How to appeal your property assessment

How to appeal your property assessment

•Assessments can be appealed for several reasons, including that a property is overvalued or not assessed in line with similar nearby homes.

•Appeal forms available at the county assessor's Web site, at your local township assessor's office or in the assessor's branch office in the Rolling Meadows courthouse allow you to check the reason for your appeal. There is no need find your own comparable properties in order to file an appeal. Cook County analysts will check properties comparable to the one being appealed. Online, go to cookcountyassesor.com/ filings/active/appeal online.asp.

•If you wish to do your own research, you're asked to select homes within your neighborhood code that closely resemble your own home in both size and style.

•After the appeal is filed, the assessor's office will analyze the information and notify residents by letter of the result of the appeal. A taxpayer advocate is available to review the appeal results and answer questions. The Taxpayer's Advocate is located in the main office of the Cook County Assessor and can be reached at (312) 603-7530.

Upcoming property assessment dates to notes and assessor's office contact numbers:

•Palatine Township: Assessment notices sent last week; deadline to appeal is Sept. 4. Call (847) 358-6700.

•Wheeling Township: Notices to be mailed Sept. 21. Call (847) 259-1515.

•Barrington Township: Notices to be mailed Oct. 13. Call (847) 381-5632.

•Schaumburg Township: Notices to be mailed Nov. 6. Call (847) 884-0030.

•Hanover Township: Notices to be mailed Dec. 21. Call (630) 837-0301.

(Elk Grove and Maine township residents got their assessments this past spring and the appeals deadline has passed.)