Property Tax Bills Arrive
The "delayed until after the election" property tax bills started arriving last last week, and someone has asked for an open post for tax bill horror stories. Our tax bill didn't go up as much as feared, but in a massive economic downturn and housing crunch, any rise isn't pleasant to see.
Post away. Neighborhood and total +/- total if you like.
Post away. Neighborhood and total +/- total if you like.
Labels: we got nothing
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
105 Comments:
Neighborhood Garfield Ridge 60638 taxes up +$575.00!
mines went down---2211
Mine around Belmont and Cumberland went up .082%. Thanks Toddler and I'm glad to see you go.
I live in Eddison Park and my bill thankfully dropped $450. The bad news is that my property was valued at nearly $90,000 less, which caused the drop.
Live far north in condo. Taxes for my condo and my parking spot both went down a tad. Roughly 5 percent.
Mt. Greenwood +600
Want to know what you are paying?
Don't ask Commissioner Joe Berrios.
How about your neighbor's bill?
Follow these County Sites;
Assessor's Office;
http://www.cookcountyassessor.com/
Enter your address to find your pin number or your neighbor's. With the PIN number you can go to the Treasurer's site to check what everyone paid;
Treasurer's Office;
http://www.cookcountytreasurer.com/
You can view everyone on your block to see what properties are comparable.
You will want to note your;
1. Township
2. NBHD neighborhood code
3. Taxcode
4. Class code
With this info you can check any tax bill in the county and see who's getting the best deals.
Or what homes in your immediate area are the same class but pay less tax than you do, quite common.
Many houses on your block may look exactly the same as yours but will all pay different amounts of tax.
(why is that Joe?)
Some bills will show the homeowners exemption and senior citizen exemptions, that's normal.
Some have had their property re-zoned from 2 story to 1 a-half to get a cheaper bill! This trick is done quite often with politicians who will claim they don't know anything about how the bills are prepared (ask Joe).
There are tons of ways to cheat in Cook County, but you can use this info to lower your bill the next time!
Signed;
Tired of playing the game!
Beverly, +$304.00
Edison Park
Was $4600 / Now is be $5200
Garfield Ridge +$800
Merry Christmas!
Beat 1312…2 story single family gut rehabbed 10+ years ago.
AFTER appeal with help of Attorney Richard Glickman, went DOWN $536…I was SHOCKED, actually…but pleased.
2008 TAX $3,723
2009 TAX $3,187
Garfield Ridge here: $2,200.
If you did your homework and invested a little time in researching comparables in your neighborhood, and then a little more time to download, fill-out and return the proper documentation to the Assessors Office, there's a good chance you'd be pleasantly surprised with the reduction(s) possible.
And if you're cut from the Lazy Cloth, there's a plethora of law firms that specialize in getting your property tax bill reduced. Most do it for a nominal retainer ($100 seems to be the going rate), then bill you for half the realized savings from just the FIRST year of the triennial assessment period, minus your retainer. Example: Assessor lowers your "assessed value" "x" amount, which results in a reduction of $800 per year. Your cost is half of one year ($400) minus the $100 retainer. This $800 reduction is good for the 3 year period, so in essence it cost you $400 to save $2400...not a bad deal. If you've never appealed your taxes, be forewarned that the process may take a while (over 6 months in some instances) as there are 3 levels of appeal and it's not uncommon to be denied relief at the first two levels.
Furthermore, don't forget that 2009's tax bill was front-loaded; we paid 55% for the first installment, while this half is the remaining 45%. Many people (particularly new(er) homeowners not yet well-versed in this type of shit) might mistake this lower amount as a reduction.
All in all, I lowered my bill (annually) by $783 at the primary residence, and then $329, $391, $436 and $572, at the rental properties. Areas of the city: Wicker Park, Avondale, Bronzeville and Pilsen.
Don't forget, your 1st half payment was actually 55% of your total bill, remember, so they could get a little more cash flowing because we were in a serious financial bind. Well, apparently that rough economy must apply only to the government, because they still got their hands pretty deep in my pockets.
An $800 increase over the first half. Thank God they are so concerned about us that they don't want to RAISE real estate taxes. What the hell do you call this?
I'm North, but not in Copland. Department of Revenue patrols my neighborhood better that the district does. Probably because my beat car is in 025, or 015, or somewhere really deserving of the extra attention.
I didn't vote for any of the incumbants. But I knew this was coming. Just what does it take for taxpayers to really get pissed off.
Norwood Park...Jefferson township...+ 1100.00
I see a couple posts about the taxt bill going up. Mine and a few people I have spoken to actually went down (not much), we are all on the northside. Are the people posting about an increase on the southside?
I live on the North side and my tax bill went down $600.
11/13/2010 07:59:00 PM
==
All of you who think your bill went down, go back and check it. This year, they intentionallly raised the first-half bill about ten percent, so you'd be paying about 60% in Spring and 40% in Fall.
Don't be fooled. You have to compare this year's total to last year's total.
11/13/2010 10:26:00 PM
Vacant lot in Logan Square assessed at 25% MORE than last year. Tax bill rose about 17%.
What a joke; the lot is valued at least 25% LESS than two years ago!
Hegewisch... Went up about $185.00 from the first installment.
My 82 year old Mother's tax billed came and didn't reflect the senior freeze, senior exemption or even the homeowners regular exemption that everyone gets even though we mailed the paperwork in on time. Now I have to take her to the offices in Skokie because I certainly can't make her walk from a parking garage downtown and spend the entire day there waiting to fill out paperwork for an adjustment. By the way, how the heck did they come up with the fair market value because it's a joke! I can guarantee that no one would buy her house for $310,000 when the one across the street was in foreclosure for over 2 years with an asking price of $90,000 !
I live in Jefferson Park. My bill went up $700.00!
I'm just going to make my check out to the Ricketts family.
mine went up 20 percent--- i am not to happy and plan an appeal...
Norwood Park = Plus $270
2009 - first half - 1065.00
second installment - 2017.00
Mt Greenwood - so what is this 55% first?
Up $450 -Thank you, sir. May I have another?
Two empty lots a couple of blocks northwest of Humboldt Park.
Lot 1 - Was about a thousand last year. This year, TWO THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN DOLLARS.
Lot 2 - Was about eleven hundred last year. This year,TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FOUR DOLLARS.
Both properties have actually lost about a third of their actual market value. (One would have sold for $150,000 two years ago, but would maybe bring $100,000 today.) These idiots have lost their ever-lovin' minds! There are HOUSES in that neighborhood that don't pay taxes this high.
I guess it's appeals time for me.
Mine went up 100 Bucks! But then again...they can always Nail Me Next Time Around...which I'm sure they Will!
My taxes, the same........1613's beat.
During fat times the county and city had no trouble jacking up your rates b/c they claim your house could sell for X, now that the Demos have fucked up everything your house is worth Y they still want to raise the bill.
Quinn wants to put a "surcharge" (tax hike) on the state income tax and promises that property taxes will go down, does anybody actually believe this asshole?
I'm Canfield/Bryn Mawr, went down $600. Thought it was a mistake until I heard other stories like mine on hear. Thank God!
Norwood Park, mine went up a little more than $200.00. $5274 for the year with the majority going to the 'broke' board of Ed. Keep in mind also Norwood was hit with a 48% increase last year as well. Even more hilarious is how the value of my property went down, yet my taxes went up... Thanks assholes
Just remember - the money for increases in salaries for public employees has to come from somewhere. And also increased costs for fuel, supplies, etc. Not trying to say that big increases are warranted, but costs do increase - even for the government.
Mine went down considerably . . . Printer's Row.
Garfield Ridge up $518
All of you who think your bill went down, go back and check it. This year, they intentionallly raised the first-half bill about ten percent, so you'd be paying about 60% in Spring and 40% in Fall.
Don't be fooled. You have to compare this year's total to last year's total.
A couple of points here. It wasn't done this year, it happened a few years ago. It is 55/45 and not 60/40. The idea behind it was that your first payment was based on 1/2 of the previous year's total bill. The final numbers don't come in until after your first bill is already paid, so any taxing body who increases their portion of the bill reflects the total increase in the second half of the bill. It also caused financial institutions to raise your escrow payment based on the
2nd half bill causing an overly inflated ecsrow for the taxes. The 55/45 helped to minimize this.
Just so you know, you DO NOT need to have an escrow for your taxes or insurance. This, like all parts of a mortgage, is negogiable. This only will work if you are able to budget for your bill. If you have a tough time with this, keep the escrow. Also, if you have an escrow, in Illinois once you have paid down your mortgage to 65% of the original loan amount by law you can cancel your escrow. Banks don't like this because escrow accounts give them cash to use virtually for free all year long.
60655 +600 Nice thank you Crook County
Got a lawyer and fought it, $550.00 less in Sauganash.
Why are all of you bitchng? Most cops don't vote and many vote for Democrats. They TOLD you they were going to raise your taxes.
Did you do your part and talk to people about throwing out the bums in office? Did you vote to keep your taxes down? If you did, good for you. The rest can have what they asked for.
I have never understood why our property taxes have been based on the value of your home!! Why?? And why are we penalized if we improve our home. Property taxes shoud be based on the size of the lot and it should be the same for the whole city. XX amount of dollars per foot and everyone would be paying the same amount throughout the city. I have heard horror stories at closing because the taxes are based one year back and then when the new tax bill comes it has gone up considerably and the new homeowner is stuck. There has to be a better and fairer way to do this.
I live in Jefferson Township. Got notice of assessed value earlier this year of $458,000. However, I had a recent professional appraisal of $350,000. Submitted an appeal on my own, but was denied. Contacted an attorney who charged no retainer upfront and charged one-third of the first-year savings (nothing for the other two years). He appealed and got the assessment down to $371,000, reflecting about a $1,200/year tax savings. His total fee was $425, money well spent.
Chicago lawn went down a whole $7! Thanks to daley!
Had our house (Portage Park) re-assessed with an attorney several months ago and our tax bill is down a little over $700. Of course, the value of our house dropped quite a bit too.
Mine went up $300!!!
+ $500 0n a double lot Mt Greasewood
More money down the City of Chicago, County of Cook piss hole.
Watch how fast I pack up and follow the moving truck out of here on the day after retirement.
I find it disgusting that the majority of my tax bill goes to the Board of Ed. And Quinn wants to throw more money at this failing system? Wake up.
First installment was $2,500. Second installment is $5,200. Where the fuck am I coming up with $5,200 in a month. Last years (2009) total tax bill $4,500. This year (2010) total tax bill $7,600 and change. An increase of $3,100. C'MON MAN!!!!!
mine went up 20 percent--- i am not to happy and plan an appeal...
Go to fop meeting Nov 16. You get to appeal there for free. Mine dropped $800. Fuck those Fop guys
I live in Beverly and my taxes went from $4,200 in 2008, $4,600 in 2009, and the new bill has me at $5,700!
WTF
I bet Garcia Ridge & all surrounding areas got killed!
Why do you people live there?!
Edison Park
Was $4600 / Now is be $5200
11/14/2010 12:45:00 AM
Don't know if anyone caught this. apparently Ernie Brown moved to Edison Park. Thanks for the laugh.
mine went DOWN too...2211.
I just bought a house in 1622's beat. The taxes for 2008 = 3700.00, the most recent bill totals 3350.00 for 2009 so -350.00.
Clearing-60638
+ $85.00
Beverly-zip 60655. Down about 450 dollars from last year. Appealed it with tax board, and the numbers went down. Appeal the next time it comes around-they can only keep it the same or drop the numbers, they can't go up. It paid
off!
Jefferson Township (bungalow near Portage Park) here:
This year's taxes: 2955
Last year's taxes: 2874
And re: the person commenting about every house paying something different -- that's the truth. My neighbor has a bungalow that looks like mine on the outside but has a fully finished 3 floors. They're still listed as being a 1-1/2 story with unfinished attic and basement....Until the city comes out and tickets renovations that are done without a permit (yeah, we called -- TWICE -- when the contractor who bought and flipped the house was renovating without a permit....), we will continue to have this inequity in tax payment.
2213: total for year +$92 from last year
I get two tax bills - one for the 6-unit co-op I live in, and one for a 14-space parking lot, which is shared with six other buildings the same as ours.
On the co-op bill, "Property value" zoomed from $386K to $563K - but "Assessment Level" went from 16% to 10%, so "Assessed Value" actually dropped from $62K to $56K. "State Equalization Factor" up from 3.0 to 3.4; "Local Tax Rate" down from 4.816% to 4.627%. "Tax Before Exemptions" was down from $8,861 to $8,774. But the assessor gave us only one homeowner exemption instead of the five we're entitled to, so tax payable was up $3,750. (I can get this fixed, though.)
The real surprise was on the parking lot bill. The "Assessed Value" went from $454 to $8,840! The taxes went from $65.11 to $1,378.48!
What the ____? What the ____ing ____?
Just a Civilian (who has a lot of work to do starting Monday!)
North side... Jefferson Township on a small 900 sq foot house.
2007 = 2800
2008 = 3100
2009 = 3330
Yep mine just keep going up while my property value decreased.
i called my tax man last week and asked him what he thinks will happen with my taxes and he stated " your taxes is be going up" i/f
Anonymous said...
My 82 year old Mother's tax billed came and didn't reflect the senior freeze, senior exemption or even the homeowners regular exemption that everyone gets even though we mailed the paperwork in on time.
MY MOM IS A SENIOR AND SHE GOT A LETTER TELLING HER THAT THERE WILL BE NO SENIOR FREEZE FOR THIS SECOND INSTALLMENT. BEGINNING 2010 TAX BILL ALL SENIORS MUST RE-APPLY YEARLY FOR EXEMPTIONS AND SENIOR FREEZES. BOTTOM LINE, YOU FORGET TO RE-APPLY YOU GET SCREWED! THE CROOK COUNTY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My tax bill in Sauganash went up by $400. The biggest mistake I ever made in my life was buying a big ass home. I should have bought a more modest home that was about 1500 to 2000 square feet the most. My property taxes as a total is close to $11,000. Big house, big price = big headache.
Old Irving Park 2009=$6,334, 2010 =$5216. Down $1,118
bucktown, 60647 up... + $300
If we didn't have 4 generations of welfare recipiants and buses full of illegals moving in daily, we (the middle class) wouldn't be taxed so heavily. Stay safe
South Loop down almost $100 even after an appeal in 08.
I live on the far nw side, Jefferson township my taxes went up $1000.00. My property was valued higher , amizing the house wont sell for that much.
All of you who think your bill went down, go back and check it. This year, they intentionallly raised the first-half bill about ten percent, so you'd be paying about 60% in Spring and 40% in Fall.
Don't be fooled. You have to compare this year's total to last year's total.
11/13/2010 10:26:00 PM
Actually I compared 2008 total tax to 2009 total tax....and it went down. I wasn't looking at the installment amount
Neighborhood 60646 Norwood park went up 800.00 dollars and value went up eighty thousand- no way- I sent in an appeal????
To the coppers posting did it it go up on the 1st installment or the 2nd?Mine in garcia ridge went up +$600 in the 1st the second is equal,I pay for a 27X125 lot house built in 1988 $3,996 per year how does that compare?
Garcia Ridge here, taxes went down $27, Woo Hoo, we goin out for Dinner tonight!!! I don't know how any ones taxes went up, since Home values have decreased across the board in this City.
Retired CPD now in Lemont. Taxes increase $1,300.00. Couldn't wait to get out of Chicago.
Mt. Greenwood
2008 $2400.
2009 $3500.
This is during a time when property values have fallen! So, the percentage increase is actually much higher.
Other areas have actually reduced taxes based on the reduced property value. Of course, not Cook county or the City of Chicago!
Cumberland and Addison area....+1600.00 WTF
All you people in Norwood Park and Edison Park who voted in the Democrat, tell him about it. All you saw on T.V. was how the parking meters went up, well now you got the Democrat. Think your taxes are up now, just wait.
Englewood
Down $900!
bling bling
"Actually I compared 2008 total tax to 2009 total tax....and it went down. I wasn't looking at the installment amount"
Me too. The total of 2009 is $700 less than in 2008. Portage Park area.
60646 Norwood Park The reason your market value went up 80,000 is that for the first time this year, to get the assessed valuation, the assessors used 10% of your market value instead of the old traditional one of 16% of your market value. People have had their assessed valuation reduced, but the market value went up 50,000 or more Its the new law
Addison and Harlem. Down $980
Scottsdale + 450
I live in Jefferson Township. Got notice of assessed value earlier this year of $458,000. However, I had a recent professional appraisal of $350,000. Submitted an appeal on my own, but was denied. Contacted an attorney who charged no retainer upfront and charged one-third of the first-year savings (nothing for the other two years). He appealed and got the assessment down to $371,000, reflecting about a $1,200/year tax savings. His total fee was $425, money well spent.
Who is your attorney?
"Up $450 -Thank you, sir. May I have another?"
--11/14/2010 06:09:00 AM
WHACK!
"MY MOM IS A SENIOR AND SHE GOT A LETTER TELLING HER THAT THERE WILL BE NO SENIOR FREEZE FOR THIS SECOND INSTALLMENT. BEGINNING 2010 TAX BILL ALL SENIORS MUST RE-APPLY YEARLY FOR EXEMPTIONS AND SENIOR FREEZES. BOTTOM LINE, YOU FORGET TO RE-APPLY YOU GET SCREWED! THE CROOK COUNTY WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
--11/14/2010 11:53:00 AM
This is really sick and cruel and designed to be so onerous that the seniors forget, or simply can't get this taken care of, so end up paying full boat.
It's not like they have to be checked on each year to make sure they're not sneakily getting younger again.
Again -- sick and Machiavellian.
Reminds me of Chicago gun registration...Terry Gainer's devilish booby trap, waiting to snap irrevocably on the first mis-step...
If everybody paid their fair share, the city wouldn't have any financial problems.
Here are twelve Georgians in four Chicago neighborhoods with twelve different tax bills.
Low Bill: $36.14
High Bill: $3150.63
21xx W. 83
PIN 20-31-305-002-0000
$36.14 (senior citizen)
20xx W. 83
PIN 20-31-307-045-0000
$325.19 (senior citizen)
93xx S. Justine
PIN 25-05-317-028-0000
$1016.26
93xx S. Justine
PIN 25-05-316-047-0000
$1063.73
33xx W. 83 Place
PIN 19-35-402-056-0000
$1222.62
33xx W. 83 Place
PIN 19-35-402-057-0000
$1375.67 (senior citizen)
93xx S. Justine
PIN 25-05-316-048-0000
$1435.82
20xx W. 83
PIN 20-31-307-044-0000
$1570.77
33xx W. 83 Place
PIN 19-35-402-055-0000
$1802.83
105xx S. Springfield
PIN 24-14-108-021-0000
$2656.89
105xx S. Springfield
PIN 24-14-108-022-0000
$2867.55
105xx S. Springfield
PIN 24-14-108-020-0000
$3150.63
Taxes are up and so is the crime on the west end of 008 .... New England Pharmacy robbed at gunpoint Friday afternoon. My sons car, along with several others parked on the block, tagged with gang graffiti Saturday overnight. Poor kid only bought the car 2wks ago.
Contested in Garcia Ridge finally won(?) -935.50.
National Financial Guru's are predicting a turn around in the Real Estate Markets in 2014 or 2015. Perfect thats retirement target time.
Homes are worth $60,000 - $80,000 less than they were three years ago and yet your taxes increase. Those trying to obtain home equity loans, forget about it! The more foreclosures, the lower you value. Everyone should revolt on the actual value of homes not what the city thinks they are.
Tinley Park - up $1200.
Oops.
Oh wait, nevermind.
Disregard... Disregard!
Andersonville, Bt 2013, down just under $100. But hardly no police around anymore & property value went down.
Some of you are as dumb as a box of exempts.
Just because property values have fallen, doesn't mean the various taxing bodies need less money.
Those of you who work for the city, there might be one or two reading this, realize taxes pay your salaries and benefits right?
The overall increase in real estate taxes collected from city property owners went up around 2 percent. The change most of you are referring to is how the new assessments affected your personal taxes.
Many neighborhoods on the north, northwest and southwest sides have done relatively well in terms of holding their property values. Values dropped like a rock in such scenic hoods as Englewood, Garfield Park, and Washington Park.
Also commercial property values have generally dropped less in the last few years than residential property values. During the earlier part of the decade housing values rose dramatically compared to commercial values. Hence the predictive analysis unit SAYZ commercial properties are now carrying more of the tax burden.
Add in the massive amount of new construction that came online the last few years and many of us are happily surprised to see decreases or relatively small increases in our property taxes.
If you want to see shocking tax bills check out the suburbs. In Chicago we often pay about 1 percent real property values in real estate taxes. Most suburbs are double that or even more if you live in such lovely places like Ford Heights or Riverdale.
Whine about the yuppies on the north side or downtown, but those folks are helping to keep your taxes down and your paychecks full.
Here is how I did with this whole thing. I got the permit and had a licensed contractor do the work. Small addition, no big deal. Nice job, on time. Being legit I got the water meter for my trouble.
Taxes went up last year. I filed the appeal and was told they would lower the outrageous increase.
So this time I get hit with a $4000.00dollar increase in my taxes. To make me feel better, the water meter increased my bill about 300%. I love this City!
Edison Park - down $800! had a good friend do the appeal!
clearing area went from 2400 to 3500. thanks city of chicago!
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Homes are worth $60,000 - $80,000 less than they were three years ago and yet your taxes increase. Those trying to obtain home equity loans, forget about it! The more foreclosures, the lower you value. Everyone should revolt on the actual value of homes not what the city thinks they are.
11/14/2010 10:11:00 PM
I re-fied a few months ago and the value of my house went down $10K from approx. 3 years ago Bt 2211.
Mt. Greenwood -
2007 $1800
2008 $3700
2009 $3000
two story, 125 x 50 foot lot (one pin)
Did nothing to get decrease, got a post card after the first installment telling me that an assessment was done and the property value has decreased. No shit sherlock. 5 years ago my house was worth $475,000 now its assessed at $310,000.
Quit voting DEMOCRATIC!!! START VOTING IF YOU DON'T VOTE. For the people in Mt. Greenwood, Don't vote for O'Shea!! He is from the SAME cloth as Rugai!
Property taxes usually ARE significantly higher in the burbs. However, when you look at what they get for the money there are a lot of differences. I grew up in the burbs and my folks still live there. They currently pay about $8,000 a year in taxes. However, the public schools are some of the best in the state. I, on the other hand, will pay a little more than $4,000 in taxes, but will pay an extra $10,000 a year to send my kids to private elementary school. That will double when they get to high school. I refuse to send my kids to a public school that barely meets state standards and is full of a bunch of gang bangers that are bussed in from the ghetto. I don't mind paying for necessary public services and of course our salaries, but when more than half of my bill goes towards the joke of a public education system in this city that my kids can't even use, I have a real problem with it.
JEFF PARK UP FOR ME 1200
Jefferson Park
-1st Installment - $2797
-2nd Installment- $2120
Chicago is a vast criminal enterprise, and many of you are working to preserve disorder. It's a noble but futile pursuit. But on the other hand, most human endeavors are.
Hats off, love you guys (and gals).
I bet Garcia Ridge & all surrounding areas got killed!
Why do you people live there?!
11/14/2010 10:15:00 AM
Well I live here and my total tax bill combined for the year was $2400. I hear others saying on here that their bills were anywhere from $5000.00 as high as $7600.00. So how is it again that I got killed compared to others?
Keep voting the party!
Anonymous said...
Up $450 -Thank you, sir. May I have another?
11/14/2010 06:09:00 AM
Thanks for the laugh!
Cumberland/Belmont:
- down $620!!
(appealed assessment a year ago)
neighbor: +300
Edison Park + $900.00
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