Chicago Tribune: Cook County property tax bills will be mailed on Nov. 14.
After months of uncertainty and delay, Cook County officials announced Friday that property tax bills will be mailed on Nov. 14 and due by Dec. 15. Continue reading...
Bremen Township is open for appeals
Bremen Township is open for assessment complaints for the City of Oak Forest until November 21. Residents can provide additional documentation up to December 1.
Residents can pick-up appeal forms in the Clerk’s Office at City Hall. Need help completing your forms? Taxpayer Advocate Bardusk will accommodate as many requests as possible if made by November 17. Contact Bardusk at 708-444-4816 or gbardusk@oak-forest.org.
Cook County to host Virtual Property Tax Appeal Forum
Join Cook County Commissioner Larry Rogers Jr., on Monday, November 17 at 6 p.m. for a virtual property tax appeal forum for the taxpayers of Bremen Township, explaining the property tax appeal process and how to file at the Cook County Board of Review. There will be a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation followed by a Q and A session. Register at https://ow.ly/qH4m50XrWG3
Seniors: Be aware of two changes to Senior Freeze Exemption
Two recent property tax issues will affect senior residents in Oak Forest, but in very different ways. Please review the information below to learn more about the increase in the income eligibility threshold and the change in how the Senior Freeze will be calculated on your Second installment Tax Bill.
Illinois General Assembly increases income eligibility threshold for seniors
Lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly have expanded property tax relief for senior homeowners by raising the income eligibility threshold for the Senior Freeze Exemption.
The income threshold will ultimately increase to $79,000 in the tax year 2029. The current threshold is $65,000 and will increase to $75,000 in tax year 2026, which will be reflected on bills issued in 2027. The amount will increase to $77,000 in 2028 and finally $79,000 in 2029. Also, the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program will increase in line with the Senior Freeze changes.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Cook County Assessor’s Office at 312-443-7550 or Oak Forest Taxpayer Advocate Grace Bardusk at 708-444-4816 or gbardusk@oak-forest.org.
Cook County Assessor’s Office changes process to determine Senior Freeze Exemption
Recently, senior residents may have received a letter from the Cook County Assessor’s Office in regard to a change in your Senior Freeze Exemption savings. During the Assessor’s review, it was determined that the base year used to calculate the Senior Freeze savings was incorrect. In many cases, the base year was rolled over from a previous owner.
Going forward, the base year used to calculate the Senior Freeze Exemption will reflect the qualifying base year. This WILL affect your property tax bill. The change will be reflected on your Second Installment Tax Bill for the year 2024. At this time, it is unknown what the increase will be since the Second Installment Tax Bills have not been distributed yet.
To find out if you will be impacted by this change, please call the Bremen Township Assessor at 708-333-1591.