Category: Taxes

Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes

Posted on By Ray Hanania 3 Comments on Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes
Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes

Illinois program lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 per year in property taxes Your Property Taxes column with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Illinois offers senior citizens a property tax relief program that works like a loan. The Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral program allows qualifying seniors to defer up…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Seniors, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss

Posted on By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss
Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss

Slashed interest rate on late property tax payments could prevent home loss By Maria Pappas As my office prepares for the Annual Tax Sale, we’re doing all we can to help people avoid losing their homes because of unpaid property taxes. One of the biggest legislative reforms to the Illinois property tax system in decades…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Guest Commentary, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

New tool shows where property tax dollars go and informs fed up taxpayers

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New tool shows where property tax dollars go and informs fed up taxpayers

New tool shows where property tax dollars go and informs fed up taxpayers By Maria Pappas When I saw how recent property tax bills shocked and angered many Cook County homeowners I knew people needed to understand why their taxes are so high. I began hearing from frustrated homeowners before tax bills landed in early…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms
Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms

Treasurer Maria Pappas unveils online tool detailing property tax spending as Dec. 1 tax due date looms Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas today unveiled an innovative online tool that for the first time calculates year-to-year changes for each property tax bill and shows where tax dollars go. The search tool at cookcountytreasurer.com is available as…

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Chicago, Cook County, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month
Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month

Citizens Against Government Waste Names Sen. Dick Durbin November 2023 Porker of the Month Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named on Thursday Nov. 16, 2023 U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) its November 2023 Porker of the Month for trying to take away everyone’s credit card benefits. In 2010, Sen. Durbin led the effort to pass…

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Economy, Federal, Government, National, News, NewsWire, Politics, Taxes

Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill

Posted on By Ray Hanania 2 Comments on Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill
Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill

Vote against any member of Congress who doesn’t support this Social Security protection bill By Ray Hanania US Rep. Thomas Massie (Republican Kentucky) continues to reintroduce a bill that would prevent the double taxation of Social Security payments to seniors and retirees, but not enough members of Congress will support it. In fact, opposition to…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Opinion, Seniors, Taxes

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Black Men United cohost veterans event at Hines VA Hospital

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Black Men United cohost veterans event at Hines VA Hospital
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Black Men United cohost veterans event at Hines VA Hospital

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and Black Men United cohost veterans event at Hines VA Hospital Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas will help military veterans and their families search for savings on their property tax bills during a Veterans’ Appreciation event Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital with Black Men United. Treasurer’s…

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Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes, Veterans

What can America do with $14.3 billion?

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What can America do with $14.3 billion?

What can America do with $14.3 billion? By Ray Hanania In 2022, the Social Security Trust Fund had a $22 billion deficit, which shows you how little Congress cares about Seniors compared to how they care about some foreign countries. When the deficit was announced, no Republican or Democrat members of Congress rushed to resolve…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Employment, Health, Opinion, Politics, Racism, rayhanania, Seniors, Taxes, Veterans, Veterans Column

Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses   

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses   
Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses   

Pappas: School districts hiked property taxes on Cook County homes, businesses    An analysis of Cook County’s 1.8 million property tax bills for 2022 shows that school districts are chiefly responsible for hefty tax bills that are due Dec. 1, according to Treasurer Maria Pappas.  The median residential tax bill in the north and northwest…

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Chicago, Cook County, Education, Government, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Qualifying disabled veterans are fully exempt from paying property taxes

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Qualifying disabled veterans are fully exempt from paying property taxes

Qualifying disabled veterans are fully exempt from paying property taxes By Maria Pappas Veterans deserve our thanks, especially those whose abilities were diminished as a result of active military service. Illinois law recognizes that. Qualifying veterans whose disabilities are certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are eligible for tax breaks. Veterans classified as…

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Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pappas: Second Installment 2022 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they are mailed

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Pappas: Second Installment 2022 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they are mailed

Pappas: Second Installment 2022 tax bills are now online, two weeks before they are mailed Cook County property owners who don’t want to wait until their property tax bills arrive in the mail may now view, download and pay their Second Installment bill for the 2022 Tax Year online at cookcountytreasurer.com, Treasurer Maria Pappas announced…

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Cook County, Government, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pappas: Property tax bills will soon be due. Are you getting all your exemptions?

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Pappas: Property tax bills will soon be due. Are you getting all your exemptions?
Pappas: Property tax bills will soon be due. Are you getting all your exemptions?

Pappas: Property tax bills will soon be due. Are you getting all your exemptions? Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas  By Maria Pappas If you own a home or other real estate in Cook County, chances are you will have a property tax bill due soon. Property taxes in Illinois are billed…

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Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Kaegi’s policies impact the middle class and those in serious need

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Kaegi’s policies impact the middle class and those in serious need
Kaegi’s policies impact the middle class and those in serious need

Kaegi’s policies impact the middle class and those in serious need By Ray Hanania Last week, I wrote about how Fritz Kaegi artificially increased assessments on properties across Cook County in order to protect business property owners who are big donors with political clout. Kaegi knows voters have no lobbyists and are easily forgotten in…

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Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pappas helps phone bank caller receive whopping $11,870 property tax refund

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Pappas helps phone bank caller receive whopping $11,870 property tax refund
Pappas helps phone bank caller receive whopping $11,870 property tax refund

Pappas helps phone bank caller receive whopping $11,870 property tax refund By Maria Pappas “Your Property Taxes” column with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Helping taxpayers obtain refunds for property tax overpayments is one of the most rewarding parts of my job as Cook County Treasurer. My office recently helped a south suburban resident receive…

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Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Fritz Kaegi’s artificial inflation of property assessments to protect businesses

Posted on By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Fritz Kaegi’s artificial inflation of property assessments to protect businesses
Fritz Kaegi’s artificial inflation of property assessments to protect businesses

Fritz Kaegi’s artificial inflation of property assessments to protect businesses By Ray Hanania Last year, a report was issued that showed that a major tax burden would slam commercial properties in Cook County. Cook County Asessor Fritz Kaegi reassessed properties in 2021 claiming it would ease the burden on homeowners. But in fact, it has…

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Blogger, Business, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, elections, Government, Illinois Legislature, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund

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Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund

Pappas’ office helps Chicago couple get $2,447 property tax refund Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas  By Maria Pappas Many Cook County homeowners are losing thousands of dollars in savings because they are not taking advantage of property tax breaks. My office recently helped an older couple on Chicago’s North Side receive…

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Guest Commentary, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Taxpayers get help finding refunds for overpayments, missed exemptions

Posted on By Ray Hanania No Comments on Taxpayers get help finding refunds for overpayments, missed exemptions
Taxpayers get help finding refunds for overpayments, missed exemptions

Taxpayers get help finding refunds for overpayments, missed exemptions Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas By Maria Pappas Cook County owes refunds to thousands of property owners because of past overpayments and missed exemptions. Many homeowners who could use the extra money to pay bills, buy groceries and meet other needs have…

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Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Lyons Mayor Chris Getty Hosts Town Hall meeting with Congressman Garcia and local officials

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Lyons Mayor Chris Getty Hosts Town Hall meeting with Congressman Garcia and local officials

Lyons Mayor Chris Getty Hosts Town Hall meeting with Congressman Garcia and local officials Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty hosted a Town Hall meeting featuring Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia along promising that they would work together to continue to bring state funding to support resident needs. Also attending the event were State Rep. Lisa Hernandez, State…

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Cook County, Federal, Government, News, Taxes