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Due to a countywide technology upgrade, both the second property tax bill of the year, as well as processing of Certificates of Error applications are temporarily on hold. The county anticipates that the new bills will be available before the end of 2025 and no applications for errors or refunds will be issued at this time. Applications can still be filed, but they will be processed at a later date.
When your application is processed, you will receive an email notification with the result. You can also check the status of your application by logging into your account and clicking on “My Filings” on the top of the Page.
Property tax exemptions are savings that contribute to lowering a homeowner’s property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, which saves a Cook County property owner an average of approximately $950 dollars each year.
To determine which exemptions are currently being applied, you can review your Property Details, and then review the Exemption History and Status section of the Cook County website to determine which exemptions were received.
New homeowners and returning applicants can apply online.
If a homeowner believes they are entitled to exemptions in previous tax years, file a Certificate of Error application.
Homeowner Exemption
Most homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they own and occupy the property as their principal place of residence. Once this exemption is applied, the Assessor’s Office auto-renews it for you each year. This exemption provides savings by reducing the equalized assessed value of an eligible property.
This exemption automatically renews each year.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020 with a Certificate of Error.
Senior Exemption
Most senior homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they are 65 years of age or older and own and occupy their property as their principal place of residence. Once this exemption is applied, the Assessor’s Office automatically renews it for you each year. A Senior Exemption provides property tax savings by reducing the equalized assessed value of an eligible property.
This exemption automatically renews each year.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
Senior Freeze Low-Income Senior Exemption
Most homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they meet the requirements for the Senior Exemption and have a total household annual income of $65,000 or less in the calendar year. This exemption provides significant savings by “freezing” the equalized assessed value of an eligible property.
This exemption must be filed annually.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
Persons with Disabilities Exemption
Homeowners eligible for this exemption this year must be disabled or become disabled during the 2023 tax year. This exemption provides property tax savings with an annual reduction in the equalized assessed value of a property. This exemption will automatically renew due to new state legislation.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
Returning Veterans Exemption
Provides veterans returning from active duty in armed conflict with a reduction in the equalized assessed value of their property – for each taxable year in which they return. This exemption must be filed annually. This exemption must be filed annually.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
Veterans with Disabilities Exemption
Provides veterans with a service-connected disability as certified by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs with a reduction in the equalized assessed value (EAV) of their property. The amounts of those EAV deductions depend on the level of disability. This exemption must be filed annually.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020.
NEW: WWII Exemption
Beginning in tax year 2024, legislation passed that allows veterans who were members of the United States Armed Forces during World War II regardless of their level of disability rating to receive property tax savings. The term “World War II” means the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946. If any of the veteran’s service was performed during this time frame, the veteran is considered a World War II veteran.
This exemption will automatically renew.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2024.
Long-Time Homeowner Exemption
Only 2% of homeowners in Cook County qualify for this exemption. This exemption provides homeowners with an expanded Homeowner Exemption with no maximum exemption amount. In addition to meeting income and residency requirements, applicants must also have a significant assessment increase that exceeds the maximum amounts set by the state legislature. Applications will be mailed directly to potentially eligible homeowners. This exemption must be filed annually.
Homeowners can now apply for a 2024 Certificate of Error.
Allows homeowners to add improvements to their home that add to its value (for example, by increasing the building’s square footage, or repairing after structural flood damage) without being taxed on up to $75,000 of the added value for up to four years.
This exemption lasts up to four years. No application is required, since Cook County automatically applies this exemption to eligible properties.
*Please Note: Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) is not the amount of your taxes. The EAV is the taxed value of the property. A reduction in EAV is not the dollar amount reduction on the tax bill. Each property’s tax bill is affected by its EAV and its local tax rate that year.
Missing exemptions from prior tax years?
The Certificate of Error process allows homeowners to redeem missing exemptions. Homeowners can file for past exemptions for tax years 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020 when they open it up to filing again, following the computer technology upgrade.
Have a real estate question? Call Karen Daugerdas, your family Coldwell Banker Real Estate Broker at 847.494.1102, karen.daugerdas@cbrealty.com.
