Cook County tax bills due next March now online

Cook County residents who want to see how much property tax they will owe early next year can preview the bill now at cookcountytreasurer.com. They can also pay the bills now, though there's no penalty for waiting until May 3.

The first installment for Tax Year 2020, which is 55 percent of the previous year's total tax, is due March 2. However, the Cook County Board has waived late charges of 1.5% through May 3.

"People need more time to pay. That's the bottom line," Treasurer Maria Pappas said in a news release. "By posting the bills to my website now, property owners can start thinking about how to pay their bills for 2021, which is going to be a hard year for many, many people."

The website also can be used to search for $76 million in available refunds, check for eligibility for $46 million in property tax exemptions, or look at a 20-year history of Cook County property taxes.