Why You Should Review Your Property Assessment in Aurora
Your property assessment plays an important role in determining how much you pay in property taxes. If your property is assessed for more than it is worth, or is assessed higher than similar properties, you could be paying more than your fair share. Reviewing your assessment can help identify errors or opportunities to lower your property taxes.
Property taxes can be overwhelming, but understanding your options in Kane County can help you make informed decisions about your property. From reviewing your assessment for errors to taking advantage of available exemptions or appealing an assessment that appears too high, property owners have several opportunities to potentially reduce their tax burden. Knowing what options are available and when to act can make all the difference.
Explore Property Tax Savings Options
As with the rest of Illinois, the people of Lake County and Avon Township are looking for the best way to reduce their tax burden. Lake County currently has the highest property taxes in the state, which is troubling, especially considering Illinois ranks No. 1 in the nation for real estate taxes. While taxes cannot be lowered directly through various techniques, the values used to calculate property tax bills can be lowered. There are two primary methods used to lower taxable value, and every Avon Township property owner should be using them whenever possible.
Exemptions:
An exemption offers a low-effort route to reduce property taxes. There are a few options, so many property owners will qualify for at least one. A homestead exemption is only available to homeowners who use a property as their primary residence. While this is a strict guideline, approved property owners can reduce their equalized assessed value (EAV) by $8,000. Other options include exemptions for some veterans, qualifying seniors, and those with disabilities. These options are available, and all a property owner has to do is file.
Property Tax Appeals:
These are more involved than exemptions because they challenge the value assigned to a property by the assessor. While appeals require supporting evidence and more work, they can provide significant savings for both homeowners and businesses. An appeal can complement existing exemptions or provide an opportunity for tax relief on properties with limited exemption options, such as rental homes. Appeals may be based on overassessment or lack of uniformity and require evidence. In Aurora Township, there is only a single deadline to file an appeal.
Appeal Can Mean the Difference in Avon
The main driver of a successful property tax appeal is the evidence. This is because appeals must be decided on certain grounds, each of which requires a specific type of evidence. In cases of overassessment, which occurs when a home or business is assessed at more than its market value, the taxpayer must provide a series of property sales dating back three years. For cases of a lack of uniformity, the taxpayer needs to bring assessments that indicate they are being overassessed. The evidence in either case must meet strict requirements and should be similar in size, location, age, and other characteristics.
In addition to strict evidence, appeals also have a narrow deadline, usually 30 days after the notice of assessment has been published. There is only a single appeal deadline, which is with the Board of Review (BOR). While Cook County has two separate cutoff dates, this is not the case for Avon Township or the rest of Lake County. This means that a taxpayer must be fully prepared by their deadline, or they will lose the ability to challenge their values entirely. There are several deadlines that a taxpayer needs to be prepared for.
Property tax appeal deadline: October 13, 2026
First installment of property taxes due: June 1, 2026
Second installment of property taxes due:September 1, 2026
O’Connor Handles the Details
A successful property tax appeal in Aurora Township depends on having the right evidence, which can be one of the most time-consuming parts of the process. Property owners need to review their assessments, identify potential errors, determine whether their property is valued fairly, and find relevant information to support their case.
That’s where O’Connor can help. We analyze your property assessment to identify potential opportunities for a property tax reduction and use data-driven techniques to gather supporting evidence, including finding relevant comparable properties. Once the evidence is assembled, we coordinate your appeal with a law firm that focuses exclusively on property tax matters. There is no upfront cost, and you will only pay if your taxes are lowered.
