Cook County property taxes are notoriously high and often inaccurate. Learn how to successfully appeal your assessment.
Chicago-area property taxes are among the highest in the nation, but many properties are over-assessed. Appeals can yield significant savings.
## Understanding Cook County Assessments
### Triennial Reassessment Cook County reassesses properties every three years: - Chicago: Different years by region - Suburbs: Rotating schedule - Major assessment notices trigger appeal windows
### Assessment Levels - Residential: 10% of market value - Commercial: 25% of market value - Industrial: 25% of market value
## Appeal Process
### Level 1: Assessor's Office - First opportunity to contest - 30-day window after assessment notice - Online filing available - No cost to file
### Level 2: Board of Review - Second appeal level - Can appeal even without Assessor appeal - Hearing scheduled - Attorney representation common
### Level 3: Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) - State-level appeal - More complex process - For values over $300,000 - Longer timeline
## Building Your Case
### Comparable Sales - Same neighborhood - Similar size and features - Recent sales (past 2-3 years) - Arms-length transactions
### Other Evidence - Recent appraisal - Pending repairs or issues - Photos documenting condition - Market data
## Professional Help
### Tax Appeal Attorneys - Contingency fee (typically 25-50% of savings) - Experience with process - Access to data and tools
### DIY vs. Professional - Simple residential: DIY feasible - Commercial or complex: Consider professional - First year in home: Almost always appeal