Cook County Homeowner’s Exemption: How to Save Money on Chicago Property Taxes
If you’re a homeowner in Chicago, property taxes can feel overwhelming. The good news? The Cook County Homeowner’s Exemption could save you hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars every year.
Yet, many homeowners don’t even know it exists — or they forget to file. Even worse, some have missed years of savings they could have claimed back.
In this post, I’ll explain:
✅ What the Cook County Homeowner’s Exemption is
✅ Who qualifies and how much you can save
✅ Step-by-step instructions to file online
✅ How to claim past refunds with a Certificate of Error
🏡 What Is the Cook County Homeowner’s Exemption?
The Homeowner’s Exemption is a property tax break designed to reduce the taxable value of your home if it’s your primary residence.
In Cook County, this exemption reduces the equalized assessed value (EAV) of your property, which directly lowers your property tax bill.
Translation: if you live in your home, you should almost always file for this exemption.
💡 On average, Chicago homeowners save hundreds per year with this exemption, depending on their property’s assessed value.
✅ Who Qualifies for the Homeowner’s Exemption?
You qualify if:
You own the property, and
It is your primary residence
You do not qualify if the property is:
A rental
A vacation home
An investment property
If you recently purchased your home, you’ll want to make sure your exemption is filed as soon as possible. You must own your home as of January 1st to claim the exemption for that year!
🖥️ How to File the Cook County Homeowner’s Exemption Online
Filing is quick and can usually be done in under 10 minutes.
Here’s how:
Go to the Cook County Assessor’s Office website
Search for your property by PIN (Property Index Number) or address
Click on “Apply for Exemptions”
Complete the Homeowner’s Exemption application
Upload proof of residency if requested (driver’s license, state ID, utility bill)
Once approved, your exemption will automatically roll over each year — you won’t need to reapply unless your residency changes.
🔁 Missed Past Years? File a Certificate of Error
If you forgot to file in previous years, don’t worry! Cook County allows you to file a Certificate of Error to retroactively claim your exemption.
You can go back up to three years
If approved, you’ll receive a refund check for the overpaid taxes
👉 Example: If you’ve lived in your home since 2021 but only filed your exemption in 2024, you can submit Certificates of Error for 2021, 2022, and 2023 to get those tax savings refunded.
This is one of the most overlooked homeowner benefits in Cook County — and it could mean thousands back in your pocket.
Check out my video here explaining the Homeowner’s Exemption!