Just received this email, my response is also attached: Will keep you all informed
Dear ;
I am responding to your emails, fax, and letter dated December 19, 2007
inquiring why the Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption under
Section 15-169 of the Property Tax Code is a reduction in the
equalized assessed value (EAV) of the property when EAV is not specified in the
law.
The section of the Property Tax Code that allows for homestead
exemptions has consistently provided for a reduction in the EAV of property.
This is consistent with the other homestead exemptions including: Senior
Citizens' Homestead Exemption (Sec. 15-70), Senior Citizens Assessment
Freeze Homestead Exemption (Sec. 15-172), General Homestead Exemption
(Sec. 15-175), and Alternative General Homestead Exemption (Sec.
15-176), in addition to the recently established homestead exemptions for
Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption (Sec. 15-167), Disabled Persons'
Homestead Exemption (Sec. 15-168), and The Long-time Occupant Homestead
Exemption (Sec. 15-177).
There is a distinction made in the Property Tax Code between homestead
exemptions and the abatement of taxes. A homestead exemption is a
reduction in a property's equalized assessed value whereas a tax abatement
is an ordinance implemented by vote where there is a reduction in the
amount of property taxes to be paid.
Jo Ellen Mahr, Manager
Property Tax Division
Assistance and Education Section
My response;
January 8, 2008
1230
Dear Ms. JoEllen Mahr,
Thank you for your response. Although I am still confused on a couple of areas. Please bear with me as I explain with the highlighted areas
from your last email:
The section of the Property Tax Code that allows for homestead
exemptions has consistently provided for a reduction in the EAV of property.
This is consistent with the other homestead exemptions including:
Senior Citizens' Homestead Exemption (Sec. 15-70)
Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (Sec. 15-172)
General Homestead Exemption (Sec. 15-175)
Alternative General Homestead Exemption (Sec. 15-176)
Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption (Sec. 15-167)
Disabled Persons' Homestead Exemption (Sec. 15-168)
The Long-time Occupant Homestead Exemption (Sec. 15-177)
You are correct; all of these Sections are very specific
on the intent of the EAV, and where it is to be applied.
The Disabled Veteran Standard Homestead Exemption (DVSHE)
(Sec. 15-169) mentions the EAV only when it pertains to the
$250,000 residence value limitations.
So my questions' are these?
Why would the law be written in this manner?
The majority of other states have property tax exemptions
for severally disabled veterans, isn't Illinois trying to
come on line with them?
What does this EAV in $250,000 residence value limitation mean then?
If I were to pay property tax on a $250,000 EAV residence,
wouldn't my annual property taxes be around $15,000 in the state of Illinois?
Why would anyone get an EAV tax exemption if a house was worth
around $850,000? (we can only dream…)
There is a distinction made in the Property Tax Code between homestead
exemptions and the abatement of taxes. A homestead exemption is a
reduction in a property's equalized assessed value whereas a tax
abatement is an ordinance implemented by vote where there is a reduction
in the amount of property taxes to be paid.
If this true, why was the law not written this way, as in all 8 other
sections of this particular Public Act then? Oversight??? Come on….
I understand abatement is when a person goes in and appeals their
tax bill compared to another property that they figure is of same value,
the CCAO & board vote to see if it is justified for a property tax break.
There is another terminology for this but…I'll stick to the subject at hand.
Go to the current 95th Illinois General Assembly (IGA), and look at all
the other pending legislation concerning severally disabled veterans and
property Tax in the state of Illinois. It is very obvious what the representatives
and senators legislators have in mind. There is nothing mentioned about
EAV and homestead exemption:
95th IGA - HB0114, HB1010, HB1012, HB1139, HB 1725
SB0063, SB0089
Historically the IGA has dealt with this issue to bring justice to the
severally disabled veterans in Illinois on limited income.
94th IGA - HB0651, HB2551, HB4247, HB4646
SB2146, SB3082
If there is property tax code book that specifically mentions EAV
and homestead exemptions, please give me guidance to obtain this
information from it so that I can educate other fellow Illinois veterans.
Please Assist
Sincerely,
Illinois concerned veteran