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The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes
Column: Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
By Maria Pappas
Every year, my office hears from thousands of homeowners who run into problems with their property taxes due to common errors.
Here are the five most common mistakes homeowners make and what you can do to avoid them.
Paying the Same Bill Twice
This happens more often than you might think. For example, a homeowner pays online and then their mortgage company also pays. Or a spouse makes a payment without telling the other, who also makes a payment. Suddenly, they’ve paid twice. If this happens to you, don’t worry — your money isn’t lost. You may qualify for a refund directly from my office. Applying is free, simple and safe at cookcountytreasurer.com and an attorney or third-party service is not needed.
Not Updating Your Mailing Address
When you move, and continue to own that property, your bills don’t automatically follow you. If you don’t update your address with the Treasurer’s Office, your tax bills and notices will continue to arrive at your old home. That means you could miss an important deadline, which might lead to penalties or even having your taxes sold at the Annual Tax Sale. The solution is easy: submit a change-of-address form online. It costs nothing and could save you money.
Forgetting to Check Exemptions
Cook County offers valuable property tax exemptions such as the Homeowner Exemption, Senior Exemption and exemptions for veterans and people with disabilities.
The mistake many people make once they qualify is assuming these exemptions appear on their bills automatically. The truth is you must apply and for some exemptions you must apply annually. So, review your second installment bill or review your exemptions online to make sure you’ve received every possible one. If an exemption is missing, you can apply to correct it going back four years.
Believing You Can’t Make Partial Payments
Many families believe they can’t pay anything until they can pay everything. Not true. The Cook County Treasurer’s Office accepts and encourages partial payments. Even small payments make a difference, because every dollar you pay lowers your balance. So, if you don’t have the entire bill amount, paying in installments can reduce the amount of interest you owe and help keep you on track.
Waiting Too Long to Act
The last mistake is waiting until it’s too late. Whether it’s applying for an exemption, updating your address or making a payment, delaying can cost you money.
Stay informed. Check your bill. Use our website to track your payments, refunds and exemptions. The tools are free, easy and available in more than 240 languages.
Property taxes don’t have to be confusing. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can save money, reduce stress and protect your home. Take a few minutes today to check your property tax status at cookcountytreasurer.com. Don’t wait — and don’t pay for services you can get for free from us.
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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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