Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Deadline Looms

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March 1 Deadline for Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program

Program Allows up to $7,500 of Property Tax Deferral Per Year

Senior couple walking. Text: The Senior Citizens Tax Deferral Program allows up to $7,500 of property tax deferral per year. You may qualify!

Qualified seniors in Illinois can defer all or part of their property taxes and special assessment payments on their principal residences through the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program.

Seniors needing assistance paying their property taxes have until March 1st to apply for the program through their local County Collector’s Office.

Taxpayers who apply and qualify are allowed to defer a maximum of $7,500 per tax year, including both first and second installment payments. Deferred amounts are borrowed from the state, which pays the tax bill to the county collector’s office.

Interest on the amount paid by the state accumulates and a lien is placed on the property for all deferred tax payments and interest. Three percent simple interest per year is payable upon death of the homeowner, at the time the home is transferred to a new owner, or sooner, if the program participant chooses to pay off the deferred tax payments and interest.

To qualify for the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program, a property owner must:

  • be 65 years of age or older before June 1 of the year that the application is being filed with their local county collector’s office,
  • have a total annual household income of $65,000 or less,
  • have owned and occupied the property or other qualifying residence for at least the last three years,
  • own the property, or share joint ownership with a spouse, or be the sole beneficiary, or the property owner and spouse be the sole beneficiaries of an Illinois land trust,
  • have no unpaid property taxes or special assessments on the property, and
  • have adequate insurance against fire or casualty loss.

How do I apply?

Qualified seniors should contact their local county collector’s office to receive an application. Once completed, the application must be filed with the collector’s office on or before March 1 of each year they wish to defer their property taxes or special assessments. Visit Illinois Department of Revenue for more information.