Larry SuffredinCook County Commissioner 

Appealing Your Assessment

Today we will cover:

• How your assessment is calculated

• How to appeal your assessment

• How my office can help property owners

Appealing Your Assessment

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Properties are reassessed every 3 years

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2019, 2022, 2025 2020, 2023, 2026 2021, 2024, 2027

Barrington Berwyn Hyde ParkElk Grove Bloom JeffersonEvanston Bremen LakeHanover Calumet LakeviewLeyden Cicero NorthMaine Lemont Rogers Park

New Trier Lyons SouthNiles Oak Park

Northfield OrlandNorwood Park Palos

Palatine ProvisoSchaumburg Rich

West Chicago River ForestWheeling Riverside

StickneyThornton

Worth

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North suburban residents appeal in the greatest numbers 

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Niles Township appeal patterns

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Increases in Niles Township assessments

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Increases in Niles Township assessments

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Sample assessment letter

Find your neighborhood on your reassessment letter, or online

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How to calculate assessed value

Assessed Value (AV) is the percentage of the Fair Market Value.  In Cook County, property is assessed at different levels by Classification:

– Residences: 10%  (single family homes, Condos, Townhouse)

– Businesses: 25% (commercial, industrial, retail)

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Your assessment is just one component of your tax bill

Tax Bill (what you owe)

Equalizer Tax Rate

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Ways to appeal your assessment

You should appeal to both the Assessor and Board of Review annually

As an additional step, homeowners can appeal through the State of IllinoisProperty Tax Appeal Board or through the Circuit Court of Cook County

Assessor Board of Review

Sets taxable value on real estate

First body property owners can appeal to

Limits the scope of evidence in appeal

Does not allow for a hearing

Serves as a three judge appeal board

Second body property owners can appeal to

Allows greater scope of evidence in appeal

Allows property owners to attend a hearing

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What can you appeal?

Your Assessed Value– Not your tax liability– Not your tax rate– Not the equalizer– Not the amount of your exemptions

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Exemptions

• Exemptions reduce assessed value before the tax rate is applied.– Homeowner – Primary residence– Senior Citizen – 65 years old; apply EVERY YEAR– Senior Freeze – 65 years old and household income <$65,000

– Disabled Persons Exemption

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My office can help make sure you receive the exemptions you are entitled to

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How to appeal with paper (residential)

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How to appeal with paper (condos)

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How to appeal online (step 1)

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How to appeal online (step 2)

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How to appeal online (step 3)

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How to appeal online (step 4)

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Where can you find comparable property evidence?

www.CookCountyPropertyInfo.com

• Look up any piece of property in Cook County 

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CookCountyPropertyInfo.com

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CookCountyPropertyInfo.com

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CookCountyPropertyInfo.com

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CookCountyPropertyInfo.com

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Important Websites

• CookCountyPropertyInfo.com– Status of property– Exemption status– Tax bill status (paid)– Comparable properties

• CookCountyBoardOfReview.com– Appeal assessment online– Important dates and deadlines– History of assessment appeals with the Board

• CookCountyAssessor.com– Exemption forms

• CookCountyTreasurer.com– Tax liability for this year and last year 

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Assisting Taxpayers

• Exemptions/Certificates of Error• Corrections of property characteristics• Host outreaches/office hours• Tax exempt properties

Further assistance

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Contact for further assistance

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Name Larry Suffredin Scott Bagnall

Position Cook County Commissioner Niles Township Assessor

Address 820 Davis St. Suite 104Evanston

5255 Lincoln Ave.Skokie

Phone (847) 864‐1209 (847) 673‐9300

Contact email mjordan@Suffredin.org assessor@Nilestownshipgov.com 

Appointments M‐F; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. M‐F; 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Questions?

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