Earliest Due Date for Property Taxes in a Generation

From Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar:

Cook County property tax bills this year will be mailed in late June and should be due August 1.  This will mark the earliest mailing date and due date for second installment tax bills in more than thirty years.  

According to Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar, the early due date will surprise most taxpayers, while causing some hardship for those who have become accustomed to due dates that have been as late as December 13 in recent years.  But schools and other taxing districts, some of which have had to borrow money because of the late due dates, will be pleased to reduce borrowing expenses. 

“State law mandates that second installment tax bills in Cook County be paid by August 1,” ElSaffar explained.  “Since the 1970’s, however, this law has been honored only in the breach.” 

In order to meet the early due date, this year’s April 30 deadline for homeowner and senior citizen tax exemptions was much earlier than in prior years.  Prior to the deadline, the assessor’s offices from Cook County and Oak Park Township worked diligently to ensure that those eligible for money-saving exemptions would receive them on their bills. 

Eligible taxpayers who have not yet applied for exemptions will still be able to obtain corrected bills after tax bills are mailed in late June.  But such taxpayers need not wait until late June; they are encouraged to call the Oak Park Township Assessor’s office now for information on how to obtain corrected bills.

The early due date for tax bills is the result of a concerted effort by Cook County taxing agencies.  Property tax bills cannot be issued until every assessed value in Cook County is determined, and every appeal is resolved.  Given the size of Cook County and the number of appeals typically filed, it has been difficult for county agencies to finish their work early.  But new people in the offices of Cook County Assessor, Cook County Board President and the Cook County Board of Review have changed past practices.