No Renewal Requirement For Property Tax Exemptions This Year

Taxpayers who received property tax exemptions last year will not have to renew them this year thanks to a special pandemic-driven law. Ordinarily, senior citizens eligible for the Senior Freeze have to renew their exemptions annually, as do people receiving disability exemptions. This year, however, it will not be necessary to renew these and other property tax exemptions.

"The state legislature voted not to require tens of thousands of taxpayers to send renewal forms to government offices during the pandemic," explained New Trier Assessor Jan Churchwell. "Instead, for this year only, the Senior Freeze, Disabled Veteran and Disabled Person exemptions will be automatically renewed. Also, auto-renewal of Homeowner and Senior Exemptions already in effect before the pandemic will continue.”

What if I received an exemption last year but my eligibility has changed? In that case you need to contact the offices of the township or county assessor to ensure that you receive the correct exemption. Those people most likely to need to do this are senior citizens with household income below the $65,000 eligibility threshold in prior years whose income is now above the threshold and disabled veterans whose level of disability changed compared to a prior year.

What if I became eligible for an exemption last year? People who purchased homes in 2019 should receive Homeowner Exemption applications in the mail for tax year 2020 (payable in 2021), but other taxpayers (e.g., people who turned 65 in 2020 or became newly eligible for a disability exemption or the Senior Freeze) will still need to apply using the appropriate annual application form(s). The application deadline is March 31, 2021.

What are the eligibility requirements for senior exemptions this year? Residents born in 1955 and earlier who used their New Trier Township home as a principal residence in 2020 are eligible for the Senior Citizen Exemption.

The Senior Freeze Exemption provides additional tax savings for low- to moderate-income seniors. To be eligible this year, the combined income of all people in the senior’s household must have been less than $65,000 in calendar year 2019, and the senior must have been an owner-occupant of the property since January 1, 2019.

Assessor Churchwell stated that “All exemptions will appear on the second installment tax bills that will be mailed in the summer.”

Due to the pandemic, the township offices remain closed to the public, but Assessor Jan Churchwell and Deputy Assessor Leonard Shifflett are available by phone and email. Phone (847) 446 -8200 or emailjchurchwell@newtriertownship.com
orlshifflett@newtriertownship.com

Media Contact:
Jack Macholl
Mobile (847) 727-9510

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New Trier Township’s mission is to provide leadership, advocacy and resources to benefit the physical, mental and social well being of Township residents. Established in 1850, New Trier Township government serves the 56,000 residents in the villages of Glencoe, Kenilworth, Wilmette and Winnetka, plus portions of Glenview and Northfield. The Township Office is located at 739 Elm Street in Winnetka or on-line at www.newtriertownship.com