Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets

By Maria Pappas

Illinois lawmakers have enacted significant changes to property tax exemptions benefiting veterans, including a landmark provision for those who served during World War II.

These amendments, effective for the 2024 tax year, underscore our commitment to supporting our veteran community.

The newly expanded legislation, Public Act 103-0596, amends the Illinois Property Tax Code to make veterans who served during World War II exempt from paying property taxes on their primary residences, regardless of their disability status.

The new law also extends the benefit to unmarried, surviving spouses of World War II veterans, certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for compensation due to service-connected death.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas

Veterans with service-connected disabilities qualify based on the severity of their disability as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It is important for property owners to know key information about the exemption:

Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities:
1. Those with a disability rating of 30% to 49% receive a $2,500 reduction in their home’s equalized assessed valuation (EAV).
2. Veterans with disabilities rated 50% to 69% receive a $5,000 exemption.
3. Veterans with disabilities rated 70% or more receive a 100% exemption from property taxes on up to $250,000 of EAV.

Renewal and Transferability:
1. An automatic renewal of this exemption due to the COVID-19 pandemic has ended. Applicants must re-apply for the exemption annually.
2. Surviving spouses can retain the exemption or transfer it to another primary residence after the veteran’s passing.

Application and Information:
1. Detailed eligibility criteria and application procedures are available on the Cook County Treasurer’s website at cookcountytreasurer.com.
2. Veterans and their families are encouraged to visit the website for step-by-step guidance through the application process.

This exemption is not just about financial relief; it’s a testament to our commitment to honor and recognize the service of our veterans. By expanding access to property tax exemptions, we are providing stability and financial security to those who have dedicated their lives to our nation’s defense.

These changes ensure that our veterans and their surviving spouses receive the benefits they deserve without the burden of frequent re-application, reaffirming our collective responsibility to support those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

For more information on property tax exemptions and to determine eligibility, I encourage you to visit my website at cookcountytreasurer.com. Together, let us continue to uphold our duty to honor and support our veterans.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

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