Money & Debt · Homestead (property tax)
Homestead Property-Tax Exemption in Illinois
How much the homestead exemption cuts the property-tax bill on an owner-occupied home in Illinois, which taxes it touches, and how to claim it, cited to the statute.
How the benefit works in Illinois
The size of the break, which taxes it applies to, and how to claim it.
Unlike the creditor homestead, which is usually automatic, the Illinois property-tax homestead has to be claimed. Apply through your county assessor or supervisor of assessments. In Cook County the exemption renews automatically once granted; many other counties also renew automatically, but confirm with your county.
| Rule | In Illinois | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Benefit | $6,000 to $10,000 off EAV | The General Homestead Exemption lowers the equalized assessed value (EAV) of your principal residence before the tax rate is applied. For tax year 2023 and after, the reduction is up to $10,000 in counties of 3 million or more (Cook), $8,000 in counties bordering Cook, and $6,000 in all other counties. Your actual dollar savings equal the reduction times your local tax rate. |
| Applies to | All local property taxes | Which property taxes the benefit reduces. Some homestead breaks touch only school taxes, not the full bill. |
| Must apply | Yes | Apply through your county assessor or supervisor of assessments. In Cook County the exemption renews automatically once granted; many other counties also renew automatically, but confirm with your county. |
| Varies locally | Yes | The EAV reduction comes in three tiers: $10,000 in Cook County, $8,000 in the five collar counties that border Cook (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will), and $6,000 elsewhere. Your dollar savings then depend on your local tax rate. |
| Authority | 35 ILCS 200/15-175 (General Homestead Exemption) | The controlling statute or agency rule. Read the full text through the source link below. |
Next steps to claim it
Concrete, neutral steps to get the homestead break in Illinois. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.
- Apply through your county assessor
File for the General Homestead Exemption with your county assessor or supervisor of assessments. You must own and occupy the home as your principal residence. In Cook County it renews automatically once granted.
- Use the right tier for your county
The EAV reduction is $10,000 in Cook, $8,000 in the collar counties that border Cook, and $6,000 elsewhere. Make sure you are looking at the tier for your county, since the older two-tier figures are out of date.
- Check for senior and other exemptions
Illinois also offers a senior homestead exemption and a senior assessment freeze, among others, which stack on top of the general exemption. If you are 65 or older, ask your county whether you qualify for more.
To claim or check the homestead exemption on your property tax, start with your state tax agency or county assessor. This resource explains the steps.
→ Illinois Department of Revenue (Property Tax Relief)This is general information, not tax or legal advice. These figures change often and vary by locality, so confirm the current amount with your county before you rely on it.
What people get wrong in Illinois
Illinois has two homesteads to keep straight, and this is the tax one that lowers your property-tax bill, not the creditor exemption that protects your equity. The General Homestead Exemption under 35 ILCS 200/15-175 reduces the equalized assessed value of your principal residence before the tax rate is applied. Since tax year 2023 the reduction comes in three tiers rather than two: up to $10,000 in Cook County, $8,000 in the five collar counties that border Cook, and $6,000 in the rest of the state. Your actual savings are that reduction multiplied by your local tax rate, so the dollar benefit varies with where you live. You claim it through your county assessor, and in Cook County it renews automatically once granted. Older sources that describe only a $10,000 and $6,000 split miss the middle $8,000 tier added for the collar counties. Seniors can stack additional exemptions and an assessment freeze on top, so it is worth asking your county what else you qualify for.
Common questions
How much is the Illinois homestead property-tax exemption?
The General Homestead Exemption reduces your home’s equalized assessed value by up to $10,000 in Cook County, $8,000 in the counties that border Cook, and $6,000 elsewhere. Your dollar savings equal that reduction times your local tax rate.
Do I have to apply for the Illinois homestead exemption?
Yes, through your county assessor or supervisor of assessments, and you must own and occupy the home as your principal residence. In Cook County the exemption renews automatically once granted; many other counties also auto-renew, but confirm with yours.
Why do Illinois counties have different homestead amounts?
The statute sets three tiers: $10,000 in Cook County, $8,000 in the five collar counties that border Cook (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will), and $6,000 in all other counties. The tiers reflect different assessment levels across the state.
What is the difference between the homestead tax and homestead creditor exemption in Illinois?
They are separate. This tax exemption reduces your property-tax bill by lowering your home’s equalized assessed value. The creditor homestead, a separate law, protects up to $50,000 of your home equity ($100,000 for co-owners) from a judgment creditor. One is a tax break; the other is asset protection.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.