Thousands of Chicago-area homeowners will be receiving a refund on their property taxes without filing any paperwork, the Cook County treasurer announced Friday.
Roughly $19.5 million total will be returned to around 53,000 homeowners via check or credit because of changes in exemptions, or property tax benefits, in effect for the bill that was due Aug. 1, according to Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas.
About 36,000 homeowners who paid online or by check will receive a credit to their bank or credit card accounts by Aug. 15, Pappas said in a statement.
An additional 15,000 who paid through a bank/mortgage escrow account will be mailed a refund check by Oct. 15, according to the treasurer, while 2,000 homeowners who paid in cash will be mailed a refund application by Aug. 15 to ensure the proper party receives the refund.
Homeowners can check if they are entitled to a refund on the Cook County Treasurer's website by clicking the purple box on the homepage that reads "Your Property Overview," then searching by address or Property Index Number (PIN).
Letters detailing information on the property tax cuts and how to receive them will be mailed to all eligible homeowners by Aug. 9, Pappas said.
The refunds were a result of legislation passed by the Illinois General Assembly that increased exemptions for homeowners and senior citizens, according to the treasurer.
