Veterans Reminded to Check for Property Tax Savings

Cook County – This Veterans Day, Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi reminds veterans that they may be eligible for property tax-saving exemptions that reduce their tax bills.

“Today, we honor the sacrifice and service of millions of American veterans throughout our nation’s history,” said Assessor Kaegi. “Here at the Cook County Assessor’s Office, we are committed to assisting our veterans in any way that we can.” 

The Assessor’s Office processes 10,000 exemptions for veterans annually. Veterans who believe they may have been eligible for a past exemption can file for a Certificate of Error dating back to Tax Year 2021. 

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi speaks at “A Salute to Our Vets” event hosted by Cook County Comm. Alma Anaya and U.S. Rep. Jesús G. "Chuy" García on Thursday, Nov. 7. 

The Assessor’s Office administers three exemptions for veterans: 

The Veterans with Disabilities Exemption is for veterans with a service-connected disability as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The exemption reduces the equalized assessed value (EAV) on the primary residence of a veteran with a disability, very likely lowering the tax bill. Veterans who are 70% or more disabled receive an EAV reduction of $250,000.

Veterans must renew annually, except for those who are rated 100% disabled and classified as “totally and permanently disabled” by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. They are automatically renewed once the 100% rating and the “total and permanent” status is registered with the Assessor’s office. 

The Returning Veterans Exemption is for veterans returning from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States. They are eligible to receive a $5,000 reduction in the equalized assessed value of their property only for each taxable year in which they return and the year after. 

The World War II Veterans Exemption, recently created by the Illinois General Assembly, exempts veterans of World War II from property taxes. In April 2025, Assessor Kaegi and his staff welcomed veterans and their families to the office to honor their service and celebrate this new exemption. 

Application assistance is available in-person at one of our branch offices. Schedule an appointment today at https://www.cookcountyassessoril.gov/appt

For a list of in-person and virtual outreach events, visit www.cookcountyassessor.com/event-list.

For more information about exemptions, visit www.cookcountyassessor.com/exemptions.