Time and time again I run into homeowners in Cook County who are not taking advantage of the property tax discount allowed on their primary residence. YES, Cook County will provide owners a property tax discount for their primary residence. So many homeowners miss this – and so I’m compelled to write.
Just this past Friday, I was at a client’s home signing all of the listing paperwork to put her place on the market. She handed me a copy of her property tax bill, and printed right there in the lower right hand column of the bill there was $0 listed as the discount under the homeowner’s exemption. Even though she has been living in this condo for five years as her primary residence, she wasn’t taking advantage of the homeowner’s exemption discount which could be anywhere from $250 to $2,000 per year.
How does one obtain this property tax discount? Simple. Print the homeowner exemption form on the Cook County Assessor’s website, fill it out, and send it in. You only need to apply once. The Cook County Assessor’s office now automatically renews Homeowner Exemptions for properties that were not sold to new owners in the last year.
There are other property tax discounts permitted under various circumstances, including a senior citizen exemption, home improvement exemption, returning veterans’ exemption, disabled veterans’ exemption, and a disabled persons’ exemption. For more information visit the Cook County Assessor website.
If you want to view your exemption history online, visit the Cook County Treasurer’s website, click the “exemption history” link, and punch in your PIN (Property Index Number). If you don’t know your PIN, let me know and I will help you find it.
Cook County Assessor’s Office
118 N. Clark Street, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 244-7550
Cook County Treasurer’s Office
118 N. Clark Street, Suite 112
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 443-5100
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Great tips! I will try it definitely
thanks for sharing this!