YOUR TAXPAYER ADVOCATES
1616 N. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS RD
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL 60004
(847) 259-1515
SENIORS MUST APPLY FOR THE SENIOR FREEZE EXEMPTION; MOST OTHER PROPERTY TAX
EXEMPTIONS RENEWED AUTOMATICALLY
Annual renewal applications for the senior freeze, one of two property tax exemptions for homeowners who are at least sixty-five years old, were mailed in early March and should be filed by April 5. Savings from the Freeze and other tax exemptions will appear on the second installment of 2023 tax bills, which will be mailed in the summer or fall of 2024. Our office can assist you with completion and filing of the Freeze and all other exemptions.
The Freeze must be renewed annually because eligibility is based on income, which can vary from year to year.
Because of income requirements, some seniors will not be eligible for the Senior Freeze. But all senior homeowners should be eligible for the Senior Citizens Exemption. Eligibility requirements for these exemptions are below:
- The Senior Citizen Exemption, available to all seniors regardless of income, reduces Wheeling Township property taxes by about $1,000. It is available for residential properties if an owner lived in the property in2023 and was born in 1958 or earlier. If the property received the Senior Exemption last year, it should be automatically renewed unless the property was recently sold.
- The Senior Freeze provides additional savings if the combined income of all members of the senior's household is $65,000 or less, and if the senior has been an owner-occupant of the property since January 1, 2022. Seniors should complete and file the Freeze application by April 5.
New Senior Citizens. Homeowners who were born in1958 turned sixty-five in 2023, and thus are likely to be eligible for the senior exemption for the first time. Taxpayers who recently turned sixty-five may not receive senior application forms in the mail so feel free to call our office for information and assistance.
Other Exemptions. The Homeowners Exemption, available to all owner- occupied homes regardless of the owner's age, will be automatically renewed for those who received it last year, all those who purchased their homes in 2022 will have to apply this year for 2023 Homeowner Exemption and any other exemptions for which they may qualify.
Please feel free to call our office for any assistance or questions. 847 259 1515
SENIOR CITIZENS SEEKING TAX RELIEF CAN DEFER UP TO $7,500 IN PROPERTY TAXES.
Senior citizens sixty-five years of age or older who are struggling with property taxes can defer payment of their taxes until their homes or condominiums are sold. The Senior Citizen Tax Deferral Program allows seniors to defer as much as $7,500 of their property tax bill every year. In prior years, the maximum amount that could be deferred was $5,000.
- To qualify for the deferral program, seniors must have annual income of less than $65,000, have equity in their homes that exceeds the sum of property taxes deferred, and have lived in their homes for at least three years. Two-flats and other properties that generate rental income are not eligible for the program. Properties held in a trust are also ineligible, although there are some exceptions to this rule. Applications must be submitted by March 1, 2024.
- The tax deferral program is essentially a loan from the state that is charged simple interest. The annual interest rate used to be 6% per year, but the rate has been reduced to 3% for new deferrals taken out this year.
- To assure repayment of the deferral loan when the property is sold, a lien is placed on the senior's home.
- There are some circumstances, however, where senior citizens might not want a lien on their homes. Seniors uncertain about whether to apply can speak with our office, but should also consider discussing the matter with legal advisors, financial advisors or family members.
- All taxpayers interested in the deferral program should also apply for other tax benefits available to senior citizens. If you are eligible for the deferral, you should also be eligible for the Senior Freeze and the Senior exemption. By applying for the other senior benefits, you will reduce your property tax liability, which may reduce the deferred tax that will eventually be repaid
- Senior with additional questions should call our office, 847 259 1515.
Township Office
1616 N. Arlington Heights Rd.
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004
Feel free to contact our Township Assessor office for any further information, we will be happy to assist you with your filing. If you are filing for the senior freeze with our office please bring in your Federal 1040 from 2021 to assist with your filing.
ABOUT WHO DOES WHAT...
The Cook County Assessor is required by law to identify and assign fair market value to all properties in Cook County. The Cook County Assessor does NOT set taxes, mail bills, or collect taxes. The Cook County Assessor is responsible only for determining the value of property, thereby establishing your assessed valuation.
The Wheeling Township Assessor does not assess property but rather is a taxpayer advocate, assisting taxpayers with appeals as well as the navigation of the property tax system.
The Wheeling Township Assessor is a separately elected official who works for the taxpayer and assists the Cook County Assessor. Our office is not funded or controlled by the Cook County Assessor's office.
Our staff has many years of experience serving taxpayers in Wheeling Township and welcomes the opportunity to serve you.
SERVICES PROVIDED BY OUR OFFICE
- Assistance with the filing of Assessment Appeals through the Cook County Assessor's office and Cook County Board of Review.
- Application for and verification of Senior Freeze, Senior Exemption, Homeowners exemption, Disabled Veteran's and Disabled Person's Exemptions.
- Assistance with filing for Real Estate Tax Refunds (Certificates of Error).
- Provide property index numbers (PIN) as required by local municipal variance applications.
- Information and Assistance with the following Cook County Agencies: Cook County Assessor, Cook County Board of Review, Cook County Treasurer, and Cook County Recorder of Deeds/Cook County Clerk.
- Assistance with name and address changes for the Cook County Treasurer's office and Property Location changes for the Cook County Assessor's office.
- Processing of Building Permits and Certificates of Occupancy with the Cook County Assessor for entry on tax rolls.
- Maintain current Real Estate Sales Transfer Declarations
- Free notarization for property related forms.
- Provide forms for division and consolidation applications.
EXEMPTIONS
Exemptions reduce the equalized assessed value (EAV), of a property. Deductions will appear on the second installment bills issued in the summer.
HOMEOWNER'S EXEMPTION
The homeowner exemption is $10,000 off of the EAV or 10,000x the local tax rate.
SENIOR EXEMPTIONS
Seniors who currently receive the SENIOR EXEMPTION need not reapply, the exemption will automatically renew annually. Two senior exemptions are available.
- The SENIOR EXEMPTION, available to all seniors regardless of income, reduces the Equalized Assessed Value on your 2nd installment bill by $8,000. That can equate to a savings of $700 or more annually on the property tax bill. This exemption automatically renews unless a sale or death is recorded.
- The SENIOR FREEZE may provide some seniors with additional savings if the combined gross income of all occupants in a senior's household is less than $65,000 (for income of previous tax year), and if the senior has been an owner-occupant of the house since January 1st. The senior freeze does not freeze the total amount due each year, it freezes the total assessed value. The taxable amount is still subject to the annual state equalizer and local tax rate changes.
Exemptions can only be taken on one property, and that must be the owner's principal residence. One senior/senior freeze exemption per household is permitted.
DISABLED VETERAN EXEMPTION
Veterans with 30%-49% service connected disability receive $2,500 reduction in the equalized assessed value.
Veterans with 50%-69% service connected disability receive $5,000 reduction in the EAV.
Veterans with 70% or more service connected disability are completely exempt from property taxation on their primary residence up to an EAV of $250,000.
DISABLED PERSON
The Disabled Person's Homeowner Exemption provides an annual $2,000 reduction in the EAV of the property. The property must have been owned and occupied on January 1 of the assessment year by a disabled person who is liable for the payment of property taxes.
COOK COUNTY TREASURER NAME AND ADDRESS CHANGES
Property owners should use to www.cookcountytreasurer.com update the name or mailing address on their tax bills. To help homeowners who have mail delivery problems, the site also shows when tax bills have been returned by the U.S. Postal Service.
HELPFUL LINKS
www.cookcountypropertyinfo.com
This site provides an overview of property tax information for any property within Cook County and serves as a portal into related sites.
This site provides information about the Cook County Assessor's office, which is responsible for assessing all property in the county. You can use this site to look up the assessment and characteristics of your property which can be used for appeals and the Assessor and Board of Review.
www.cookcountyboardofreview.com
This site will tell you how to file an assessment appeal at the Board of Review.
This website allows you to check status of your property tax bill, download a duplicate copy, and pay online. Information is also available on name and address changes, refunds, exemption and tax dates.
Find information on redemption of delinquent property taxes that have been sold. Learn how the Clerk's office calculates tax rates based on tax levies. This site will also give you information on how to get legal descriptions of parcels and copies of tax maps.
The Cook County Clerk has assumed all operations and duties of Recorder of Deeds. Property recordings and deed searches can be found at the above website.
The State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) site will provide information on how to file an assessment appeal at PTAB. Be advised that you may only file an appeal at PTAB if you have previously filed an appeal at the Cook County Board of Review for the tax year in question.
Our staff of Neighbors stands ready to assist you with any real estate property tax related issues, stop in or call us any time Monday through Friday from 9-4:30.
At Your Service,
Ken Jochum CIAO, Township Assessor kjochum@wheelingtownship.com
Julia Lipka CIAO, Chief Deputy Assessor