Over $24 Million In Cook County Property Tax Being Refunded

CHICAGO — Cook County taxpayers began receiving $24.6 million in property tax refunds this week, just as the second installment property tax bills are put in the mail, the Cook County Treasurer's Office announced Monday.

Most of the refunds result from property tax exemptions, like the homeowner's, senior citizens, disabled persons, disabled veterans or the senior assessment freeze, which are always applied to the second installment of tax bills.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said nearly 25,000 homeowners who have second installment tax bills due Aug. 1 showing a zero balance will receive refunds between July 1 and Aug. 23.

"Nearly 90 percent of the refunds will be issued without an application," Pappas said, in a release. "To see if you are receiving a refund, visit cookcountytreasurer.com and select the purple box labeled 'Your Property Overview.' Just put in your address."

The 10,100 homeowners who paid online or by check earlier this year will receive a credit to their bank or credit card accounts between prior to July 26. The 11,300 homeowners who paid through a bank or mortgage escrow account will be mailed their refund checks by Aug. 23.

The remaining 3,200 homeowners paid their property taxes in cash will receive a refund application in the mail by July 26 "to ensure the proper party receives the refund," according to the treasurer's office.

Nearly $12 million of the refund will go to 7,667 suburban property owners, the Daily Herald reported. Suburban taxpayers will see average refund of $1,559. According to the paper's analysis of data from Pappas' office, the largest average refunds were in Barrington and Barrington Hills, while the largest combined refund amount in the suburbs is Palatine, where 121 taxpayers are due average refunds of $4,875.

Enter a property's address online to review its property tax bill and check for available refunds