Real Estate Property Taxes in Illinois

Property Taxes in Illinois

We pay property taxes in arrears (i.e. 2009 taxes payable in 2010). The assessment on your tax bill that you are paying this year is based on a value determined on the 1st day of last year.

Your assessment is determined by the Township Assessor for the Township in which you live. By law it is 33-1/3 of the Fair Market Value of  the property. Your property value today may not be the same as its value from last year.

Illinois allows multiple taxing districts to request a portion of each years property tax revenue.

A Multiplier is figured in to your total tax. This is a math calculation designed to equalize values in a township and spread the property tax burden equitably.

You may quality for exemptions: (1) Homestead (owner occupied), (2) Senior, (3) Handicap, and (4) Improvement. There is also a Senior Assessment Freeze available annually for income qualified Seniors.

PROTESTS FOR WINNEBAGO COUNTY REAL ESTATE TAX ASSESSMENTS  NEED TO BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 30 days after publication of Township Assessment Changes. (For 2009 the submission date was no later than September 14th).

To protest you need to fill out a one page protest form IN TRIPLICATE (one copy for you) and submit it to the Supervisor of Assessments office, Room 301, county Administration Building, 404 Elm Street, Rockford, IL 61101. All support material must be submitted in duplicate.

You can use the argument of Market Valuation or Assessed Valuation.

Market Valuation is the "I am unable to sell my house today for what you say it is worth" argument. To support this you will need to provide examples of "good sales" of homes in your neighborhood that are very similar to your home. Sales data needs to be close to January 1st of last year . If you purchased and closed on a home in the tax year in question, bring in your closing statement. Another option is to have an appraisal done--the review board will usually defer to the appraisal.

Using the Assessed Valuation (Equity) argument, you are claiming that you have been unfairly assessed as compared to other homes in your neighborhood. Data for this will be contained on your Property Record Card and the Record for your neighbors whish is available from your Township Assessor and includes things like square footage, number of rooms, etc. You must remember to compare your home to like properties.

All support material must be submitted in duplicate.

If you have questions about the complaint procedures, email

Complaints filed by mail must be postmarked on or before the filing deadline date.