DEFINITIONS OF THE DIFFERENT EXEMPTIONS 
GENERAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
This exemption is a $6000 reduction off of your equalized assessed value. To qualify you must: Live on the property, as your primary residence, on or before January 1 of that tax year; and
Own the property. This exemption comes automatically every year. If you are buying under contract or your property is in Trust, you should contact our office to make sure you can receive this exemption. GENERAL SENIOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION (PTAX-324)
This exemption is a $4000 reduction off of your equalized assessed value in addition to the General Homestead. To qualify you must: Live on the property, as your primary residence on or before January 1 of that tax year.
Have reached age 65 during the tax year.
Apply at the Township Assessor’s office. Please bring proof of age (drivers license, Illinois I.D, or birth certificate).
This exemption needs to be filed for only once; it will continue until ownership or addresses change.
This exemption can not be used in more than one state. SENIOR CITIZEN ASSESSMENT FREEZE
 This exemption freezes the assessment on your property, but does not freeze the tax rate.
To qualify you must: Live in the property, as your primary residence for one calendar year from January 1-January 1.
Be 65 years of age or older the year you apply.
Have a maximum household income of $55,000. This household income includes that of all persons using the property as their principal dwelling place on January 1 of the tax year.
Applications are available in the Assessor’s office generally at the end of May. If you qualified during the prior year, you will be sent a form automatically from the county.
This exemption must be filed every year to be continuous. The deadline is July 1.
Our office will help you file for this exemption; you must bring in your income tax papers and Social Security form 1099 in order for it to be filed properly. SENIOR REAL ESTATE TAX DEFERRAL
This exemption can be filed at the Will County Treasurers Office. Basically, you must be over 65 years old, and there is an income requirement. The annual filing period is between January 1 & March 1. This exemption defers your taxes. Eventually, payment comes out of your estate. If you’re interested in this exemption contact the Treasurers Office with any questions. (815) 740-4691. SENIOR CITIZEN CIRCUIT BREAKER
This State program provides low-income senior citizens with yearly grants to help pay property taxes. The forms are available in our office with a booklet to help you file for the exemption.
You must be 65 or older or totally disabled.
To qualify you must have:
Annual income of less than $27,610 for a one person household;
$36,635 for a two person household; $45,657 for three person household. For other information you may check with a circuit breaker booklet. There are easy instructions and phone numbers for the State office that handles this program, our office does not handle this service. DISABLED PERSONS' HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION (PTAX-343) This exemption is for any person who meets the requirements and is considered disabled or becomes disabled during the assessment year. An annual $2,000 reduction in the EAV of property. The property must have been occupied on January 1 of the assessment year by a disabled person who is liable for the payment of the property taxes. Disabled person cannot participate in any "substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment" which will result in the person's death or that will last for at least 12 continuous months. DISABLED VETERANS' This exemption is established by contacting the Illinois Department of Veteran's Affairs. Property up to an assessed value of $70,000, owned and used exclusively by a disabled veteran, or the spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran, as a home, is exempt. As used in this Section, a disabled veteran means a person who has served in the Armed Forces of the United States and whose disability is of such a nature that the Federal Government has authorized payment for purchase or construction of Specially Adapted Housing as set forth in the United States Code, Title 38, Chapter 21, Section 2101. This exemption must be reestablished on an annual basis by certification from the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to the Department, which shall forward a copy of the certification to local assessing officials. (Source: P.A. 01-401, eff. 1-1-00.) DISABLED VETERANS' STANDARD HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION (PTAX 342) Property can receive only one of the disability exemptions per assessment year under Section 15-165 Disabled Veterans' Homestead Exemption, Section 15-168 Disabled Persons' Homestead Exemption, or Section 15-168 Disabled Veterans' Standard Homestead Exemption. The veteran must have a service-connected disability that is approved by the Federal Department of Veterans' Affairs to receive a "Specially Adapted Housing Grant" Application for the Specially Adapted Housing Grant is through the U.S. Dept. of Veterans' Affairs by calling (312) 980-4219 for Northern Region of Illinois (North of Springfield) of (314) 552-9864 for Southern Region of Illinois (includes Springfield and south of Springfield).
VETERANS ORGANIZATION ASSESSMENT FREEZE (PTAX-763) For the Taxtable year 2000 and thereafter, the assessed value of real property owned and used by a veterans' organization chartered under federal law, on which is located the principal building for the post, camp, or chapter, must be frozen by the chief county assessment officer at (i) 15% of the assessed value of the property for the taxable year that the property first qualifies for the assessment freeze after taxable year 2000. The veterans organization must annually submit an application to the chief county assessment officer on or before December 31 of the assessment year in counties with a population of less than 3,000,000. This Section shall not apply to parcels exempt under Section 15-145 (Source: P.A. 91-635, eff. 8-20-99.) RETURNING VETERANS' STANDARD HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION (PTAX-341) A one-time $5,000 in EAV of the veteran's principal residence for the taxable year that the veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict involving the Uniited States. This means the exemption is only for a single year, but the veteran can receive the exemption again if they return from active duty in a subsequent year. The veteran files form PTAX-341 each assessment year when they return home to receive the exemption. HOMESTEAD IMPROVEMENT EXEMPTION 
This exemption defers for four years any increase in the assessed value of your property due to an addition or other improvements to your home for which the Township Assessor would add value.
A maximum of $25,000 of assessed value may be deferred under this program. To see if you’re entitled to this exemption, please call our office. We will be happy to check into the improvement that you have made.
NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMS
The Assessor is available for homeowners’ meetings, civic clubs and service organizations. No group is too small.
REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND APPRAISERS
We have Data Request Forms available for parcel inquiries. Lot sizes can usually be located by searching the property at www.willcountysoa.com, there you will find the complete plat/lot information in the tax map section. CONTACTING THE ASSESSOR’S OFFICE
After normal business hours, we use an answering machine (630) 759-1315 to receive calls or you may send us a fax (630) 759-6163 and we will answer it as soon as we possibly can. Please feel free to leave your name and number. Staff or the assessor will call you as soon as possible. Remember! If you don’t leave your name, we don’t know who called.
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