Cook County Says 2nd Property Tax Bills Will Arrive Later Than Usual Again

EVANSTON, IL — Cook County homeowners should expect second installment property tax bills to arrive late again this year, with current estimates putting them about two months behind the usual schedule.

Those bills are normally mailed by July 1 and due by Aug. 1, but this year the likely due date is around Oct. 1, according to county officials.

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The delay follows major billing problems last year tied to the county's new computer system. Last year's issues pushed the second installment due date to Dec. 15. The system now appears to be functioning more reliably, but last year's delays are still affecting the county's timeline for this year's bills, officials said.

For many property owners, the second installment bill is the first sign that there may be a problem with a property assessment. Taxpayers who want to challenge an assessment typically do that by filing an appeal. Because last year's bills arrived so late, many residents did not receive them until after their appeal windows had already closed.

In response, county officials reopened appeal periods for affected areas in December, which gave taxpayers another chance to challenge assessments. However, it also delayed final resolution of this year's assessments.

The current expectation is that this year's delay will be much shorter than last year's, and the county believes next year's tax bills have a good chance of returning to the normal schedule.

Homeowners are also being reminded to check whether they are missing any property tax exemptions. Residents may still be able to apply for missing exemptions for tax years 2021 through 2025, which can reduce overall tax liability.

Residents who think they may qualify for an exemption they are not receiving were encouraged to contact the Property Tax Assessment Review Office to review eligibility and file paperwork. The office also is urging taxpayers to follow the "Rule of 12s," a budgeting approach that treats each month as roughly 1/12 of a homeowner's anticipated annual tax bill. The idea is to set aside that amount monthly, whether in a cookie jar, a separate bank account or another tracking method, so the money is there whenever the bill arrives.

Residents with questions about assessments, exemptions or appeals can visit the Cook County Assessor's website or contact the Property Tax Assessment Review Office at 847-448-8168.