Illinois · 2026
Illinois property tax exemptions
✓ Verified August 2026 against official county pages — 3 sources linked below.
Exemptions lower the value your taxes are figured on — for most homeowners they're the easiest money on this page. Nearly every one has a filing date, though, and missing it usually costs you a year. The statewide programs and their deadlines are below; many counties and cities layer their own versions on top.
| Exemption | Deadline to file | What it's worth |
|---|---|---|
| General Homestead Exemption | Varies by county; automatic in some, application in others | Cuts equalized assessed value by up to $10,000 in Cook County, $8,000 in the collar counties adjacent to Cook, and $6,000 elsewhere |
| Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption (65+) | Annual application required in Cook County | An additional EAV cut of up to $8,000 in Cook and contiguous counties, $5,000 elsewhere |
| Low-Income Senior Assessment Freeze | Annual application | Freezes your equalized assessed value for homeowners 65+ with household income of $75,000 or less (2026 tax year; $77,000 in 2027, $79,000 from 2028) |
| Veterans & disability exemptions | Annual application in most counties | Persons with disabilities: $2,000 EAV cut. Veterans with disabilities: $2,500 (30–50% rating), $5,000 (50–70%), or a full exemption on the first $250,000 of value at 70%+ |
65 or older?
Start with the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption (65+) — An additional EAV cut of up to $8,000 in Cook and contiguous counties, $5,000 elsewhere. Deadline: Annual application required in Cook County.
Comparing states? Every state's senior program is in the senior property tax exemptions by state table.
How to file
General Homestead Exemption: Apply with your Chief County Assessment Office (Cook: the Assessor's exemption portal).
Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption (65+): File with the county assessment office with proof of age. The form is Form PTAX-324 (annual renewal PTAX-329; Cook County files with the Assessor). Get the form.
Low-Income Senior Assessment Freeze: File yearly with the county assessment office with income documentation. The form is Form PTAX-340 (filed every year). Get the form.
Veterans & disability exemptions: File with the county assessment office with your documentation.
Amounts and dates above are the statewide baseline — where counties or cities run their own versions, the local deadline and paperwork can differ. Confirm with your county assessor before relying on a date.
Exempted and still think the bill is high? The next lever is the value itself: how to appeal in Illinois.
Common questions
- When is the Illinois homestead exemption deadline?
- Varies by county; automatic in some, application in others. Apply with your Chief County Assessment Office (Cook: the Assessor's exemption portal).
- Does Illinois have a senior property tax exemption?
- Yes — Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption (65+). An additional EAV cut of up to $8,000 in Cook and contiguous counties, $5,000 elsewhere. Deadline: Annual application required in Cook County.
- Do Illinois exemptions apply automatically?
- Most don't — nearly every program starts with an application, and some must be renewed. Missing the filing window usually means waiting a year, so if you live in the home you own, check what you've claimed before anything else. Confirm details with your county assessor.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from an official page. Check them yourself:
- Illinois DOR — Property Tax Relief / Exemptions (PIO-74) — checked 2026-08-18
- Illinois DOR — Property Tax — checked 2026-08-12
- Cook County Assessor — assessment calendar and exemptions — checked 2026-08-12