Are You Getting All Your Property Tax Exemptions?

The Cook County Assessor’s Office offers a variety of ways for homeowners in Cook County to save on their property tax bill. These Property Tax Exemptions can result in savings that appear on the second installment of your property tax bill—mailed in the summer.

It may seem daunting at first, but it’s fairly straightforward to determine if you are eligible for one of these Exemptions and to ensure that you are receiving the savings to which you are entitled.

Click on your county below for complete information and all 2021 Exemption application forms. You’ll also find a breakdown of each Cook County exemption below.

Cook County | DuPage County | Lake County

HOMEOWNER EXEMPTION As a homeowner, you are eligible to receive the 2021 Homeowner Exemption if the property was your principal place of residence as of January 1, 2021. In addition, those who have a lease or contract for their principal residence that makes them responsible for the real estate taxes may also qualify for this Exemption – even if they are not the owner.

• The Homeowner Exemption reduces the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of your property by $10,000. The EAV is the partial value of a property that is used to calculate tax bills. So, this exemption amount ($10,000) is not the dollar amount by which a tax bill is lowered.
• Applications for the 2021 Homeowners Exemption are now open.
• Once you apply for and receive the Homeowners Exemption, it will renew automatically in subsequent years as long as your residence remains the same.
• If you purchased a new-construction home that was not ready for occupancy until after January 1 of the tax year, the Homeowners Exemption will be prorated.
• If you were eligible for this Exemption in a prior tax year but the Exemption was not on your second installment bill, you can apply for a refund or corrected bill.

SENIOR CITIZEN EXEMPTION If you meet the requirements for the Homeowners Exemption outlined above AND you were born in 1956 or earlier, you are also eligible for the 2021 Senior Exemption.

• The Senior Exemption reduces the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of your property by $8,000. The EAV is the partial value of a property that is used to calculate tax bills. So, this exemption amount ($8,000) is not the dollar amount by which a tax bill is lowered.
• Applications for the 2021 Senior Exemption are now open.
• Senior Exemptions renew automatically so you only have to apply once. If you already received this Exemption on the second-installment bill you received last summer (July 2021), you do not have to reapply this year.
• If you moved in last year, you may be entitled to a prorated 2021 Senior Exemption based on time of occupancy as your principal residence. The application for a prorated Senior Exemption requires accompanying documents including a closing or settlement statement.
• Individuals receiving the Senior Citizen Exemption automatically qualify for the Homeowner Exemption and do not have to apply for it separately.
• If your parents passed away in 2021, their property may still be eligible for the Senior Exemption if they were alive and resided in the home as their permanent residence on January 1, 2021.
• If you were eligible for this Exemption in a prior tax year but the Exemption was not on your second installment bill, you can apply for a refund or corrected bill.

SENIOR FREEZE EXEMPTION You are likely eligible for this Exemption if you meet the requirements above for the Senior Citizen Exemption AND your total household income in the 2020 calendar year was $65,000 or less.

• The Senior Freeze Exemption freezes the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of your property, so that it is not subject to increase. Although the EAV is constant, the amount of property tax you owe may fluctuate due to changes in the tax rate.
• Applications for the 2021 Senior Freeze Exemption are now open.
• Normally, you must apply annually for the Senior Freeze Exemption. Unlike the Homeowner and Senior Citizen Exemptions, it does not renew automatically. However, the Illinois State Legislature added a 1-year auto-renewal to support homeowners during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you received the Senior Freeze Exemption in 2020, it will be automatically renewed for the 2021 tax year.
• If you were eligible for this Exemption in a prior tax year but the Exemption was not on your second installment bill, you can apply for a refund or corrected bill.

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES EXEMPTION You may qualify for this exemption if you were disabled or became disabled in 2021. In addition, you must own or have a legal, equitable or leasehold interest in a single-family residence that was your principal residence as of January 1, 2021.

• The Persons with Disabilities Exemption reduces the Equalized Assessed Value of your home by $2,000. As noted above for the Homeowner Exemption, this is not the amount by which your tax bill will be lowered.
• If a property received this Exemption in previous years and the taxpayer now resides in a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, their home is still eligible to receive this Exemption if the property is occupied by that individual’s spouse or if the property remains unoccupied.
• Applications for the 2021 Persons with Disabilities Exemption are now open.
• Normally, you must apply annually for this Exemption. Unlike the Homeowner and Senior Citizen Exemptions, it does not renew automatically. However, the Illinois State Legislature added a 1-year auto-renewal to support homeowners during the COVID-19 pandemic. So, if you received the Persons with Disability Exemption in 2020, it will be automatically renewed for the 2021 tax year.
• If you were eligible for this Exemption in a prior tax year but the Exemption was not on your second installment bill, you can apply for a refund or corrected bill.

RETURNING VETERANS EXEMPTION You may qualify for this Exemption if you are a veteran who returned from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the U.S. in the 2021 calendar year. You must be an Illinois resident who served as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, Illinois National Guard or U.S. Reserve Forces. In addition, you must own or have a legal, equitable or leasehold interest in the property and used it as your principal residence as of January 1, 2021.

• The Returning Veterans Exemption reduces the Equalized Assessed Value of your home by $5,000. As noted above for the Homeowner Exemption, this is not the amount by which your tax bill will be lowered.
• Applications for the 2021 Returning Veterans Exemption are now open.
• This Exemption does not renew automatically and a new Exemption application must be filed for the 2021 tax year.
• If you were eligible for this Exemption in a prior tax year but the Exemption was not on your second installment bill, you can apply for a refund or corrected bill.

VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES EXEMPTION This Exemption is for veterans with a service-connected disability as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. To qualify, you must be an Illinois resident who has served as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty or state active duty, a member of the Illinois National Guard or U.S. Reserve Forces, and you must have been honorably discharged. Furthermore, you must have owned and occupied the property as your primary residence in 2021.

• The Veterans with Disabilities Exemption reduces the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) that is used to calculate your tax bill. The amount of reduction is based upon the level of disability as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
  • 30% to 49% Disability: EAV reduced by $2,500
  • 50% to 69% Disability: EAV reduced by $5,000
  • 70% or Greater Disability: EAV reduced by $250,000
  • As noted above for the Homeowner Exemption, the amount by which the EAV is reduced is not the amount by which your tax bill will be lowered.
• Due to COVID-19, if you received the Veterans with Disabilities Exemption in 2020, it will be automatically renewed for 2021. Normally, this Exemption must be renewed annually.
• If you were eligible for this Exemption in a prior tax year but the Exemption was not on your second installment bill, you can apply for a refund or corrected bill.

OTHER EXEMPTIONS In addition, there are two other exemptions available to some Cook County residents for which the application process differs from the above:

• Approximately 2% of homeowners will qualify for a Long-Time Homeowner Exemption. In addition to meeting income and residency requirements, applicants must have a significant assessment increase that exceeds the maximum amount set by the State Legislature. The Assessor’s Office automatically detects which properties qualify based on assessment increases—and mailed applications in early March to the approximately 11,000 Cook County property owners who qualify for this exemption.

Additional information for all of these various Exemptions can be found on the website for the Cook County Assessor’s Office: cookcountyassessor.com/exemptions.