Exemptions for Homeowners
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 returning applicants can apply online.
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.
The normal filing period has ended. Homeowners can now apply for a 2024 Certificate of Error.
📌 Reminder: Exemptions appear on your second installment tax bill issued later in the year. To learn more about how the property tax system works, 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 normal filing period has ended. Homeowners can now apply for a 2024 Certificate of Error.
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
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 has ended. Homeowners can now apply for a 2024 Certificate of Error.
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
“Senior Freeze” Exemption
Senior homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they are over 65 years of age and have a total household annual income of $65,000 or less in the 2023 calendar year. A “Senior Freeze” Exemption provides property tax savings by freezing the equalized assessed value (EAV) of an eligible property. This does not automatically freeze the amount of their tax bill, only the EAV remains at the fixed amount. Tax rates may change and thus alter a tax bill.
State legislation now considers homeowners enrolled in the following programs to be eligible for the “Senior Freeze.” Proof of enrollment is required, please read the instructions under the Eligibility section to learn more.
- Aid to the Aged, Blind or Disabled (AABD) Program
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- The Benefit Access Program
- Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program
Automatic Renewal: No, this exemption must be filed annually.
Due Date: The normal filing period has ended. Homeowners can now apply for a 2024 Certificate of Error.
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Persons with Disabilities Exemption
A Person with Disabilities Exemption is for persons with disabilities and provides an annual $2,000 reduction in the equalized assessed value (EAV) of the property.
NEW: Due to new state legislation, those who received the Persons with Disability Exemption last year will be automatically renewed going forward. New applicants will need to complete an application.
Automatic Renewal: Yes, this exemption will automatically renew due to new state legislation.
Due Date: The normal filing period has ended. Homeowners can now apply for a 2024 Certificate of Error.
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Veterans with Disabilities Exemption
This Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities is for veterans with a service-connected disability as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption reduces certain amounts of the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) on the primary residence of a veteran with a disability, very likely lowering the tax bill. The amounts of those EAV deductions depend on the level of disability. Veterans 70% or more disabled receive an EAV reduction of $250,000, and because of this can be totally exempt from property taxes on their home. Click here to learn more about eligibility and the documents required to apply for the veterans with disabilities exemption.
Automatic Renewal: No, this exemption must be filed annually
Due Date: The normal filing period has ended. Homeowners can now apply for a 2024 Certificate of Error.
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Beginning in tax year 2024, legislation expands the Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities (SHEVD) exemption to a qualified residence that is used by a veteran who was a member of the United States Armed Forces during World War II regardless of their level of disability rating. If the veteran qualifies under the World War II provisions, they do not need to fill out an annual reapplication/renewal form.
The term “World War II” means the period beginning on December 7, 1941, and ending on December 31, 1946. If any of the veteran’s service was performed during this time frame, then the veteran is considered a World War II veteran for purposes of this property tax savings.
Automatic Renewal: Yes, this exemption automatically renews every year.
Due Date: The normal filing period has ended. Homeowners can now apply for a 2024 Certificate of Error.
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Returning Veterans Exemption
A Returning Veterans Exemption is for veterans returning from active duty in armed conflict. They are eligible to receive a $5,000 reduction in the equalized assessed value of their property only for each taxable year in which they return. This exemption must be filed annually. Click here to learn more about eligibility and the documents required to apply for the returning veterans exemption.
Automatic Renewal: No, this exemption must be filed annually.
Due Date: The normal filing period has ended. Homeowners can now apply for a 2024 Certificate of Error.
Missing Exemptions: Can be filed for tax years 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Long-Time Homeowner Exemption
In addition to the Homeowner Exemption, some property owners may be eligible for the Longtime Homeowner Exemption which grants additional savings. Very few homeowners qualify for this exemption because of strict eligibility requirements outlined in the Illinois Property Tax Code. Approximately 11,000 properties in Cook County qualified for this exemption last year; fewer than 2% of homeowners.
To understand how the exemption works, look under the eligibility tab. To read the state property tax code click here: www.ilga.gov/legislation.
The Cook County Assessor’s Office determines which properties qualify based on assessment increases. These properties were mailed an application in April 2024.
Automatic Renewal: No, this exemption must be filed annually.
Due Date: The normal filing period has ended. Homeowners can now apply for a 2024 Certificate of Error.
Home Improvement Exemption
The Home Improvement Exemption allows a homeowner 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.
No application is required. When the Cook County Assessor’s Office receives building permits, our staff conduct a field check of the improvement. After this is complete, if this property is deemed eligible for the exemption, we send a notice to the property owner and apply the exemption.
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.
Eligibility
The home must meet the following conditions:
• Be occupied by the owner as their primary place of residence
• Be a class 2 residence
* 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.