More than $6.1 million in erroneous exemptions was returned to communities in the Chicago area in August, the Cook County Assessor’s Office announced Thursday.
“We are happy to send this money to the taxing bodies originally entitled to it,” said Assessor Joseph Berrios in a news release. “This office takes great pride in recovering millions of dollars that rightfully belong to our communities and preventing future loss of money by permanently removing these years-old erroneous exemptions.”
According to the release, Berrrios was a key proponent of the effort to have the Erroneous Homestead Exemption Program signed into law in 2013. Residents can have exemptions only on a primary residence. The assessor’s office recoups funds from those who have improperly received homeowner, senior, disabled persons or disabled veterans exemptions.
Taxpayers billed for erroneous exemptions can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. If a bill is not paid after 30 days, the assessor’s office sends out a second notice prior to a lien being placed on the home.
“If taxpayers are receiving an erroneous exemption or know of those who are, they should come forward and notify our office,” Berrios said in the release. “I want to make sure everyone pays only his or her fair share of property taxes. No more and no less.”
Taxpayers may anonymously report erroneous exemptions at http://whistleblowing.cookcountyassessor.com/.
Illinois was ranked one of the nation’s worst states for taxes in a new survey released Thursday by financial forecaster Kiplinger.
