Illinois Property Tax Appeal Guide
How to challenge your property tax assessment in Illinois — deadlines, process, and a savings calculator.
What This Data Tells Us About Appeals in Illinois
In Illinois, property tax appeals are filed with the County Board of Review. The typical window is 30 days after the publication of the assessment list (varies by county, typically summer), with the deadline most commonly falling in August. Filing fees reported for this state are $0, and Lincoln Institute research plus state-reported data suggest roughly 53% of appeals result in some reduction when supported by comparable sales or documented errors.
Cook County (Chicago) has its own Board of Review with specific deadlines by township. Illinois assesses at 33.33% of fair market value. Appeals are driven by the gap between a parcel's assessed value and its actual market value — the calculator below turns that gap into an annualized dollar figure at your effective tax rate. The strongest evidence is three to five arms-length comparable sales from the past six to twelve months, plus documentation of any factual errors in the assessor's record (square footage, bedroom count, finished-basement status).
This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal or tax advice. Deadlines, filing fees, success rates, and procedures vary by county within Illinois and can change year to year. Always verify the current rules with your local assessor's office — or a licensed attorney or tax professional — before filing. Source: Illinois Department of Revenue.
Appeal Deadline
30 days after the publication of the assessment list (varies by county, typically summer)
Appeal Body: County Board of Review
Step-by-Step Appeal Process
- 1
Review your assessment from the township assessor
- 2
File an appeal with the County Board of Review within 30 days of publication
- 3
Submit evidence: comparable sales, independent appraisal, or property data errors
- 4
Attend or submit a written appeal to the Board
- 5
If denied, appeal to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) or Circuit Court
Illinois-Specific Notes
Cook County (Chicago) has its own Board of Review with specific deadlines by township. Illinois assesses at 33.33% of fair market value.
Source: Illinois Department of Revenue
Assessment Savings Calculator
Estimate whether an appeal is financially worthwhile and your potential annual savings.
Find your rate on your tax bill or the county website