General Homestead Exemption (GHE) (35 ILCS 200/15-175) The amount of exemption is the increase in the current year's equalized assessed value (EAV), above the 1977 EAV, up to a maximum of $10,000 in Cook County, $8,000 in counties contiguous to Cook County, and $6,000 in all other counties.
Illinois says that a homestead is owned and occupied by the person as their home. It includes surrounding property that is not separated from the home by someone else's property.
Most homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they own and occupy their property as their principal place of residence.
Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption – Homeowners age 65 or older and living in their own home could be entitled to an additional homestead exemption. The homeowner should sign up for this exemption during the year in which he or she will turn 65. You will receive a renewal every year around January 1st.
In order to qualify for a property tax exemption, your organization must be exclusively beneficent and charitable, religious, educational, or governmental and own the property that is used exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or governmental purposes and not leased or used for profit.
This program allows persons 65 years of age and older, who have a total household income for the year of no greater than $65,000 and meet certain other qualifications, to defer all or part of the real estate taxes and special assessments (up to a maximum of $7,500) on their principal residences.
Benefit: Following the Illinois Property Tax Code, this exemption lowers the equalized assessed value of the property by $8,000.
General Homestead Exemption is better known as the Owner Occupied Exemption. This exemption allows for a reduction up to $6,000 off of the equalized assessed value (EAV). The amount of the exemption is calculated by comparing the 1977 EAV with the current EAV.
Cook County homeowners may reduce their tax bills by hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year by taking advantage of the Homeowner Exemption. Exemptions reduce the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of your home, which is multiplied by the tax rate to determine your tax bill.