- Published: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 01:37 PM
CHICAGO – Seniors will no longer have to continually reapply for a property tax break under a measure passed by State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) this week.
“Reapplying for the homestead exemption every year can be a long, confusing process for many seniors,” Gillespie said. “We are cutting bureaucratic red tape so that seniors won’t be bogged down with tedious paperwork any longer.”
The Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption saves approximately 250,000 Cook County seniors up to $8,000 on their property taxes. With this measure, homeowners 65 and older will be automatically reapproved after applying once more for 2020. Cook County is the only county in the state that does not automatically reapprove qualifying seniors.
House Bill 961 passed with unanimous, bipartisan support in both chambers and is effective immediately.
