Thousands of Cook County homeowners will be accumulating a check automatically within the following months, according to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas. The cash will be refunded for those who overpaid their first installment of property taxes the previous year.
The refunds will be given to more than 53,000 property owners in the Chicago-area county, amounting to more than $47 million.
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Pappas said in an announcement, “If you have a refund coming, we’ll find you and return your money, by putting refunds on automatic pilot, we’re eliminating a lot of excessive paperwork and applications.”
Here’s what residents need to know:
When will the refund arrive?
The refund checks are expected to be distributed starting this week and will continue over the following several months.
How will you receive the money?
For more than half of those who qualified for a refund, the funds will be deposited directly into their accounts over the next three months.
Here’s a breakdown from the treasurer’s office:
- 16,629 homeowners who paid their property taxes online get a total of $14.8 million electronically deposited to their accounts
- 22,241 homeowners who paid their taxes through a bank/mortgage escrow account will be sent refund checks amounting to $14.8 million
- 14,137 homeowners who paid taxes amounting to $17.4 million in cash or by check will receive an electronic refund or will be mailed a refund application.
How to know if you’re eligible for this refund?
You can check your eligibility by visiting cookcountytreasurer.com. Select the purple box labeled “Your Property Tax Overview” and enter your address or 14-digit (PIN).
Who is getting this refund?
The treasurer’s office reported that most of the refunds are rolling to homeowners receiving property tax exemptions, which are referred to as the Second Installment tax bill and reduce the total taxes due. The possible exemptions could include homeowners, senior citizens, senior freeze, and disabled persons.
