Cook County Property Tax Exemptions Explained
Property Tax Exemptions
Property tax exemptions are savings that contribute to lowering a homeowner’s property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, which saves a Cook County property owner an average of $973 dollars each year. Read about each exemption below.
Many exemptions were automatically renewed this year due to COVID-19. Homeowners can review their Property Details, then review the Exemption History and Status section to determine which exemptions they received. New homeowners and those that need to reapply can do so by completing the online application.
If exemptions are missing from the 2021 Second Installment Tax Bill, a Certificate of Error applicaiton can be filed to correct the tax bill. Click on the individual exemption below to learn how to file.
Please Note: Exemption deductions only appear on the Second Installment Property Tax Bill.
Homeowner Exemption
Most homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they own and occupy the property as their principal place of residence. Once this exemption is applied, the Assessor’s Office auto-renews it for you each year. This exemption provides savings by reducing the equalized assessed value of an eligible property.
Automatic Renewal: Yes, this exemption automatically renews each year.
Due Date: The normal filing period opens in the Spring of 2023
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018
Senior Exemption
Most senior homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they are 65 years of age or older and own and occupy their property as their principal place of residence. Once this exemption is applied, the Assessor’s Office automatically renews it for you each year. A Senior Exemption provides property tax savings by reducing the equalized assessed value of an eligible property.
Automatic Renewal: Yes, this exemption automatically renews each year.
Due Date: The normal filing period opens in the Spring of 2023
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018
“Senior Freeze” Exemption
Most homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they meet the requirements for the Senior Exemption and have a total household annual income of $65,000 or less in the calendar year 2020. This exemption provides significant savings by "freezing" the equalized assessed value of an eligible property.
Automatic Renewal: This exemption was automatically renewed for the 2021 tax year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due Date: The normal filing period opens in the Spring of 2023
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018
Persons with Disabilities Exemption
Homeowners eligible for this exemption this year must be disabled or become disabled during the 2021 tax year. This exemption provides property tax savings with an annual reduction in the equalized assessed value of a property. Click the button below to learn more about eligibility and the documents required to apply.
Automatic Renewal: This exemption was automatically renewed for the 2021 tax year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due Date: The normal filing period opens in the Spring of 2023
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018
Returning Veterans Exemption
Provides veterans returning from active duty in armed conflict with a reduction in the equalized assessed value of their property – for each taxable year in which they return. This exemption must be filed annually. Click the button below to learn more about eligibility and the documents required to apply.
Automatic Renewal: No, this exemption must be filed annually.
Due Date: The normal filing period opens in the Spring of 2023
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018
Veterans with Disabilities Exemption
Provides veterans with a service-connected disability as certified by the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs with a reduction in the equalized assessed value (EAV) of their property. The amounts of those EAV deductions depend on the level of disability. Click the button below to learn more about eligibility and the documents required to apply.
Automatic Renewal: This exemption was automatically renewed for the 2021 tax year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due Date: The normal filing period opens in the Spring of 2023
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018
Long-Time Homeowner Exemption
Only 2% of homeowners in Cook County qualify for this exemption. This exemption provides homeowners with an expanded Homeowner Exemption with no maximum exemption amount. In addition to meeting income and residency requirements, applicants must also have a significant assessment increase that exceeds the maximum amounts set by the state legislature. Applications will be mailed directly to potentially eligible homeowners.
Automatic Renewal: No, this exemption must be filed annually.
Due Date: Applications will be mailed to potentially eligible homeowners in the Spring of 2023.
Home Improvement Exemption
Allows homeowners to add improvements to their home that add to its value (for example, by increasing the building’s square footage, or repairing after structural flood damage) without being taxed on up to $75,000 of the added value for up to four years.
Automatic Renewal: Yes. This exemption lasts up to four years.
Application Due Date: No application is required. Our office automatically applies this exemption to eligible properties.
*Please Note: Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) is not the amount of your taxes. The EAV is the taxed value of the property. A reduction in EAV is not the dollar amount of reduction of a tax bill. Each property's tax bill is affected by its EAV and its local tax rate that year.
If an exemption(s) was not applied to the 2021 Second Installment Property Tax Bill, homeowners may be able to apply for a refund through the Certificate of Error process. The Certificate of Error process allows homeowners to redeem missing exemptions. Homeowners can now file for past exemptions for tax years 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018.
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