Cook County property tax exemptions
Cook County property tax exemptions: are you missing one?
An exemption can lower the equalized assessed value (EAV) used to calculate a Cook County property tax bill. Check which exemptions are already on your property record before assuming you have them all.
By Check the County, operated by Embento LLC. Updated September 29, 2026. This is general public-record research information, not legal, tax or appraisal advice.
What an exemption changes
According to the Cook County Assessor's Office, as of September 2026, exemptions reduce EAV. EAV is not the amount of tax you owe, and an EAV reduction is not the dollar reduction on your bill.
An exemption and an assessment appeal address different questions. An exemption changes the EAV on which tax is computed; an appeal challenges the assessed value itself. Check both if you are reviewing your property record. Our Assessor vs Board of Review guide explains the two appeal opportunities.
Exemptions to check
The following details come from the Cook County Assessor's Office, as of September 2026. Use its official exemptions page to verify current requirements and filing instructions.
- Homeowner Exemption: For an owner who occupies the property as a principal residence. The Assessor says it saves an average of about $950 a year. Once applied, it auto-renews each year.
- Senior Exemption: For an owner age 65 or older who occupies the property as a principal residence. It auto-renews.
- Senior Freeze Exemption: For owners who meet the Senior Exemption requirements and whose total household income was $65,000 or less in calendar year 2024 (the current cycle's limit). It freezes EAV at a prior level and must be filed every year.
- Persons with Disabilities Exemption: Auto-renews under recent state legislation.
- Returning Veterans Exemption and Veterans with Disabilities Exemption: Each must be filed every year.
- Home Improvement Exemption: Applied automatically. It exempts up to $75,000 of added value from qualifying improvements for up to four years.
- Longtime Homeowner Exemption: Has limited eligibility involving income, residency and a large assessment increase. The Assessor says only about 2% of homeowners qualify. It must be filed annually.
What if an exemption was missed?
According to the Cook County Assessor's Office, as of September 2026, missed exemptions for tax years 2021–2025 can be requested through a Certificate of Error. Check that official page for the current process and required documents.
To orient your appeal research, browse township guides or find your township by city.