Senior Homestead Exemption (SHE)

This exemption lowers the equalized assessed value of the property by $5,000. This exemption may be claimed in addition to the General Homestead Exemption.

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• Have owned and lived on the property during the tax year as their principal residence.

• Have reached age 65 during the tax year. (If you turn 65 in 2020 you can apply anytime during the year)

• Apply for the exemption at the Township Assessor’s Office.
  
  You will need to bring proof of age (ex. driver's license, state ID) with you when you apply. 
  If property is in a trust, a copy of trust is needed.

 

 

     Exemption Amount – a $5,000 reduction in the Equalized Assessed Value of the property
This exemption may be claimed in addition to the General Homestead Exemption.  
There is no annual renewal for this exemption.

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Documents required:

-  Current Valid Drivers license. Address must match the property address. 

-  Trust Agreement (Only needed if property is in a Trust)

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Note:

If you file yourself online, you will need to upload copies of necessary documents including a copy of your Drivers license. Or you can bring them to our office and we can file for you.

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How & Where to File

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Call to Schedule Appointment & Visit Us

Antioch Township Assessor's Office  1490 Main St, Antioch IL 60071

847-395-1545

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 ONLINE

Sign up & Submit the Senior Homestead Exemption Form ​Online

Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption

The Senior Freeze provides seniors with limited income protection against real estate tax increases due to rising property values. It is not a tax freeze or a tax reduction and does not protect against increased taxes due to tax rate increases. Because this exemption provides for a base year frozen assessment, it will potentially provide increased savings each year a senior is eligible. The base assessment used in the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption initially equals the assessed value from the prior year tax calculation. In subsequent years, if the new assessed value is lower than their original base value, the new lower value becomes the new base amount. 

 

This exemption freezes the assessment on your property, but does not freeze the tax rate. This exemption may be claimed in addition to those described above. You need to understand that the actual taxes which you pay may continue to increase based upon the amounts levied by the taxing bodies where you reside (school districts, park district, village or city, township, etc.)

For the filing deadlines for this exemption. Please call Chief County Assessment Office at (847) 377-2050.

 

* Please note that the "Senior Citizens Tax Freeze Homestead Exemption" must be renewed annually.

Requirements

• Have a total household income of no more than $65,000 (starting in 2018).

• Have fulfilled a property residency requirement as explained on the application form. 

• Have lived on the property for 2-consecutive Januaries.

• Be age 65 or older.

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Please note that this exemption will require annual verification of eligibility.

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Documents required:

-  Current Valid Drivers license. Address must match the property address. 

-  Form 1040 Federal Tax Returns for year 2019 for anyone living in your household

-  Trust Agreement (Only needed if property is in a Trust)

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Note:

If you file yourself online, you will need to upload copies of necessary documents including a copy of your Drivers license. Or you can bring them to our office and we can file for you.

​

How & Where to File

​

Call to Schedule Appointment & Visit Us

Antioch Township Assessor's Office  1490 Main St, Antioch IL 60071

847-395-1545

​

 ONLINE

Sign up & Submit the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Exemption Form ​Online

Benefit Access Program
(formerly known as Circuit Breaker and Pharmaceutical Assistance Claim)

The benefits now available are:

 

• Seniors Free Transit Ride

• The Persons with Disabilities Free Transit Ride

• Secretary of State License Plate Discount

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Do I qualify for the Benefit Access Program?
Note:  Use of the word spouse also includes a civil union partner.
Apply on the Benefit Access Application if you meet the following requirements:
 

Age

• you must be 65 years of age or older by December 31 of the current year; or 

• you must be 16 years of age or older and totally disabled before January 1 of this year.

 

NOTE:  "Person with a disability" means a person unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.  [320 ILCS 25/3.14]

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Residency

• you must live in Illinois at the time you file your application.

 

Income Limit Eligibility for the License Plate discount and/or Ride Free Transit Card:

Your total income last year must be less than

• $33,562 for a 1 person household (yourself only); or

• $44.533 for a 2 person household (yourself and your spouse, or yourself and one Qualified Additional Resident); or

• $55,500 for a 3 person household (yourself, your spouse and one Qualified Additional Resident, or yourself and two Qualified Additional Residents).

 

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. Do NOT include the income of a Qualified Additional Resident.

*Click here for a list of what is considered income.

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Expiration
Eligibility is good for two years under the Benefit Access Program. The two-year period starts at the time your application is approved. You may file again beginning 90 days before your eligibility expires.
 

To be determined eligible for these benefits, you must submit a Benefit Access Application on the Internet. Paper applications are not available.  Please note that current processing times to determine eligibility of your Benefits Access Application is approximately 12 weeks. 

 

Once your application is approved you may print a note of eligibility to take to your local transit authority or Secretary of State Office.

Please wait 10 business days from the date of your approval for your license plate discount to be available.

If you requested the ride free benefit, please contact your local public transit system for further information.

Your local transit system may have additional requirements in order to obtain the free ride. 

 

You can check the Website at anytime to determine your application status here. 

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Once you are approved here are instructions on how to pay for your vehicle registration.

 

For information or help applying, visit a local office of the following:

Senior Health Assistance Program​​ or Area Agency on Aging

 

Call toll-free:

1-800-252-8966 or 1-888-206-1327 (TTY)

Note: Have your Social Security number ready when you call.

 

E-mail: Aging.ILSenior@illinois.gov

Website: www.cbrx.il.gov

Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program

What is the Senior Citizens Tax Deferral Program and who qualifies? This program is designed to allow senior citizens to defer payment of part or all of the property taxes on their home. This program functions as a loan, with an annual interest rate of six percent. The Senior Citizens Tax Deferral is a state program that allows qualified senior citizens to defer up to $5,000 per year of the property taxes on their personal residence.

Sample Application for Senior Tax Deferral (PDF)

Sample Senior Tax Deferral Recovery Agreement (PDF)

 

General Information:

• This is a state loan with a 6% simple interest rate.

• Repayment must be made upon death, sale of home or refinancing.

• A lien will be placed on your property.

• The program may be utilized for multiple years, if you meet the qualifications.

• Must file a new application between January 1st and March 1st each year.

• You may apply for other senior tax programs even though you are on the deferral program.

• If you have a mortgage or reverse mortgage arrangement, you should verify with your lender whether or not your agreement allows you to participate in the tax deferral program.

 

 

Requirements of Eligibility:

• Applicant must be 65 years old as of June 1st of the tax year claimed.

• Total household income $55,000 or less.

• Maximum shall not exceed $5,000 per taxpayer per year.

• Proof of house insurance.

• Property cannot be income producing, such as rental income.

• Applicant must own and occupy residence.

• Property taxes must be current at the time of application.

• The cumulative amount of the deferral plus interest cannot exceed the market value less the value of any liens.

• Taxes may be paid at any time without affecting the deferral status.

 

 

* Note: The filing deadline for the program is March 1 of the tax year.

 

Assistance with filling out the form, and further processing of completed forms are available from:

Lake County Treasurer

18 North County Street

Waukegan, Illinois 60085

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Please contact the Lake County Treasurer’s Office at 847-377-2323 for a Tax Deferral Application.