Illinois Property Tax Exemptions 2026: Who Qualifies & How to Apply

Illinois property tax exemptions can lower your bill — there are breaks for owner-occupants, seniors, veterans, and homeowners with disabilities, and many people who qualify never claim them. That is money left on the table every year. Below are the Illinois property tax exemptions that exist, who qualifies, and how to apply. Amounts and income limits change over time and some are set locally, so treat each figure as a

starting point and confirm the current number with your local assessor.

Illinois Property Tax Exemptions & Relief

An exemption lowers the value your tax is figured on (or, in some states, gives you a credit or caps how fast your value can rise) — so the same tax rate produces a smaller bill. Here is each of the Illinois property tax exemptions available to homeowners.

Relief does not look the same everywhere. Some states knock a flat dollar amount off your home’s value; others give a credit on the tax itself, cap how much your assessed value can rise each year, or freeze the bill for qualifying seniors. A few offer an income-based rebate instead of a value exemption. The point is the same — a lower bill for people who qualify — but the

form differs, so read each program below for how it actually works rather than assuming it is a simple dollar discount.

Homestead & Primary-Residence Relief

General Homestead Exemption (GHE) reduces the equalized assessed value (EAV) of an owner-occupied primary residence. Apply with the county/township assessor (chief county assessment office).

How much / how it works: EAV reduction of $6,000 in most counties ($10,000 in Cook County); confirm with your county assessor.

Senior Relief (Age 65+)

Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption (age 65+); plus, for lower-income seniors, the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze (freezes the EAV at a base-year level, annual application) and a senior real-estate tax deferral.

How much / how it works: Senior exemption reduces EAV by $5,000 ($8,000 in Cook). The freeze income limit was raised to $75,000 (2025, payable 2026), rising in later years. Confirm current figures with your county assessor.

Veteran & Disabled-Veteran Relief

Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities (SHEVD) – an EAV reduction scaled to the VA service-connected disability rating; plus a Returning Veterans’ Homestead Exemption for two years. Certified by the Illinois Dept of Veterans’ Affairs.

How much / how it works: SHEVD: $2,500 EAV (30-49%), $5,000 (50-69%), and a full exemption at 70%+ (property fully exempt). Returning-veterans exemption: $5,000 EAV. Confirm with your county assessor.

Disability Relief

Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities (HEPD): an annual EAV reduction for a qualifying disabled owner-occupant; renewed each year.

How much / how it works: $2,000 EAV reduction; confirm with your county assessor.

How to Apply for Illinois Property Tax Exemptions

Illinois property tax exemptions are almost never automatic — you have to file for them, usually with your local assessor, and usually by a set date each year. Apply once for most breaks and they carry forward, but a few (like some senior or income-based programs) must be renewed. If you just bought your home, or just turned 65, or your disability or veteran status changed, that is the moment

to file.

Even one missed exemption can cost hundreds of dollars a year, so it is worth ten minutes to check.

Don’t want to appeal your Illinois taxes yourself? A property tax appeal service can file everything for you and usually only charges if it wins — typically a share of what it saves you. It is one option; you can also appeal on your own for free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Illinois property tax exemptions are available?

Illinois has relief for owner-occupants (homestead), seniors 65+, veterans and disabled veterans, and homeowners with disabilities. The details, amounts, and income limits are covered above — and each is worth checking, because they can stack.

Who qualifies for a homestead exemption in Illinois?

Generally an owner who lives in the home as their primary residence. Exact rules — and whether the state uses a dollar exemption, a credit, or an assessment cap — are described in the homestead section above.

How do I apply for Illinois property tax exemptions?

File the application with your local assessor, usually by a set date each year. Most exemptions carry forward once approved; some must be renewed. Confirm the current form and deadline with your assessor.

Can I claim more than one of the Illinois property tax exemptions?

Often yes — for example a homestead break plus a senior or veteran break — though some programs interact. The sections above note where that applies; your assessor can confirm what stacks.

Illinois Property Tax Sources & Data

• Tax Foundation — Property Taxes by State & County: taxfoundation.org
• U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey): census.gov/acs
• Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (property tax data): lincolninst.edu

Exemption details for Illinois on this page were verified from official Illinois state and county sources and last
checked in July 2026. Amounts, income limits, and deadlines change and many are set locally — confirm the current
figures and forms with your local assessor before you rely on them.

More Property Tax Guides

• Property Tax Rates by State
• Property Tax by County
• Are You Overpaying? Over-Assessment Checker
• Property Tax Exemption Finder

Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Know Property Tax is an independent educational resource. It is not a government agency, not a county assessor, and not a tax-appeal service. Property tax rates, bills, exemptions, and deadlines change over time and vary by county and property. Confirm anything that affects your taxes with your county assessor or a licensed professional before you act.