Guide for Property Owners
by Linda Lane, Edgar County Treasurer

Legal Ways to Reduce your Property Taxes
Listed below are some major property tax exemptions. These are legal ways to reduce your property taxes.

Senior Citizens Exemption is for taxpayers who will be 65 years of age or older any time during the assessment year and who own and occupy their principal dwelling January 1st of the assessment year. Application for this $2,000 reduction in the assessed value must be made at the Supervisor of Assessments office at the court house annex office, telephone 466-7418.

Owner Occupancy Exemption (or general homestead exemption) is given to any taxpayer who owns and occupies a property as his/her or their principal dwelling on January 1 of the assessment year, and has a current application on file with the Supervisor of Assessments' office, court house annex, telephone 466-7418. This exemption goes up to a maximum reduction of $3,500 based on 1977 equalized values. It also applies to each apartment owned and operated as a cooperative to the extent that the apartment is occupied by a person liable for the property taxes and who has an ownership interest in the cooperative.

Homestead Improvement Exemption (H.I.E.) Homeowners who have made improvements to an existing residential structure which they occupy as their principal residence may qualify for the H.I.E. for up to $45,000 of the value of the improvements, if an assessment increase has resulted. The H.I.E. can continue for up to 4 years from completion of the improvements. Property owners who have questions about this particular exemption should contact their Township Assessor.

Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption is available to persons over 65 years of age with a total household income for the previous year of $40,000 or less, and who reside on the property as of January 1 of the assessment year and January 1 of the prior year. Deadline for this exemption is July 1. Property owners must reapply for this exemption by July 1st of each year.

Paying Taxes Using The Internet
Using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express

1. Log on to http://www.illinoispay.com website.
2. Enter "Edgar" in the search box, and click the search button.
3. Click on the link to the Edgar County Treasurer's E-pay site.
4. Click on the tax payment link near the bottom of the page.
5. Fill in the payment information as prompted.
6. Receive a payment confirmation number for your records.

Note: There will be a convenience fee charge for using this system. A full convenience fee disclosure statement is available at http://www.illinoispay.com.