Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze "Senior Freeze"

Senior homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they are over 65 years of age and have a total household annual income of $65,000 or less in the 2021 calendar year. A "Senior Freeze" Exemption provides property tax savings by freezing the equalized assessed value (EAV) of an eligible property. This does not automatically freeze the amount of their tax bill, only the EAV remains at the fixed amount. Tax rates may change and thus alter a tax bill. The automatic renewal of this exemption due to COVID-19 has ended. Applicants must apply annually. 

NEW: The "Senior Freeze" has been renamed to the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze. 
State legislation now considers homeowners enrolled in the following programs to be eligible for the "Senior Freeze." Proof of enrollment is required, please read the instructions under the Eligibility section to learn more.

  • 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

Automatic Renewal: No, this exemption must be filed annually.  

How can a homeowner see which exemptions were applied to their home last year?
Check the Property Details, then review the Exemption History and Status section. 
📌 Reminder: Exemptions appear on your second installment tax bill issued in the summer. To learn more about how the property tax system works, click here.

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Apply for the Current 2022 Tax Year

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FILE ONLINE: The application filing period for the tax year 2022 is now open.     
The benefits of applying online are that homeowners can track their application, upload additional documents if needed, and Assessor staff can provide status updates. 

Apply Online   

Instructions   

Download a PDF in the following languages: 

English  Spanish  Polish  Chinese

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Missing Property Tax Exemptions? Homeowners can apply for Certificates of Error(s)

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If your home was eligible for the Senior Freeze Exemption in tax years 2021, 2020, 2019, or 2018 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. 

Certificate of Error applications for tax years 2021, 2020, 2019, or 2018 can be filed now by clicking the links below. As a reminder, it is recommended to apply online so that the application can be easily tracked and our representatives can provide status updates.

Apply Online

Download Form

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Eligibility

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  1. Must be born in 1957 or prior. 
  2. Have a total adjusted gross household income of no more than $65,000 for 2021.
  3. Either own the property, or have a legal, equitable, or leasehold interest in the property on January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022.
  4. Be liable for the payment of 2021 and 2022 property taxes. 
  5. Occupy the property as a principal place of residence on January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022. 

NEW: If an applicant was enrolled in any of the following programs in 2021, they may be eligible for the "Senior Freeze" Exemption. The applicant must provide proof of enrollment in 2021 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.

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Documentation Required to Apply 

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  1. Proof of age and identity and occupancy in 2022.  
  • 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 on or before January 1, 2022.
  • 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 2022 occupancy
    • Bank statement
    • Landline, cable, or internet bill
    • Pay stub or Social Security Award letter
    • Voting record from 2022 (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.

    4. If the applicant was enrolled in any of the following programs in 2021, proof of enrollment in 2021 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
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Frequently Asked Questions

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When do I apply for a Senior Freeze Exemption?
Annual applications are ordinarily required for Senior Freeze Exemption, however, renewal applications will not be required this year as the Illinois state legislature added one-year auto-renewals to support homeowners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Any eligible homeowner who received the Senior Freeze, Persons with Disabilities, or Veterans with Disabilities Exemptions in the 2020 tax year will have these exemptions automatically renewed in the 2021 tax year.

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 2022, 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, 2022, 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

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
•    Avoid these common application errors

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