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.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION Attach a copy of each property owner's driver's license or state-issued personal identification certificate. The address listed on the driver's license or state-issued personal identification certificate must correspond to the property address for which the exemption is requested.
The home must have been the principal place of residence of the owner on the lien date, January 1st. To claim the exemption, the homeowner must make a one-time filing with the county assessor where the property is located.
The Homeowner Exemption reduces the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) of a property by $10,000.
Declared Homestead. Currently, the California homestead exemption is automatic, meaning that a homestead declaration does not need to be filed with the county clerk. Under the new 2021 law, $300,000–$600,000 of a home's equity cannot be touched by judgment creditors.
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.
Homestead exemptions are deducted from the assessed value of the qualifying property (40% of the fair market value.) To receive the benefit of the homestead exemption, the taxpayer must file an initial application. In Cook County the application is filed with the Tax Assessor's office.
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.
Most homeowners are eligible for this exemption if they own and occupy their property as their principal place of residence.