Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas is bringing holiday cheer to approximately 9,000 property owners by initiating automatic refunds totaling more than $30.5 million.
This refund, which begins this week, is for homeowners who overpaid their First Installment taxes last year.
Effortless Refunds for Overpayments
Pappas emphasized the convenience of this service for homeowners who have overpaid their property taxes.
Most recipients will not need to file an application or complete any paperwork, as the refunds will be processed automatically. This initiative is part of Pappas's commitment to simplifying the tax refund process for property owners.
Distribution of Refunds
About 48% of these refunds will be directly deposited into property owners' accounts over the next three months. Homeowners can check their eligibility for an automatic refund by visiting the Cook County Treasurer's website and entering their address or Property Index Number (PIN).
Breakdown of Refunds
Approximately 1,900 homeowners who paid their property taxes online will receive a total of $13.1 million directly deposited into their bank accounts.
Around 4,000 homeowners who paid their taxes through a bank or mortgage escrow account will be mailed refund checks totaling $8 million.
About 2,900 homeowners who paid taxes totaling $9.3 million in cash or by check will either receive an electronic refund or be mailed a refund application.
Impact of Property Tax Exemptions
Most of the refunds are going to homeowners who received property tax exemptions, which are applied to the Second Installment tax bill and reduce the total taxes due. These exemptions include Homeowner, Senior Citizen, Senior Freeze, and Disabled Persons. The Second Installment 2022 property tax bills were due on December 1, 2023.
Since the launch of the automatic refund program in 2018, Pappas has refunded about $121.2 million to more than 155,015 property owners without requiring applications. This initiative reflects Cook County's efforts to ensure fair and efficient tax processes for its residents.
