DEERFIELD — In an effort to provide financial relief to Illinoisans as they work to get back on their feet during the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) supported the legislature’s comprehensive property tax relief measure.
“People across the state are struggling financially, and implementing property tax relief will take some financial burden away from families who are having a hard time,” Morrison said. “Illinoisans need to know we have their backs during this unprecedented crisis. This measure is a small but substantial step toward providing them with help and economic relief.”
Under this legislation, local businesses and residents would see property tax relief in the form of:
- Empowering county governments to approve 2020 homestead exemptions for those with disabilities, veterans with disabilities and senior citizens, as long as the property had been granted this exemption for 2019.
- Allowing counties with less than 3 million residents to waive interest penalties and fees for late property tax payments due in 2020.
- Deferring property tax sales.
County assessment officers can still conduct audits of taxpayers claiming an exemption in order to verify the applicant is eligible to receive the senior citizen’s assessment freeze through the homestead exemption.
The measure — found in Senate Bill 685 — also defers tax sales and gives Lake County the authority to waive property tax interest penalties.
The measure was signed by Gov. JB Pritzker Friday and took immediate effect.
