Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios’ Office recently mailed nearly 300,000 Senior and Senior Freeze Exemption renewal applications for Tax Year 2017 to seniors who received the exemptions last year. The application deadline is Wednesday, February 7, and state law requires annual renewal in order to continue to receive exemption savings.
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 2017, a taxpayer must have:
• been born prior to or in the year 1952
• owned the property during 2017 or have a lease or contract for 2017 which makes them responsible for the real estate taxes
• used the property as his or her principal place of residence in 2017
To qualify for the Senior Freeze Exemption for Tax Year 2017, a taxpayer must have:
• been born prior to or in the year 1952
• a total household income of $65,000 or less for [income] Tax Year 2016
• owned the property or had a legal, equitable or leasehold interest in the property on January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017
• used the property as his or her principal place of residence as of January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017
• been liable for payment of 2016 and 2017 property taxes
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 web site 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 the Homeowner Exemption are also available online.
Source: Alderman Reilly Reports 1/13/18
