In Illinois, appeal deadlines are approaching fast. Specifically in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, where O’Connor represents residential property tax protests, many appeal deadlines have already been announced for September. For Cook County, there are two deadlines, the Assessor deadline and the Board of Review (BOR) deadline. Outside of Cook County, there is only the BOR deadline, meaning it is the only opportunity to appeal for the current year. Illinois is consistently ranked among states with the highest property taxes in the nation; no doubt thousands of homeowners are paying more than their fair share. It is important to take advantage of appealing for a chance at a reduction before the deadline for your township has passed. For properties in Cook County, you may appeal first at the Assessor level, but if you are not successful at appeals, then it is important to take advantage of the... Read More

Property owners in New York are not new to notably high property taxes, but few are aware of the tax relief programs that are available to help ease some of the tax burden. Tax relief programs such as STAR can greatly benefit New York property owners by helping them save up to thousands of dollars a year if eligible. What is the STAR Program? The STAR, or School Tax Relief Program, offers property tax relief to eligible homeowners in New York by reducing school district property taxes on their home or by offering refund credits. In this way, it compensates for the relief through state funds. Through this program, homeowners can achieve tax relief either through direct credits issued as checks or exemptions. Due to the large potential savings, it’s worth checking eligibility and registering as soon as possible. Basic vs Enhanced There are two types of benefits: Basic Star... Read More

The Chicago metropolitan area is one of the largest in the United States and continues to grow at a breakneck pace. The collar counties which surround Cook County and Chicago are seeing a huge influx of people as the areas become more suburban each year. The collar counties are seen as having better schools, lower crime, and more space to live in. However, as more people arrive to pursue the dream of homeownership, property values across the collar counties have begun to rise every year, along with the record taxes that one can expect in Illinois. Plainfield Township is one of the fastest-growing townships in Illinois. While it is a relatively long commute from Chicago, many residents find it to be worth the effort. Joliet, also in Will County, is much closer and also a great place to work. With the transformation from rural villages to bustling suburbs taking only... Read More

Will County dwarfs the majority of Illinois counties when it comes to population. A heady combination of suburban, rural, and exurban communities, Will is the most versatile and unique of the collar counties around Chicago. This has led to a diverse economy where one can find farms, urban sprawl, and mansions all within the borders of the county. There is a complicated and intertwined history with Cook County that goes back over a century, with Will County being both independent and influenced by Chicago. Unfortunately, one of the things this relationship has bestowed upon Will County is high property values and taxes. Joliet Township is the crown jewel of Will County and personifies it in a lot of ways. With the city of Joliet acting as a hub for transportation, industrial production, and suburban living, the township has a strong economy and a solid housing market. Straddling the line between... Read More

The 2023 reassessment of Cook County has stayed in the minds of taxpayers like an ever-present shadow and has been one of the most impactful events for taxpayers in Illinois as a whole. While high property taxes are the norm in Illinois, especially Cook County, 2023 was when the wheels really fell off. Targeting the southern suburbs and the urban core of Chicago itself, the reassessment saw property values rise to a staggering degree. Even worse, individual properties saw spikes as high as 500%, some even experienced a 700% increase to their taxable value. As this was aimed at most middle-class and working people, this wrought devastation on people attempting to keep their homes or businesses. It was this disaster that truly brought property tax appeals to the forefront. After it was revealed that the properties of working people and minorities were disproportionally targeted, people demanded a change. Unfortunately, politics... Read More