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Residential
Properties
Filing a Residential
Property Assessment Appeal
What
In Cook County, your Class 2 residential
property is assessed at 16 percent of its estimated
property value. The estimated property value is
determined by analyzing sales information of similar
homes in your area. For example, an estimated
property value of $100,000 would calculate to an
assessed valuation of $16,000. Class 2 properties
include detached single-family houses, townhomes,
condominiums, cooperatives, and multi-family
residential buildings with no more than six dwelling
units. (Separate instructions are available for
condominiums and cooperatives.)
Keep in mind, the Assessor does not calculate
taxes. Local governments, such as municipalities and
school districts, determine the overall amount of
real estate taxes collected in your community. It is
important that your assessed valuation be accurate
and fair, as it does play a role in determining your
share of those taxes.
When
You will receive a
"Notice of Proposed
Assessed Valuation"
in the mail when the Assessor's Office reassesses
your home every three years. This notice includes
our estimate of the proposed property value and the
proposed assessed valuation. The notice also
includes a list of characteristics that are relevant
to your home's property value.
Once you have received your "Notice of Proposed
Assessed Valuation", you have approximately 30
calendar days to file an appeal with our office. The
last date to file an appeal is printed on the top of
your notice. You may also appeal your assessed
valuation in any year between reassessments.
To determine the filing period for your township,
click here.
How
To file an appeal online,
click here. If you cannot file an appeal
online, prefer to visit one of our offices, or want
to mail your appeal, you must use an official "Real
Estate Assessed Valuation Appeal" form to file your
appeal. Please submit one copy to us and keep
another copy for your files. You do not need
a lawyer, tax representative or appraiser to file an
appeal on the assessed valuation of your home.
However, if your valuation appeal is filed by your
authorized representative, an "Owner/Lessee
Verification Form" must be completed, notarized and
filed along with the appeal form.
Three common grounds for appeals are listed below:
Uniformity Appeal:
If you are concerned that the assessed
valuation of your home is not in line with the
assessed valuations of other homes, compare your
property to similar homes. This comparison will tell
you if you have reason to file a uniformity appeal.
There are two
ways to do this:
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Simply fill out the appeal form, indicating that the purpose of the
appeal is "lack of uniformity". You do not need to research
and find your own comparable properties in order to file an appeal
with our office. Our analysts will check properties comparable to
yours to determine if your assessed value is in line with the
assessed values of those properties.
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If you wish to review our information yourself and include your own
list of comparable properties with your appeal, here are guidelines
to follow:
For your convenience, all residential
assessments will be published in a local community
newspaper a few days after you receive your reassessment notice.
The name of the newspaper and date of publication
are indicated on your notice. The assessment listing
will also be available at your local library.
When choosing comparable properties, select
homes within your neighborhood code that closely
resemble your own home in both size and style. If
the Permanent Index Numbers (PINs) are not known,
the Assessor's staff will assist you in obtaining
this information. You may also use the Residential
Data Books located in all of our offices to check if
the comparable assessed values are in line with your
assessment. If the assessed value of the comparable
properties that you have chosen are lower than your
assessed value, you may have reason to file an
appeal.
You may also find the
assessed values of comparable properties by visiting
the Assessor's Website Property search. Pictures of
nearly every Cook County Property may also be found
there.
Write the PINs that you have found to be
comparable on the appeal form that you file. Our
analysts will use your information, along with our
office data, to determine if the assessed value of
your home is in line with the assessed values of
comparable properties.
Overvaluation Appeal:
You may also wish to file an appeal if you believe our estimate of
the property value is overvalued for any reason. You
are encouraged to submit supporting documentation,
such as recent closing statements or purchase prices
of homes similar to yours, along with your appeal.
Property Description Error Appeal:
Finally, if there is an error in the description of your property,
such as incorrect square footage of living area or
an error that you believe may affect property value,
you may wish to file an appeal. However, a minor
error does not necessarily indicate an incorrect
assessment.
Where
To file an appeal now,
click here. You may also file an appeal at
any of the offices listed below or you may
request that an appeal form to be mailed to
you. Experienced personnel are available at all of
our offices to help you in filing your appeal.
Please have your "Notice of Proposed Assessed
Valuation" handy because it contains important
information.
After
After your appeal is filed, the Assessor's Office will analyze your
information and notify you by letter of the result
of your appeal.
To make sure you receive the best service possible, a Taxpayer
Advocate is available to review your appeal
results and answer any questions you may have. The
Taxpayer's Advocate is located in the main office of
the Cook County Assessor. The Taxpayer Advocate's
telephone number is 312-603-7530. If you wish to
further pursue the appeal of your assessment, you
may also file an appeal with the Cook County Board
of Review (312-603-5542).
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Additional
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