement - PTAX-343-A (PDF)
- Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption - PTAX-342 (PDF)
- Fraternal Organization Assessment Freeze Form - PTAX-766 (PDF)
- General Homestead Leasehold Form (PDF)
- IDNR Forest and Conservation Program Benefits (PDF)
- Model Home Exemption and Ineligibility Form - PTAX-762 (PDF)
- Natural Disaster Homestead Exemption Form - PTAX-327 (PDF)
- Open Space Exemption Form - PTAX-334 (PDF)
- Returning Veterans Homestead Exemption - PTAX-341 (PDF)
- Senior Citizen Freeze Exemption Form - PTAX-340 (PDF)
- Veterans Organization Assessment Freeze Form - PTAX-763 (PDF)