Assessor Joseph Berrios talks about the phasing out of the 7% tax cap and his legislative initiatives in Springfield.

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February 22, 2012		Department of Communications
		For Taxpayer Assistance call:	312-443-7550

Berrios Urges Seniors to Check Their Mailboxes

Senior Exemption Applications to hit the mail this week

 

CHICAGO – Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios announced Wednesday that Senior Exemption applications will be arriving in the mailboxes this week at the homes of more than 270,000 senior citizens.

 

“Seniors must be sure to reapply for their annual Senior Exemption,” Berrios said. “Anyone who has received this exemption in the past must re-apply or risk losing savings from both the Senior and Homeowner Exemptions.”

 

The Senior Exemption application also includes the income-based Senior Freeze application. This year, any homeowner born prior to, or in the year 1946, is eligible to apply.

 

Although annual renewal has always been required for the Senior Freeze Exemption, Illinois law now requires seniors to re-apply annually for the Senior Citizen Exemption. The law went into effect last year.

 

“It’s critical that all seniors are aware that they are required to reapply every year in order to continue to receive the Senior Citizen Exemption,” Assessor Berrios said. “I will continue to work with the General Assembly to get this law overturned or amended.”

 

The Senior Citizen Exemption provides tax relief by reducing the equalized assessed valuation of an eligible residence. The Senior Freeze Exemption freezes the equalized assessed value of a property. Both exemptions appear as deductions on second-installment property tax bills.

 

To qualify for the Senior Exemption for the taxable year 2011, the property owner must have:

 

n  Been born prior to or in the year 1946,

n  Owned the property, or have a lease or contract which makes them responsible for the real estate taxes, and

n  Used the property as a principal place of residence.

  

To qualify for the Senior Freeze Exemption for the taxable year 2011 taxpayers must have:

 

n  Been born prior to or in the year 1946, 

n  A total household income of $55,000 or less for income tax year 2010,

n  Owned the property or had a legal, equitable or leasehold interest in the property on January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011,

n  Used the property as a principal place of residence as of January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2011, and

n  Been liable for the payment of 2010 and 2011 property taxes.

 

All Senior Freeze Exemption applications must be notarized.

 

Seniors receiving the Senior Citizen Exemption automatically receive the Homeowner Exemption. Seniors receiving the Senior Freeze Exemption automatically receive both the Homeowner and Senior Citizen Exemptions. 

 

Eligible seniors who have never applied for the senior exemptions in the past may visit the Assessor’s Web site at www.cookcountyassessor.com and download an application or contact the Assessor’s office and request a form be mailed to them.

 

"Given the current economic climate, homeowners need all the help they can get,” Assessor Berrios said. “That is why we will continue to do everything possible to ensure that Cook County homeowners receive all the exemptions to which they are rightfully entitled."

 

 

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