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90_SB1075 35 ILCS 200/15-175 Amends the Property Tax Code. Deletes current provisions concerning the application and approval process for the homestead exemption. Provides that if, in counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, based on the most recent assessment, the equalized assessed value of the homestead property for the current assessment year is greater than the equalized assessed value of the property for 1977, the owner of the property shall automatically receive the exemption in the amount of the increase over the 1977 assessment up to the maximum amount allowed. SDS/bill0030/dgp SDS/bill0030/dgp 1 AN ACT to amend the Property Tax Code by changing Section 2 15-175. 3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 4 represented in the General Assembly: 5 Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing 6 Section 15-175 as follows: 7 (35 ILCS 200/15-175) 8 Sec. 15-175. General homestead exemption. Homestead 9 property is entitled to an annual homestead exemption 10 limited, except as described here with relation to 11 cooperatives, to a reduction in the equalized assessed value 12 of homestead property equal to the increase in equalized 13 assessed value for the current assessment year above the 14 equalized assessed value of the property for 1977, up to the 15 maximum reduction set forth below. If however, the 1977 16 equalized assessed value upon which taxes were paid is 17 subsequently determined by local assessing officials, the 18 Property Tax Appeal Board, or a court to have been excessive, 19 the equalized assessed value which should have been placed on 20 the property for 1977 shall be used to determine the amount 21 of the exemption. 22 The maximum reduction shall be $4,500 in counties with 23 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $3,500 in all other 24 counties. 25 In counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if, 26 based on the most recent assessment, the equalized assessed 27 value of the homestead property for the current assessment 28 year is greater than the equalized assessed value of the 29 property for 1977, the owner of the property shall 30 automatically receive the exemption granted under this 31 Section in an amount equal to the increase over the 1977 -2- SDS/bill0030/dgp 1 assessment up to the maximum reduction set forth in this 2 Section. 3 "Homestead property" under this Section includes 4 residential property that is occupied by its owner or owners 5 as his or their principal dwelling place, or that is a 6 leasehold interest on which a single family residence is 7 situated, which is occupied as a residence by a person who 8 has an ownership interest therein, legal or equitable or as a 9 lessee, and on which the person is liable for the payment of 10 property taxes. For land improved with an apartment building 11 owned and operated as a cooperative or a building which is a 12 life care facility as defined in Section 15-170 and 13 considered to be a cooperative under Section 15-170, the 14 maximum reduction from the equalized assessed value shall be 15 limited to the increase in the value above the equalized 16 assessed value of the property for 1977, up to the maximum 17 reduction set forth above, multiplied by the number of 18 apartments or units occupied by a person or persons who is 19 liable, by contract with the owner or owners of record, for 20 paying property taxes on the property and is an owner of 21 record of a legal or equitable interest in the cooperative 22 apartment building, other than a leasehold interest. For 23 purposes of this Section, the term "life care facility" has 24 the meaning stated in Section 15-170. 25 In a cooperative where a homestead exemption has been 26 granted, the cooperative association or its management firm 27 shall credit the savings resulting from that exemption only 28 to the apportioned tax liability of the owner who qualified 29 for the exemption. Any person who willfully refuses to so 30 credit the savings shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. 31 Where married persons maintain and reside in separate 32 residences qualifying as homestead property, each residence 33 shall receive 50% of the total reduction in equalized 34 assessed valuation provided by this Section. -3- SDS/bill0030/dgp 1 In counties with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the 2Theassessor, or chief county assessment officer may 3 determine the eligibility of residential property to receive 4 the homestead exemption by application, visual inspection, 5 questionnaire or other reasonable methods. The determination 6 shall be made in accordance with guidelines established by 7 the Department.In counties with less than 3,000,0008inhabitants, if an application is used to determine9eligibility, the application shall be mailed to any taxpayer10over 65 years of age who has once applied for and been11granted an exemption under this Section.12 (Source: P.A. 87-894; 87-1189; 88-455.)