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 approximately $950 dollars each year. Read about each exemption below.
To determine which exemptions are currently being applied to a residence, homeowners can review their Property Details, and then review the Exemption History and Status section to determine which exemptions they received.
New homeowners and those who need to reapply can do so by completing the online application.
If a homeowner believes they are entitled to exemptions in previous tax years, a Certificate of Error application can be filed to redeem past savings. Click on the individual exemption below to learn how to file.
If you are missing an exemption on your second installment property tax bill, you can apply online for a Certificate of Error beginning Monday, July 1, 2024. Property tax bills will be mailed next week, be sure to check your exemption savings listed on the bottom left corner of the bill. For more information about this process click here.
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 deadline to file is closed, however homeowners can file for a Certificate of Error to correct past tax bills.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
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 deadline to file is closed, however homeowners can file for a Certificate of Error to correct past tax bills.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Exemption "Senior Freeze"
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 2022. This exemption provides significant savings by "freezing" the equalized assessed value of an eligible property.
Automatic Renewal: No, this exemption must be filed annually.
Due Date: The deadline to file is closed, however homeowners can file for a Certificate of Error to correct past tax bills.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
Persons with Disabilities Exemption
Homeowners eligible for this exemption this year must be disabled or become disabled during the 2023 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: Yes, this exemption will automatically renew due to new state legislation.
Due Date: The deadline to file is closed, however homeowners can file for a Certificate of Error to correct past tax bills.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
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 deadline to file is closed, however homeowners can file for a Certificate of Error to correct past tax bills.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
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: No, this exemption must be filed annually.
Due Date: The deadline to file is closed, however homeowners can file for a Certificate of Error to correct past tax bills.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
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: The deadline to file is closed, however homeowners can file for a Certificate of Error to correct past tax bills.
Missing Exemptions: Redeem savings for tax years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
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 reduction on the tax bill. Each property's tax bill is affected by its EAV and its local tax rate that year.
Missing exemptions from prior tax years?
If an exemption(s) was not applied to the 2023 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 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, and 2019.
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