River Forest Township Assessor Services

Exemptions


Cook County Assessor

This site provides information about the Cook County Assessor's Office, which is responsible for assessing all properties in Cook County. You can use this site to look up the assessment and characteristics of your property as well as the other 1.8 million parcels of property in the county. This information can be used for appealing your properties assessed value online. It also contains information regarding property tax exemptions qualifications. CookCountyAssessor.com


Exemptions

There will be some circumstances when exemptions will not automatically renew; when a property has been sold, if the property owner owns multiple properties, or if the property is held in trust. It is my understanding that the Cook County Assessor will be sending out a letter or post card to previously qualifying seniors regarding Senior Freeze Exemptions around mid-March. The exemption application window closed April 29, all exemptions must be filed as certificates of error.

Homeowner and Senior Exemptions once applied for, automatically renew. Homeowners who purchased and lived in their homes as of January 1, 2024 and homeowners who turned 65 in 2024 should be able to file for their Homeowner and Senior Exemptions around mid-March 2025.


Homeowners Exemption

Property must be owner occupied on January 1, of the year one claims the exemption.

You will need to have a State of Illinois issued ID or Driver's License issued in the previous year with your current home address.

If you do not have a State of Illinois ID or Driver's License with proper address and year, you may use a land line phone bill dated in the proper year or have an affidavit form stating knowledge of when you purchased and moved in.


Senior Citizen Exemption

Meet all Homeowner Exemption requirements and

Age requirement is 65 in the tax year. In other words, apply for this exemption in the year you turn 66 years.

This exemption will renew automatically on a yearly basis.


Senior Freeze Exemption

Meet all Senior Citizen Exemption requirements and be filed every year.

Property must have been owner occupied and used as the principal residence January 1st - December 31st.

The total household income must be less than $65,000. This includes all Social Security income received including Medicare benefits.

Household Income is calculated from the Income Tax Returns or, if you do not file income tax returns, with proof of income (pensions, Social Security, interest, dividends, unemployment, etc.)

Total household income includes all the income for everyone that lives in the home.


Disabled Persons Exemption

Meet all Homeowner Exemption requirements and

Homeowner must be disabled or become disabled during the tax year.

If you receive Social Security Disability. You must provide the award letter indicating the date the disability was granted for.

Have a completed PTAX-343-A form signed by your doctor to be approved by Cook County. This form is available in our office or online here.


Disabled Veteran and Returning Veteran Exemption

A property tax exemption for disabled veterans allows more disabled veteran's greater tax savings. All veterans who are designated as disabled are entitled to property tax savings. Veterans who are 70% or more disabled will be exempt from property tax up to $250,000 EVA.

Eligibility rules and tax savings: To qualify for the Disabled Veterans Exemption, a property must be owned and occupied by a disabled veteran or surviving spouse, and the veteran must have a disability that is connected to military service. The law requires that the service-connected disability be certified by the US Department of Veterans Affairs, which determines the extent of a veteran's disability.

The level of reduced property tax is dependent on the percentage of medically certified disability.


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