Townships Reopening from December 3 to December 12

• Barrington
• Berwyn
• Bremen
• Calumet
• Cicero
• Elk Grove
• Evanston
• Hyde Park
• Lakeview
• Lemont
• Leyden
• Lyons
• Maine
• New Trier
• Northfield
• Norwood Park
• Oak Park
• Palos
• River Forest
• Riverside
• Rogers Park
• Stickney
• West Chicago
• Worth

A Compressed Window

Typically, Cook County townships are processed slowly through the BOR appeal process, with small batches having 30 days to file an appeal. This is not the case for the reopening, and taxpayers in each of the townships above will have only 10 days to file their appeals. This is incredibly short notice for such a complex process, which could leave desperate taxpayers scrambling to get everything done by the deadline.

Evidence Required

If filing an appeal yourself, you will also need evidence to support your case before the BOR. Depending on the grounds on which you wish to appeal, the requirements can be quite demanding. This includes collecting photographs and information about your home, along with the same for similar properties in your neighborhood. If you wish to appeal on the grounds of recent sales, you must also have sales records from within the past three years. This can be a lot to put together, even under normal circumstances. Typically, you would have more time to get this done, but this unique circumstance will require you to work fast and hard.

Professional Representation

While you can do your BOR appeal by yourself, this shortened timeframe could make that difficult. You will not only need to gather the evidence required, but you will have to be prepared to present your case as well. Professional help is an option you may want to consider. Though only an attorney can represent you before the BOR, tax experts and consulting firms can help in other ways, especially when it comes to gathering evidence, providing analysis, or connecting you with attorneys who specialize in property tax appeals.

O’Connor Brings Expertise to Gathering Evidence and Analysis

At O’Connor, we have been helping businesses and homeowners through property tax matters for over 50 years. In response to the widespread issues and property tax pain in Cook County and the surrounding area, we opened a branch office in Aurora to serve the needs of property owners in Chicagoland. This means we have local expertise, especially when it comes to evidence that the BOR requires, something firms without local experience often lack. This institutional knowledge can also be key in the short time available for this reopening period.

Our local experts can help you when it comes to gathering evidence. We will analyze your assessment and taxes, hunting for overlooked errors that can help your case. Cook County assessments often hold major errors hiding in plain sight, ones that can be easily found by trained eyes. We will also look into comparable properties, aiding in the most arduous part of putting evidence together. Our proprietary database tracks thousands of home sales, allowing us to put together a curated portfolio of evidence to establish fair market value for the home. Thanks to the blatant overvaluing of homes, especially on the West and South sides, this could be the most valuable tool of all.

We coordinate your appeal with an attorney who understands both property tax law and how the BOR works. With our evidence, your legal team, and your dedication, you should have the best possible shot at getting a reduction. We will not charge you for the evidence or analysis and will only ask for a contingency fee if your appeal results in a tax reduction. Since Cook County issues are almost certain to continue into the future, we will also analyze your assessment in the years to come, recommending and coordinating appeals if they are needed. This way, your property is protected well into the future.