Property Tax Exemptions
Residential Property Tax Exemptions
Below is an explanation of the various residential property tax exemptions.
Senior Citizen Exemption
To be eligible for the Senior Exemption, which will reduce your home’s equalized, assessed value by $8,000, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- You or your spouse are 65 years of age or older during the tax
year for which you are applying for the exemption, - As of January 1st of the tax year, you must either own or have a lease or contract making you responsible for the property tax,
- As of January 1st of the tax year, the property must be your principal residence.
Senior Citizens receiving a Senior Citizen Exemption automatically receive a Homeowners Exemption and do not have to apply separately. Homeowners who received the Senior Citizen Exemption the prior year do not need to apply every year for this exemption.
Homeowners Exemption
The Homeowner Exemption is available to owners of single family homes, condominiums, cooperatives and apartment buildings of six units or less. The property must have been occupied by its current or previous owner as his or her principle residence on January 1st of the tax year for which the exemption is granted. Homeowner Exemptions are automatically applied only if you received one the prior year. The exemption will be applied on your 2nd installment of your property tax bill. This exemption reduces the home’s Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of $10,000.
Senior Freeze Exemption
This exemption freezes the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of your home.
To qualify for this exemption you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- You or your spouse are 65 years of age or older during the tax
year. - The property must be your principle residence during the tax year (e.g. January 1, 2021 to January 1, 2022) of the assessment freeze,
- Your total gross household income did not exceed $65,000 the
prior year for which you are requesting the assessment freeze.
You must file each year in order to continue to receive the Senior Freeze Exemption. In addition, the above requirements must be met each year to receive the freeze.
Returning Veterans’ Exemption
Returning Veterans’ Exemption provides a one-time $5,000 reduction in the equalized assessed value (EAV) of the veteran’s principal residence for the taxable year and the following tax year that the veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict involving the United States. The veterans must own and occupy the property on January 1st of the assessment year. It must be used as his or her principal residence prior to departing for active duty.
To qualify the veteran must be:
- An Illinois resident who has served as a member of the U.S.
Armed Forces, Illinois National Guard or U.S. Reserved Forces - Returning from active duty in an armed conflict involving the
armed forces of the U.S., - An owner or had a legal or equitable interest in the property and
used it as a principle place of residence on January 1 of
the assessment year. - Liable for the payment of property taxes.
Disabled Veterans’ Exemption
The amount of the exemption each year depends on the percentage of the disabled veteran’s service-connected disability as certified by U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. A disabled veteran at least 70% disabled will be completely exempt from property taxes. A disabled veteran with at least a 50% to 69% service-connected disability will receive an annual $5,000 reduction in EAV. A veteran with a 30% to 49% service-connected disability will receive an annual $2,500 reduction in EAV.
To qualify the veteran must be:
- An Illinois resident who has served as a member of the U.S
Armed Forces on active duty or on active duty in the state of
Illinois, Illinois National Guard, or U.S. Reserve Forces and has been honorably discharged, - Have at least a 30% service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
- Owner and occupant of the property as the primary residence on January 1, of the assessment year,
- Have a total EAV of less than $250,000 for the primary residence, excluding the EAV of property used for commercial purposes or rented for more than six months.
Disabled Persons’ Exemption
This exemption provides disabled persons with an annual $2,000 reduction in the equalized assessed value (EAV) of the property.
To qualify the applicant must be:
- Disabled or become disabled during the assessment year
- Own or have a legal or equitable interest in the property, or a
leasehold interest of a single-family residence - Occupy the property as the principle residence on January 1
- Be liable for the payment of property taxes
Additional Documents
Exemption Forms
- Senior Exemption: Affidavit Certificate of Error Applications
- Senior Freeze Exemption Application & Instructions-Tax Year 2020
- Senior Freeze Exemption Application & Instructions-Tax Year 2019
- Senior Freeze Exemption Application & Instructions-Tax Year 2018
- Physician’s Statement For Disabled Persons’ Homestead Exemption
