If you own property, you know that property taxes tend to go up over time. One of the reasons is that the assessed value of your property fluctuates based on the county’s assessment data. As your assessed value goes up, so do your taxes. Residential property taxes can eventually price you out of a neighborhood, so it is important to pay attention to how and when they change.
When your property’s value is reassessed, you will be notified by the county assessor. If you want to challenge the assessed value, then you have a specific window of time to do so. It’s possible to do it on your own, but many people choose to have a residential property tax appeal lawyer assist them.
In this article, we cover the following questions about appealing your property taxes in Cook County:
- Why Did My Assessed Value Go Up?
- When Can I Challenge My Assessment In Cook County?
- How Do I Challenge My Assessment in Cook County?
- What Do I Do If My Challenge Is Denied?
- Why Should I Challenge My Assessment In Cook County?
Why Did My Assessed Value Go Up?
When the county assessor reevaluates your property, the value of similar, neighboring properties often comes into play. The total value is based on several elements such as the assessed value of the house itself and the land that it sits on. Sometimes the assessor gets it wrong. For some reason, some properties just get assessed at values that are too high. That’s why there’s an appeals process. Making sure that you’re paying your fair share is just good sense.
When Can I Challenge My Assessment In Cook County?
You can challenge your property assessment the year it is reassessed. You can also challenge it in years that your township is open for challenges. The county publishes its calendar of dates and deadlines here.
How Do I Challenge My Assessment in Cook County?
Cook County has its own unique process for challenging the assessed value of your property. In every county, you need to present evidence that demonstrates your property’s value is over-assessed. Cook County provides you with a property lookup tool that helps you find comparable properties. The viewer allows you to set various filters to refine your search. It is available here.
In Cook County, all appeals are submitted online. The online form can be accessed via this page. If you want a property tax attorney to file for you, then you have to fill out the county’s authorization form. You must use the county form—modifying it is generally not allowed.
Once your appeal is submitted, you wait for a determination. After the county’s analysts look over your application, they send a letter informing you of their decision.
If you are a disabled veteran living in Illinois, there are new property tax exemptions in place to help you. Learn more about these property tax exemptions for Illinois veterans here.
What Do I Do If My Challenge Is Denied?
If the county board denies your challenge, then you can proceed to the state’s Property Tax Appeal Board. The Board is made of five members that evaluate what was presented to the county. Based on the preponderance of the evidence before them, the Board’s members will decide whether the property was unequally assessed.
Why Should I Challenge My Assessment In Cook County?
Assessing property value is not exact. Mistakes are made. Ultimately, you want to be sure that you’re paying your fair share. There is no downside to challenging your assessment—it can only be denied. As property tax rates increase, keeping your assessed value low is key to minimizing your tax burden. You plan to live in your residence long-term. Make sure that your tax burden is sustainable long-term.
O’Flaherty Law understands the complex process of challenging your residential property tax assessment in Cook County. Our residential property tax lawyers are prepared to assist you with seeking a reduction in your property’s assessed value.
Call our office at (630) 324-6666, email info@flaherty-law.com, or schedule a consultation with one of our experienced lawyers today. You can also fill out our confidential contact form and we will get back to you shortly.
.avif)
.svg){kind=small}
