Residents can now apply for any homestead exemption ONLINE

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 - General Homestead Exemption
- Senior Homestead Exemption
- Disabled Veterans Exemption (renewal form to come)
- Disabled Persons Exemption (renewal form to come)
- Senior Freeze Exemption
 

Signing up is easy, all you need is a valid email address. By creating an account you will have instant access to all of your submissions made online.

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For more Information and instructions please visit our SmartFile Page

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Senior Homestead Exemption (SHE)

Exemption Amount: $5,000 Assessed

 

Requirements:

• Have owned and lived on the property during the tax year.

• Reached age of 65 during the tax year.

• Apply for the exemption at our office.  
   

You will need to bring proof of age (ID) when you apply and if property is in a trust, bring the trust in to our office.
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Senior Assessment Freeze (PTAX-340)
Exemption freezes the assessment on your property. It does NOT freeze your taxes.

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Requirements:

• Have fulfilled a property residency requirement.

• Be age 65 or older.

• Household Income less than $65,000 

• Apply for the exemption at our office.

• Application mus be notarized.

• This exemption requires annual verification of eligibility. 

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Our office offers FREE notary services.  
 

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Senior Citizens Tax Deferral Program

• This program is designed to allow senior citizens to defer part or all of the property taxes on their home.

• This program functions as a loan, with an annual interest rate of six percent.
   

Benefit Access Program

Benefits:

Seniors Ride Free Transit Benefit

Persons with Disabilities Free Transit Ride

Secretary of State License Plate Discount

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Requirements:

• Must be 65 or older or 16+ disabled

• Must live in Illinois

• Total income Maximum Limits:

  • $33,562 for 1 person household 

  • $44,533 for 2 person household

  • $55,500 for 3 person household
     

• NOTE: You must include your spouse's income if married and living together on December 31 of last year. If your spouse died last year, you would file as single and claim only your income.

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Disabled Persons Homestead Exemption (HEPD) PTAX-343

Exemption Amount: $2,000 Assessed
 

Requirements:

• Have owned and lived on of before January 1 of the tax year.

• Be disabled under the Federal Social Security Act and supply either:

  • A copy ​of your Illinois Disabled Person ID Card stating that you are class 2 or 2A disability for each year you qualify; or

  • Proof of Social Security Benefits. Proof includes an award letter, verification letter, or annual COLA

• This exemption requires annual verification of eligibility. ​

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Standard Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities (SHEVD) PTAX-342

This exemption cannot be claimed in addition to the Disabled Persons Homestead exemption.

 

Requirements:

• Be a Lake County Illinois resident

• Have served in the United States Armed Forces, The Illinois National Guard or the U.S Reserve forces, and have received an honorable discharge

• Have at least a 30% service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

• Have a total equalized assessed value (EAV) of less than $250,000

• This exemption requires annual verification of eligibility. ​

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Current Military Exemption
Military personnel on active duty out of state or overseas for extended periods are eligible to defer payment of their taxes under the provisions of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act

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Returning Veteran Exemption PTAX-341

Lowers the equalized assessed value of your property by $5,000 in the year you returned from active duty in an armed conflict. It is a one-year exemption.