Senior Citizens Property Tax Deferral Program for Tax Year 2025

There are three Illinois programs that provide property tax relief to homeowners who are at least sixty-five years of age. But only one program, the Senior Tax Deferral, is accepting applications now. Applications for the other two programs, the Senior Citizen Exemption and the income-based Senior Freeze Exemption, have not been issued yet but should be available in the next few weeks.

Administered through the Cook County Treasurer’s Office, the Senior Tax Deferral is essentially a loan from the state, allowing low-to-moderate income seniors to borrow against the equity in their homes to pay as much as $7,500 in property taxes per year. Unlike a normal loan, however, the Senior Tax Deferral does not require loan payments. Borrowers will eventually pay 3% annual interest on the loan, but the interest and principal will not be repaid until the home is sold, or within a year of the applicant’s death.

This year, senior households with annual income of up to $75,000 can qualify for the Senior Tax Deferral. This is an increase over last year, when the maximum income was $65,000.

Basic Eligibility Rules for Senior Deferral
• Application Deadline: March 1, 2026
• Minimum Age: 65 years old as of June 1, 2026
• Maximum Income: $75,000 in total income for all members of household in 2025
• Owner-Occupant: Applicant must own and live at the house for at least three years
• Home Equity: Equity in the senior’s home must exceed the amount deferred

Please call the Cook County Treasurer’s Office at 312-443-5100 or visit the Cook County Treasurer’s website at https://cookcountytreasurer.com/ or at https://cookcountytreasurer.com/theseniorcitizenrealestatetaxdeferralprogram.aspx for more information.

Release date: February 9, 2026