Cook County waiving late fees on property taxes for two months

Cook County property owners have two additional months - until May 3 - to pay the first installment of their property tax bills without a late fee, county Treasurer Maria Pappas said Monday.

"While we hope and pray for better days ahead, the pandemic continues to test us," Pappas said in an announcement of the waiver, which was made possible by a change in state law. "This waiver of late fees offers some relief to the thousands of homeowners and business people who are struggling to pay their bills."

The county board in November waived for two months the 1.5% per month late fee on all 2020 property taxes. Taxpayers can pay the first installment, due March 2, without a late fee through May 3. Late fees also will be waived for two months for the second installment, due later this year.

Tax bills should soon start arriving in the mailboxes of the owners of about 1.8 million homes, businesses and land, Pappas said.

Taxpayers should look at the front of the bill, where a section called "Taxing District Debt and Financial Data," for information about each taxing district, including: money owed by your taxing districts; pension and health care amounts promised by your taxing districts; amount of pension and health care shortage; and percentage of pension and health care costs taxing districts are able to pay.

Property owners can pay their bills by visiting cookcountytreasurer.com and entering their street address.