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Tag: Maria Pappas

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities

Posted on September 6, 2024September 6, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities
Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities

Change in law lets tax breaks automatically renew for homeowners with disabilities By Maria Pappas State lawmakers have made it easier for people with disabilities to continue receiving property tax relief on an annual basis. Cook County homeowners who receive the Persons with Disabilities Exemption no longer have to reapply for the benefit every year….

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

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

Posted on August 23, 2024August 23, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets
Illinois expands property tax breaks for veterans to include World War II vets

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…

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

Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments 

Posted on August 10, 2024August 10, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments 
Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments 

Financial planning tool offers free online help to budget late tax payments  By Maria Pappas Property owners who were unable to pay their tax bills in full by the Aug. 1 due date need not worry about losing their home – at least not right away. As a homeowner you have time to pay off…

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

Pappas: New Payment Plan Calculator helps homeowners pay late taxes in smaller increments to avoid ‘merciless’ Annual Tax Sale

Posted on July 31, 2024July 31, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Pappas: New Payment Plan Calculator helps homeowners pay late taxes in smaller increments to avoid ‘merciless’ Annual Tax Sale
Pappas: New Payment Plan Calculator helps homeowners pay late taxes in smaller increments to avoid ‘merciless’ Annual Tax Sale

Pappas: New Payment Plan Calculator helps homeowners pay late taxes in smaller increments to avoid ‘merciless’ Annual Tax Sale Cook County property owners have a free financial planning tool that can help them pay off their past-due property tax bills and avoid the “merciless” Annual Tax Sale, Treasurer Maria Pappas said today. A Payment Plan…

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

Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas

Posted on July 26, 2024July 26, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas
Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas

Sale-in-error study shows how tax buyers transfer wealth from low-income areas By Maria Pappas My office redesigned this year’s property tax bills to clearly show where your tax dollars go. On the front of every bill, you can see how much of your hard-earned money goes to each taxing body What is less visible, however,…

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

Treasurer Maria Pappas sending $22 million in automatic refunds to more than 10,000 who overpaid property taxes

Posted on July 24, 2024July 24, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Treasurer Maria Pappas sending $22 million in automatic refunds to more than 10,000 who overpaid property taxes
Treasurer Maria Pappas sending $22 million in automatic refunds to more than 10,000 who overpaid property taxes

Treasurer Maria Pappas sending $22 million in automatic refunds to more than 10,000 who overpaid property taxes Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is sending more than $22 million in automatic refunds to more than 10,000 property owners who overpaid their property taxes last year. “For many senior citizens and others, the value of tax breaks…

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

Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 

Posted on July 13, 2024July 13, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 
Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person 

Paying tax bill online is easy and safe, but you can also pay by mail or in person  By Maria Pappas Property owners face an Aug. 1 due date to pay their Second Installment 2023 tax bills. Many homeowners authorize their mortgage company to pay their two annual property tax installments from an escrow account….

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

Read your property tax bill Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas urges homeowners

Posted on July 10, 2024July 10, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Read your property tax bill Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas urges homeowners
Read your property tax bill Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas urges homeowners

Read your property tax bill Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas urges homeowners Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas urges homeowners hit by record property tax hikes to see ‘Where Your Money Goes’ by visiting her website which provides details and comparisons on where increases occurred Cook County taxpayers should read their property tax bills to better…

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Chicago, Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes

Posted on July 1, 2024July 1, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes
Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes

Homeowners shocked by tax hikes should read bills to find out where their money goes By Maria Pappas Record-high increases in property tax bills have shocked and angered many Cook County property owners, especially in the south suburbs. Second Installment 2023 bills are online at cookcountytreasurer.com and arriving in mailboxes in early July. Bills are…

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

Treasurer Maria Pappas analysis shows record-high property tax increases for south suburban homeowners 

Posted on June 27, 2024June 27, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Treasurer Maria Pappas analysis shows record-high property tax increases for south suburban homeowners 
Treasurer Maria Pappas analysis shows record-high property tax increases for south suburban homeowners 

Treasurer Maria Pappas analysis shows record-high property tax increases for south suburban homeowners  Homeowners in many south and southwest suburbs will have to pay a lot more in property taxes as the median tax bill jumped a record 19.9% in the region, according to an analysis released today by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. The…

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Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, News, Taxes

You may be owed a refund for overpaying property taxes during past 20 years

Posted on June 14, 2024June 14, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on You may be owed a refund for overpaying property taxes during past 20 years
You may be owed a refund for overpaying property taxes during past 20 years

You may be owed a refund for overpaying property taxes during past 20 years By Maria Pappas My office is sitting on about $93 million in potential refunds for property tax overpayments going back 20 years. Most overpayments occurred because more than one person paid the same tax bill twice. Reasons why duplicate payments occurred…

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Treasurer Maria Pappas featured in Women and Leadership Archives at Loyola University Chicago

Posted on June 11, 2024June 11, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Treasurer Maria Pappas featured in Women and Leadership Archives at Loyola University Chicago
Treasurer Maria Pappas featured in Women and Leadership Archives at Loyola University Chicago

Treasurer Maria Pappas featured in Women and Leadership Archives at Loyola University Chicago More than 34,000 documents, multimedia files and other items highlighting the career accomplishments of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas are featured in the Women and Leadership Archives at Loyola University Chicago. A five-minute video that captures Pappas’ achievements and her desire to…

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Cook County, Features, Maria Pappas, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

Here’s why your tax bill tells you about government debt and pensions

Posted on June 1, 2024June 2, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Here’s why your tax bill tells you about government debt and pensions
Here’s why your tax bill tells you about government debt and pensions

Here’s why your tax bill tells you about government debt and pensions By Maria Pappas I do not determine your property taxes. My job as county treasurer is to bill, collect and distribute that money to pay for local government services. Local governments typically rely on property taxes to fund payrolls and other day-to-day expenses….

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Blogger, Commentary, Cook County, Government, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information

Posted on May 20, 2024May 20, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information
Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information

Treasurer’s website offers easy way to update property tax bill address information By Maria Pappas My website, cookcountytreasurer.com, offers people an easy way to correct, change or update name and address information about where property tax bills are mailed. The best option is to electronically request the change online. You may request a change in…

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Treasurer Pappas honors business, community leaders during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration

Posted on May 17, 2024May 17, 2024 By Ray Hanania 1 Comment on Treasurer Pappas honors business, community leaders during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration
Treasurer Pappas honors business, community leaders during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration

Treasurer Pappas honors business, community leaders during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recognized 14 business and community leaders with Certificates of Excellence during an Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration. The event took place at 3 p.m. Friday, May 17, at the Cook County Treasurer’s…

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Civil Rights, Cook County, Maria Pappas, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland

Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills 

Posted on April 20, 2024April 20, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills 
Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills 

Senior citizen exemptions help give homeowners a break on big tax bills  By Maria Pappas Senior citizens can get a break on their property tax bills, but they need to apply when seeking savings for the first time. The popular tax break is known as the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption. For homeowners already receiving the…

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

Homeowner exemptions slash tax bills. So why do so many fail to apply? 

Posted on April 5, 2024April 5, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Homeowner exemptions slash tax bills. So why do so many fail to apply? 
Homeowner exemptions slash tax bills. So why do so many fail to apply? 

Homeowner exemptions slash tax bills. So why do so many fail to apply?  By Maria Pappas Homeowners can reduce their property tax bills by hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year by taking advantage of the Homeowner Exemption. Exemptions are tax breaks. To qualify for the Homeowner Exemption, first-time applicants must have occupied the…

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Baby Boomers, Blogger, Chicago, Commentary, Cook County, Maria Pappas, Opinion, Taxes

Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes 

Posted on March 27, 2024March 27, 2024 By Ray Hanania No Comments on Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes 
Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes 

Top 10 tips that help homeowners better understand their property taxes  By Maria Pappas Homeowners have taught me a few things about property taxes while I have served as Cook County Treasurer. One lesson is that the property tax system is complicated. Many people unfamiliar with the process have told me that they wished there…

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

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  • Andrew Boutros US Attorney Illinois
    Owner of Chicago-Area Convenience Stores Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding Low-Income Food Program
    March 5, 2026
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings calls for enhanced training for court-appointed guardians to protect Illinois children
    March 5, 2026
  • Father and child Leving photograph
    Dad Wins Custody of Son After Terrifying DCFS Call
    March 5, 2026
  • Pastor John Harrell, candidate for the 8th Illinois State House seat vacated by LaShawn Ford in the March 2026 election
    Statement from John Harrell Candidate for the 8th Illinois House District In the March 17, 2026 Democratic Primary election
    March 5, 2026

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    Illinois lets senior citizens defer up to $7,500 a year in property taxes
    January 2, 2026
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    December 26, 2025
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