Application deadline is February 6, 2019
information provided by the Cook County Assessor’s Office
CHICAGO, Ill. (January 8, 2019) – Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced that his office has mailed Senior and Senior Freeze Exemption renewal applications for tax year 2018. Over 300,000 applications were mailed to seniors who received the exemptions last year. The application deadline is February 6, 2019, and annual renewal is required.
The senior exemption application is part of a booklet sent to eligible seniors. The booklet also contains the separate, income-based Senior Freeze Exemption application.
To qualify for the Senior Citizen Exemption for tax year 2018, taxpayers must have:
- been born prior to or in the year 1953
- a total household income of $65,000 or less for [income] tax year 2017
- owned the property or had a legal, equitable or leasehold interest in the property on January 1, 2017, and January 1, 2018
- used the property as their principal place of residence as of January 1, 2017, and January 1, 2018
- been liable for payment of 2017 and 2018 property taxes
Beginning last year, the law expanded eligibility for the Senior Freeze Exemption by increasing allowable total household income to $65,000, from the previous limit of $55,000. There is also a new minimum $2,000 EAV deduction for the Senior Freeze, which will help offset increases in assessed value and help ensure that more seniors benefit from the Senior Exemption.
“If you don’t qualify for the Senior Freeze Exemption because you exceed the income level, this does not mean you will not be eligible for the standard Senior Exemption,” Assessor Kaegi explained. “The Senior Exemption has no income restrictions and it is important for those seniors who are eligible to apply.”
Seniors receiving the Senior Citizen Exemption automatically receive the Homeowner Exemption. Seniors receiving the Senior Freeze Exemption automatically receive both the Homeowner and Senior Citizen Exemptions.
Eligible seniors who have never applied for the Senior and/or Senior Freeze Exemptions in the past may visit the Assessor’s website at www.cookcountyassessor.com and download an application or contact the Assessor’s Office at 312-443-7550 and request a form be mailed to them.
Applications for additional exemptions administered by the Assessor’s Office will be available within the next several weeks.
“Our office will work throughout the year to reach Cook County seniors through our community outreach programs and help them seniors with the exemption application process,” Assessor Kaegi said. We will also be working hard to bring more fairness, ethics and transparency to the property tax assessment system.”
