Cook County Real Estate Tax Bills

First installment property tax bills for tax year 2022 will be arriving in mailboxes in early March, according to Wheeling Township Assessor Ken Jochum. "Property taxes are paid in two installments. The first installment is fifty-five percent (55%) of a property's total tax bill for the previous year, and will be due on April 3, 2023," Jochum said.

Under state law, first installment bills are supposed to be mailed in late January and are supposed to be due on March 1. But last year's second installment bills were not due until December 30, 2022, and the state legislature determined that having another tax bill due March 1, could cause hardship for some taxpayers. Accordingly, lawmakers decided to extend the due date to April 3 for this year only. Next year's first installment tax bills should have the familiar March 1 due date.

Taxpayers looking at this year's first installment bills should note that they do not reflect homeowner, senior citizen, or other exemptions, nor do reflect the impact of successful assessment appeals filed for tax year 2022. Exemptions and successful appeals will instead appear on second installment bills, along with the effect of changes in the tax levies of local governments. Second installment bills will likely be due at some time in the fall of 2023.

Details about Paying Taxes. Property owners who do not have mortgage companies paying their taxes can make tax payments in person, by mail, or online at the Cook County Treasurer's website, www.cookcountytreasurer.com. Those wishing to pay in person can do so at the Cook County Treasurer's downtown office at 118 N. Clark Street and at any Chase Bank in the Chicago area.

If money for property taxes is paid into an escrow account with a taxpayer's mortgage company, the financial institution should receive the tax bill electronically, even if the taxpayer also receives a copy of the bill. Assessor Jochum advises taxpayers with property tax escrows held by their mortgage companies not to pay property taxes on their own, as this may result in a double payment of taxes. But taxpayers with mortgage escrows should check the Cook County Treasurer's website to verify that their mortgage companies have paid the taxes.