The Cook County property tax system gives every property owner the right to challenge their assessment. We handle the process from start to finish so you don't have to navigate it alone.
Start Your Appeal Call UsIllinois law provides multiple levels of review for property tax assessments. Here's how the process works and where our firm steps in at each stage.
When your township is reassessed, the Cook County Assessor's Office publishes new assessed values. Property owners have approximately 30 days to file an appeal directly with the Assessor. We prepare and file these appeals using comparable sales evidence and assessment ratio analysis to demonstrate that your property is over-valued.
The Board of Review is an independent body that conducts a second level of review. Even if you didn't file at the Assessor level, you can file here. We submit detailed evidence packets including comparable sales, property condition documentation, and income and expense data where applicable. The Board of Review can reduce your assessment regardless of the Assessor's decision.
If the Board of Review doesn't provide a satisfactory result, property owners can appeal to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB). This is a state-level administrative hearing where a formal case is presented. PTAB reviews the evidence independently and can order a reduction in your assessed value. Our firm handles PTAB proceedings for cases that warrant further review.
Cook County is divided into three districts — the City of Chicago, the north and northwest suburbs, and the south and west suburbs. Each district is reassessed once every three years. When your township is up for reassessment, it's critical to review your new assessed value and file an appeal if it's too high.
The assessed value of your property is not the same as its market value. In Cook County, residential properties are assessed at 10% of their estimated fair market value. If the Assessor's estimated market value is higher than what your property would actually sell for, you have strong grounds for an appeal.
Each level of appeal has a strict filing deadline. The Assessor's Office window opens when your township's reassessment is published and typically lasts about 30 days. Board of Review deadlines are published separately. Missing a deadline means waiting until the next assessment cycle — potentially three years.
Our firm handles property tax appeals on a contingency basis. There is no fee unless we successfully reduce your assessment. We absorb the cost of preparing your case, pulling comparable sales data, and filing all necessary paperwork. You pay only if we deliver results.
Whether your township was just reassessed or you want to prepare for the next cycle, we can review your property and advise you on the best path forward. Contact our office to get started.
