Low-Income Senior Freeze Exemption

If your home was eligible for the Homeowner Exemption for past tax years including 2023, 2022, 2021 & 2020 and the exemption was not applied to your property tax bill, the Assessor’s Office can help you obtain a refund through what is called a Certificate of Error. 

Apply online for tax years 2023, 2022, 2021 & 2020.
Apply Online

Download the paper form for tax years 2023 through 2020. 
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Paper forms can be mailed to: 118 North Clark St., Room 320, Chicago, IL 60602

1. Must be born in 1959 or prior. 
2. Have a total adjusted gross household income of no more than $65,000 for 2023.
3. Either own the property, or have a legal, equitable, or leasehold interest in the property on January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024.
4. Be liable for the payment of 2023 and 2024 property taxes. 
5. Occupy the property as a principal place of residence on January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024. 

Deceased homeowner: If a homeowner passes away, a spouse or child of the deceased may be eligible to receive the exemption. As long as the owner was alive and resided in the home on January 1, 2024, and used the home as their principal place of residence, the property would be eligible. Please see the FAQ section for more information and additional forms that need to be completed. 

Note: If an applicant was enrolled in any of the following programs in 2023, the applicant must provide proof of enrollment in 2023 and they do not need to fill out the income verification portion of the application.

• 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

Please Note: The Senior Freeze Exemption freezes the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of a home. A property's total tax bill depends on the EAV and the tax rate. Because the tax rate is calculated each year and can change each year, so can the property tax bill. It is important to note that the exemption amount is not the dollar amount by which a tax bill is lowered. EAV is the partial value of a property to which tax rates are applied; it is this figure on which a tax bill is calculated. The Assessor does not set tax rates.

1. Proof of age and identity and occupancy in 2024.  

• A copy of one photo ID from List A must be provided along with an Occupancy Affidavit (the affidavit is provided within the online application).  The name and property address must match the application and the date of issue must verify that you occupied this property in 2024.

• List A: Photo IDs that verify identity and occupancy • Illinois Drivers License / ID Card • Matrícula Consular ID • City of Chicago ID Card

         If the address on your photo ID does not match the property address, include a copy of one document from List B and one from List C, and an Occupancy Affidavit. 

• List B: Photo IDs that verify identity and date of birth • Illinois Drivers License / ID Card • Matrícula Consular ID • City of Chicago ID Card • Passport • Certificate of Naturalization (N-550/N-570) • Permanent Resident Card (I-551) • Refugee Travel Document (I-571) • Employment Authorization Card (I-766)

  List C: Documents that verify 2024 occupancy • Bank statement • Landline, cable, or internet bill • Pay stub or Social Security Award letter • Voting record from 2024 (from Cook County Clerk’s office or Chicago Board of Elections)

     2. Proof of Property Tax Liability

• If you are listed on the deed recorded at the Cook County Clerk's Office, this verifies your property tax liability. The Assessor’s Office staff can verify recorded deeds for you, so you do not need to provide a document.
   
• If you are NOT listed on the recorded deed, please provide one of the following documents to verify you are liable for payment of property taxes for this property:
  • Deed (if not recorded) or contract for a deed 
  • Lease
  • Trust Agreement
  • Stock Certificate
  • Occupancy Agreement

      3. Total Household Income Verification

• The application will guide you through what counts as income for every member of the household. You can also view these Step-by-Step Instructions for Income Verification. 

  4. If the applicant was enrolled in any of the following programs in 2023, proof of enrollment in 2023 is needed. In this instance, the Income Verification doesn't need to be completed.

• 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

When do I apply for a Senior Freeze Exemption?
Senior homeowners must apply for the Senior Freeze Exemption every year during the normal filing period in spring. 

Are there other property tax savings available to seniors?
The Cook County Assessor's Office also administers the Senior Exemption.
The Cook County Treasurer's Office offers a Senior Citizen's Tax Deferral program, please contact their office at (312) 443-5100. 

My parent passed away in 2024, is the property still eligible for the Senior Exemption?
Yes, as long as your parent was alive and resided in the home on January 1, 2024, and used the home as their principal place of residence, the property would be eligible. Follow the instructions listed below. Follow the instructions below. 

1. Sign your parent’s name on the application and in parentheses write deceased and underneath it write your name and in parenthesis write son/daughter,
2. Complete an Affidavit of Person Claiming Senior Citizens Freeze Exemption Due to a Deceased Taxpayer form.
3. Provide a copy of the death certificate.
4. Submit a copy of their driver’s license or state ID along with a copy of your driver’s license or state ID.
5. Provide letters of office, successor trustee paperwork, or power of attorney paperwork, if applicable.

I am no longer eligible for the Senior Freeze Exemption, how do I opt out? 
Please complete the Exemption Removal Waiver. For more information on how to remove an exemption visit, www.cookcountyassessor.com/erroneous-exemptions. 

How do I apply for prior tax years? 
If you were eligible for the exemption in a prior Tax Year but the exemption was not on your bill, you can apply for a refund or corrected bill by filing for a certificate of error. Learn more here.
•    A complete application requires supporting documents (listed above) and your home's PIN. How do I find my PIN?