As Cook County 2nd Installment bills have yet to be mailed, property taxpayers are urged to pre-file appeals with the Cook County Board of Review
In a combined press conference (view below), the Cook County Board of Review Commissioners urged taxpayers not to wait to file an appeal at the Cook County Board of Review. As the mailing date of the 2024 2nd installment bill is yet to be announced, taxpayers should pre-file with the Board of Review so that they don’t miss an opportunity to lower their taxes.
It is important to note that nine townships have already closed for appeals this session and are no longer eligible to pre-file. These include Berwyn, Evanston, Norwood Park, River Forest, Riverside, Rogers Park, Cicero, Oak Park, and Palos.
“Taxpayers need assistance now more than ever with their assessments and relief mechanisms to protect against skyrocketing tax bills,” noted Board of Review District 3 Commissioner Larry R. Rogers, Jr. “We are committed to ensuring the appeals process is efficient and accessible to all property taxpayers”.
In addition, Board of Review Commissioner District 2 Samantha Steele commented, “Now is the time for property owners to take charge and file an appeal with the Board of Review to ensure their property assessment is fair and accurate. My team and I are here to help you file with confidence and make informed decisions.”
Also, Board of Review District 1 Commissioner George Cardenas said, “In 2024, many Chicago property owners received notice from the Cook County Assessor’s Office that the taxable values of their properties dramatically increased. Low-income residential properties as well as small businesses will experience sticker-shock when they open their 2024 tax bills, usually payable within a month of mailing.”
An issue of concern to the Board of Review is that commercial properties and those in upper income neighborhoods have a higher rate of appeals than taxpayers in low-income neighborhoods. For Tax Year 2024, the Board of Review engaged in 160 neighborhood property tax appeal outreaches to better educate taxpayers about property taxes and directly accept appeals from them. This press conference aims to build on those efforts by educating and engaging with taxpayers in areas where appeal activity has traditionally been low.
Taxpayers are encouraged to file an appeal on the Cook County Board of Review’s website, CookCountyBoardofReview.com or by calling (312) 603-5542.