Appeal Your Taxes
I understand the burden of rising property taxes on working families. In light of the recent downturn in the economy and the crash of the housing market, I recommend that every homeowner appeal their taxes to ensure that they are paying their fair share and not one penny more. It is my mission to provide equal access to the appeals process and educate all taxpayers on their options and the process to reduce their property taxes.
Below is a brief summary of the property tax appeals process. For more information or help with your appeal, please visit the Board of Review’s Web site at www.cookcountyboardofreview.com. My expert staff’s number one mission is to serve you, the taxpayer, through every step of the appeal process. Please take advantage of the Board of Review's knowledge and experience to discuss your options for lower property taxes. They can be reached at (312) 603-3644.
Best Regards,
Commissioner Brendan Houlihan
How to Appeal Your Property Taxes
File an appeal with the Cook County Assessor
File within 30 days of receiving your assessment notice from the Cook County Assessor. For more information on appealing your assessment with the assessor, see www.cookcountyassessor.com.
File an appeal with the Cook County Board of Review
To view the complete filing process, please visit www.cookcountyboardofreview.com. Appeals may be filed for any reason, however, the most common reasons for appeals are:
- Unfairly paying more than your neighbor.
- An error made by the assessor’s office in assessing the home value.
- Damage to property due to fire or flood.
- Recent home purchase.
File an Appeal at the Board of Review
You do not need to have filed an appeal with the assessor to file an appeal with the Board of Review. Here is an overview of the process for filing:
- Submit an official complaint by downloading the form at www.cookcountyboardofreview.com/assets/pdfs/complaint.pdf or picking up the form at any Board of Review offices. Go to www.cookcountyboardofreview.com/html/bor_offices.html to see a list of offices and hours of operation.
IMPORTANT TIP: Appeals may only be filed during certain dates based on the Township where you live. To see the appeal dates, please visit www.cookcountyboardofreview.com.
- After receiving an official complaint filing, the Board of Review will schedule a hearing date for the appeal. The homeowner is not required to attend the appeal hearing.
- Representatives for each of the three commissioners hear each case to determine if a decrease in the property assessment is warranted.
- Written decisions are mailed and posted online at www.cookcountyboardofreview.com.
File with the State of Illinois Property Tax Appeals Board
An appeal with the Board of Review must be submitted before appealing to the Property Tax Appeals Board, which maintains its Web site at www.state.il.us/agency/PTAB/.
Commissioner Brendan Houlihan assists constituents with their tax appeals
at a Schaumburg property tax forum.
Support Brendan
... and help fight high taxes
Sign Up for E-mail Updates
Please enter your e-mail address:
Contact Info
Taxpayers for Houlihan
P.O. Box 534
Palos Heights, IL 60463
Phone: (708) 837-8753
E-mail: brendan@brendanhoulihan.com
