Buyer Resources
Most Illinois homeowners pay more in property taxes than they need to. These exemptions are available — but you have to apply. They're not automatic.
Illinois property tax exemptions reduce your assessed value, which directly lowers your tax bill. Here are the ones every homeowner should know about — and apply for.
Available to anyone who owns and occupies their primary residence. The most common exemption — and the one most homeowners forget to apply for. It does not happen automatically when you buy a home.
Eligibility: You own the property, it's your primary residence, and you lived there as of January 1st of the tax year.
Available to homeowners age 65 or older who own and occupy their primary residence. Stacks on top of the General Homeowner Exemption — qualifying seniors get both the $10,000 and $8,000 reduction.
Eligibility: Age 65+, own the property, primary residence, lived there as of January 1st.
Prevents your taxes from increasing due to rising property values by freezing the assessed value of your home. Combined with other senior exemptions, this provides significant protection against tax increases over time.
Eligibility: Age 65+, total household income below the annual threshold, own and occupy as primary residence.
A one-time exemption for veterans returning from active duty in an armed conflict. Available for the year you return home, in addition to the General Homeowner Exemption.
Eligibility: Illinois resident returning from active duty in an armed conflict involving U.S. armed forces.
Available to homeowners who are disabled and meet specific criteria. Stacks on top of the General Homeowner Exemption. Documentation required.
Eligibility: Must meet disability criteria as defined by the county assessor's office.
The big one most people miss. If you make improvements — kitchen remodel, finished basement, addition — up to $75,000 of that value will NOT increase your assessed value for four years. Huge for anyone planning renovations after purchase.
Eligibility: Improvements to a single-family residence that increase fair market value. Apply after improvements are complete.
If your property is assessed too high — and many are in Chicagoland — you have the right to appeal. A successful appeal can save you hundreds or thousands every year.
Look up your property on the Cook County Assessor's website (or your county's equivalent). Compare your assessed value to recent sales of similar homes nearby. If your assessment is significantly higher, you likely have grounds to appeal.
Find 3–5 recent sales of similar homes in your area that sold for less than your assessed value suggests. Same size, age, condition, and location. This is the same methodology I use for CMAs — and I can help you pull these comps.
Submit during the open filing period for your township. In Cook County, appeals are filed with the Cook County Assessor's Office online. Include your comparable sales data and any evidence of your property's condition.
Some appeals are resolved without a hearing based on submitted evidence. If a hearing is scheduled, present your comparable sales and make your case. Property tax attorneys often work on contingency — they only get paid if they save you money.
I help my clients evaluate whether an appeal makes sense and can provide comparable sales data to support the process. This is part of the value I bring — not just finding you a home, but helping you keep more money after you buy it.