Il - Illinois Veterans Benefits

[putintime]

Found where the confusion is between IDOR and County Assessor..

The new Disabled Veterans' Standard Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS

200/15-169) provides a reduction in a property's EAV to a qualifying property

owned by a veteran with a service-connected disability certified by the U. S.

Department of Veterans' Affairs. A $2,500 homestead exemption is available to

a veteran with a service-connected disability of at least 50% but less than 75% or

a $5,000 homestead exemption is available to a veteran with a serviceconnected

disability of at least 75%. A disabled veteran must file an annual application by

the county's due date to continue to receive this exemption.

This is why the County Chief Assessor Officer (CCAO) are sticking to the PTAX-342

form, we just need to let them know, that we know, how the law reads (Public Act

95-0644 Section 35 ILCS 200/15-169(new)) when we file, and if they don't follow the law

as it is written, then we will appeal if need be. Just send a copy of the Public Act 95-0644,

Section 35 ILCS 200/15-169(new) copied and section

a) Beginning with taxable year 2007, an annual homestead

exemption, limited to the amounts set forth in subsection (,

is granted for property that is used as a qualified residence

by a disabled veteran.

(:P The amount of the exemption under this Section is as

follows:

(1) for veterans with a service-connected disability

of at least 75%, as certified by the United States

Department of Veterans Affairs, the annual exemption is

$5,000; and

(2) for veterans with a service-connected disability

of at least 50%, but less than 75%, as certified by the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the annual

exemption is $2,500 (highlighted) when you file your PTAX-342

form, but do it in a timely manner according to your counties set deadline.

Hope this helps....

Take Care

putintime

[putintime]

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 95^th 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:

95^th 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.

94^th 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

[Justme1949]

Welcome!!

I am happy too see you found the Hadit group. Hopefully the other Illinois Vets are reading all the information you have posted and start to question their local county assesors. My husband and I are going to our tax assesors office this coming Monday with the ( printed out) info you have stated and the Public Act Law(that is in question).

I'll post if we get an answer.

Again Thank You for all that your doing for the

Illinois disabled Vets! Please keep us posted with your latest email to JoEllen Mahr.

Best Regards,

Justme 1949 (Grunt1949)

[putintime]

Got a letter....

Today I received a letter form Thomas Holbrook, State Representative,

113th District, He stated "the section should have been drafted more

clearly" and "it was a small oversight in the legislation". He goes on

to state "The county assessment officials have accurately state that

the reduction will be taken from the equalized assessed value of the property.

I don't know where this is going but, a small oversight is the difference

between $400.00 a year and $5,000 a year annual property tax break.

Currently doing some research on Mr. Holbrook with him being the chief sponsor

on the pending bill HB1725, and what his intent was for this bill he has proposed.

At least he responded to my correspondence, even though it's not what I wanted to hear.

To me, it is not a defeat, only a challenge, game on.....

Either way it is a small or large win for Illinois disabled veterans

Take Care,

putintime

[SSGMike.Ivy]

<H1 id=article-title>Tax Help for Illinois Veterans</H1>Week of January 07, 2008

Two new tax laws affect Illinois veterans and their employers. The Returning Veterans Homestead Exemption gives qualifying veterans a one-time $5,000 reduction to their home's equalized assessed value. The Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption provides a reduction in a property's equalized assessed value for a veteran with a service-connected disability. Also the Veteran's Tax Credit is a new state income tax credit available to employers for every qualified veteran they hire. For more information about the Veteran's Tax Credit or the property tax exemptions for veterans, visit the Illinois Department of Revenue website or call the Illinois Department of Revenue at (800) 732-8866.

[putintime]

Come on....Let us veterans bond together and ask questions

on the Public Act 95-0644, Section 35 ILCS 200/15-169, don't

just take the word of someone that says something, I did

that for 20 years by following orders to accomplish the mission.

As a civilian and veteran that defended our country, I now

ask questions and just say "show me" in writing where it is

documented, not because someone in a certain position is

"assuming" something. This law that was passed on

October 17, 2007 and is very specific on what is written.

Why are people not questioning what is told to them?

Take Care,

putintime