Redesigned Property Assessment Notice Kicks-Off 2011 Reassessment
Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios announced today that his office has started the 2011 assessment process and has begun mailing out the first notices. In an effort to provide homeowners with as much information as possible, the residential reassessment notice has been redesigned.
“This new notice provides taxpayers with all the tools necessary to determine if their assessments are accurate and fair,” Berrios said. “They shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to find out what comparable properties are assessed at in their neighborhoods. We’re going to cut out some of the hurdles that have been in place for years.”
The new residential assessment notice will also include a wealth of information regarding each property. In addition to the standard assessment information, the new notice will include:
- Estimated fair market value
- Assessment history
- Transactions from the Recorder of Deeds
- History of tax payments
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Photo of the property
Each year, the Cook County Assessor’s Office reassesses one-third of the nearly 1.8 million parcels of property located in Cook County. This year, the Assessor’s Office is reassessing properties in the 16 townships located in south and west suburban Cook County.
Reassessment notices contain proposed values that will be reflected on second-installment tax bills, which will be due in the fall of 2012. However, the time to file appeals on these proposed assessments is now, when the reassessment notices are received. Berrios stressed that homeowners do not need an attorney to file an appeal.
“If they feel they cannot get that price for their homes, they should file an appeal,” he said. “We will do the research for them if they feel we are incorrect.”
A single-family homeowner may compare his or her assessment with those of similar homes. These assessments are published in local newspapers and the name of the paper and the publication date can be found on the notice. The publication of assessments is also made available in public libraries. Residential data books are available at all Assessors’ Office locations and may be used to find comparable properties.
The Cook County Assessor's office web site also allows taxpayers to search for information using a 14-digit Property Index Number (PIN) or by typing in an address. Homeowners can check their property’s characteristics, as well as search for information on similar properties to use if they choose to appeal their assessments.
Residential taxpayers may also file an appeal online and the Assessor’s web site allows them to search for comparables and add those comparables to their online appeals. The Assessor’s Web site is located at (www.cookcountyassessor.com).
Evanston Township Assessor
The Evanston Township Assessor's office is located at 846 Dodge Ave. The office is open Monday through Friday and our hours of operation are 8:30 am to 5 pm. We are currently accepting appointments to help taxpayers prepare and complete appeals to the Cook County Assessor's office for 2011 assessments as well as corrections of factual errors that could have caused an over assessment of previous years. If you have any questions, please call us at (847) 332-2465.
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