An Illinois homeowner who turns 65 can knock thousands off the value their property tax is figured on, and a lower-income senior can freeze that value entirely. That is what Illinois senior property tax relief is built to do: keep a rising tax bill from pushing a fixed-income homeowner out of the house. This guide covers the three main breaks, who qualifies, and the exact forms to file.

None of these apply automatically. You claim them through your county assessor or county collector.

In This Guide

First, Understand EAV

Illinois does not tax your home's full market value. It taxes the equalized assessed value, or EAV. Get that concept and every break below makes sense.

Here is the short version. Your county assessor assigns an assessed value, usually a third of market value. The state applies an equalization factor to even out counties. The result is your EAV. Your tax rate is then applied to the EAV, not the sale price.

Senior relief works on the EAV. An exemption subtracts a fixed dollar amount of EAV before the rate hits. A freeze locks the EAV in place so future increases do not raise your taxable base. Lower EAV, lower bill.

The rules below come from the Illinois Department of Revenue, which sets the statewide exemptions, and your county assessor, who applies them.

The Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption

This is the baseline break, and most senior homeowners qualify for it.

The Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption reduces your home's EAV by a flat amount. In Cook County and the counties that touch it, the reduction is $8,000. In every other Illinois county, it is $5,000.

To qualify, you must be 65 or older during the tax year, own the home, and live in it as your primary residence. There is no income limit on this one. Any senior who owns and occupies the home can claim it.

A quick example. Say your home's EAV is $60,000 and you live in a county next to Cook. The $8,000 senior exemption drops your taxable EAV to $52,000. Your tax rate then applies to the lower figure. The dollar savings depends on your local rate, but the EAV cut is the same for every senior in your area.

You apply once through your county assessor, the office Illinois calls the Chief County Assessment Officer. In many counties it renews automatically after that; some ask you to confirm. Check with your assessor so a missed renewal does not cost you the break.

The Low-Income Senior Assessment Freeze

This is the strongest tool for a senior on a tight budget, and it is the one most people miss.

The Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption does what its name says. It freezes your home's EAV at the value in the year you first qualify. When assessments rise around you, your taxable base does not move. Your bill can still change if local tax rates change, but rising property values stop inflating it.

The catch is income. Total household income must be at or below the limit, and Illinois is phasing that limit up:

Tax year Income limit Bill payable
2026 $75,000 or less 2027
2027 $77,000 or less 2028
2028 and after $79,000 or less later years

For tax year 2026, the household income limit is $75,000, rising to $77,000 for 2027 and $79,000 for 2028 and after. If you saw an older figure like $65,000, it is out of date. Use the year-specific number above.

You also must be 65 or older and own and occupy the home, the same as the standard senior exemption.

Here is the part that trips people up. The freeze is not permanent once granted. You must reapply every year on Form PTAX-340, the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption Application. Miss a year and the freeze lapses. File it with your county assessor each year by their deadline.

The freeze stacks with the regular Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption. You can hold both. One subtracts a fixed EAV amount; the other stops your EAV from climbing.

The Senior Real Estate Tax Deferral

The exemptions lower your bill. The deferral lets you stop paying it now.

The Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program lets a qualifying homeowner postpone up to $7,500 of property taxes per year. The state pays the county on your behalf and treats it as a loan against your home.

The terms are specific:

  • Age and income. You must be 65 or older and meet the same income limits as the assessment freeze, $75,000 or less for tax year 2026.
  • Equity cap. The total you can defer is capped at 80 percent of your equity in the home. The state will not let deferred taxes erode your cushion past that line.
  • Interest. The deferred balance accrues 3 percent simple interest a year. Simple, not compounding, so the interest does not snowball the way a compounding balance would.

This is a postponement, not forgiveness. The deferred taxes plus interest get repaid later, usually when you sell the home, move out, or the property passes to your estate. A lien secures the state's loan in the meantime.

The deferral makes sense for a senior who is house-rich but cash-poor, the kind of homeowner weighing whether to sell or rent the home to pay for care. Deferring buys time without giving up the house. Just remember the balance comes due eventually, and heirs inherit that debt against the property.

You apply through your county collector, not the assessor, and the window is tight: January 1 through March 1 each year. Miss that window and you wait until next year.

The General Homestead Exemption

Worth knowing, because it is not senior-specific and you likely already have it.

The General Homestead Exemption goes to any owner-occupant, regardless of age. It reduces EAV by up to $10,000 in Cook County, $8,000 in the contiguous counties, and $6,000 elsewhere.

A senior homeowner usually gets this one on top of the senior exemptions. They stack. The general exemption is the floor every homeowner stands on; the senior breaks pile additional EAV reductions on top. Confirm with your assessor that all the exemptions you qualify for are actually applied to your bill, because each one only helps if it is on file.

Illinois Senior Property Tax Relief at a Glance

Program What it does Who qualifies How to claim
Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption Cuts EAV by $8,000 (Cook + contiguous) or $5,000 (elsewhere) Homeowner 65+, owns and occupies; no income limit Apply once with the county assessor
Low-Income Senior Assessment Freeze Freezes EAV at the qualifying-year value Homeowner 65+; household income $75,000 or less for TY2026 File Form PTAX-340 with the assessor every year
Senior Real Estate Tax Deferral Defers up to $7,500/year as a 3% state loan, capped at 80% of equity Homeowner 65+; same income limit as the freeze Apply with the county collector, Jan 1 to Mar 1
General Homestead Exemption Cuts EAV by up to $10,000 / $8,000 / $6,000 Any owner-occupant, any age Apply with the county assessor

How to Apply for Illinois Senior Property Tax Relief

Two different offices handle Illinois senior property tax relief. Get them straight before you start.

The county assessor (Chief County Assessment Officer) handles every exemption: the senior exemption, the freeze, and the general exemption. The county collector handles the deferral. In Cook County, the exemption side runs through the Cook County Assessor.

Follow these steps:

  1. Find your county assessor. Search the county name plus "assessor" or "Chief County Assessment Officer." Each county runs its own forms portal and sets its own filing deadline.
  2. Apply for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption the year you turn 65. You file once; many counties renew it automatically after that.
  3. File Form PTAX-340 for the freeze if your household income is at or below the year's limit. This one you refile every single year. Put it on the calendar.
  4. Apply for the deferral with the county collector between January 1 and March 1, but only if deferring your bill makes sense for your situation.

If property taxes are one piece of a bigger question about paying for care, our guide to how to pay for senior care covers Medicaid, VA benefits, and private-pay options alongside home equity.

Not sure which exemptions your county applies? Chat with Brevy's care navigator to sort out your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. The Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption, the Low-Income Senior Assessment Freeze, and the General Homestead Exemption can all apply to the same home at once. One cuts a fixed amount of EAV, one freezes the EAV, and the general exemption sits underneath both. Confirm with your assessor that each one is on your bill.

It depends on the break. The standard Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption is usually a one-time application that renews automatically in many counties. The assessment freeze is different: you must refile Form PTAX-340 every year, or it lapses.

Both use total household income, and the limit for tax year 2026 is $75,000 or less, rising to $77,000 for 2027 and $79,000 for 2028 and after. Use the figure for the tax year you are applying for, not an older published number.

The deferred taxes accrue 3 percent simple interest a year, and a lien sits on the home until you repay. You can defer up to $7,500 a year, capped at 80 percent of your equity. The balance is paid when you sell or when the home passes to your estate.

No. The Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption has no income test. Any homeowner who is 65 or older and lives in the home as their primary residence qualifies, whatever their income. The income limits apply only to the freeze and the deferral.

Next Steps

Start with the exemptions. They cost you nothing and lower your bill right away.

  • Apply for the Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption with your county assessor the year you turn 65.
  • File Form PTAX-340 for the freeze if your household income is at or below the year's limit, and refile it every year.
  • Confirm the General Homestead Exemption is already on your bill, and stacked with the senior breaks.
  • Consider the deferral with your county collector between January 1 and March 1 only if your tax bill is more than you can pay.

If borrowing against the home is on the table, weigh it against the deferral. A reverse mortgage for senior care and the senior tax deferral both tap home equity, but they work very differently and carry different costs.

Learn More

Find personalized help lowering or deferring your Illinois property taxes at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

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Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.