Tax Bill Blues? Homeowners Can't Appeal Tax Assessments Until Fall

Not happy with your property tax bill? You can't do anything about it until this fall.

According to Illinois state statute, homeowners have 30 days to appeal any changes in their home's assessed value -- when a home's assessed value rises, so will the property taxes that its owner pays -- once they receive notice from their local township assessor. That deadline passed long before Kendall County residents began receiving their 2010 property tax bills in late April and early May.

This means that Yorkville homeowners unhappy with the amount of property taxes they're paying will have to wait until later this year to argue for a lower figure. If they're successful, the changes will go on next year's tax bill.

Andy Nicoletti, chief assessor of Kendall County, said that homeowners in Bristol and Kendall townships -- the two townships that make up Yorkville -- had until Nov. 22 of last year to protest their 2010 property assessments.

That's because the newspaper published properties in these townships that saw their assessments change, either up or down, on Oct. 21. The owners of these properties also received notices -- also dated Oct. 21 -- that their homes' assessed value had changed.

"It's too late now, then, for these homeowners to do anything about their property tax bill," Nicoletti said. "They have to pay their taxes as they are. There is no way for them to contest their homes' assessed values."

Homeowners should watch for notice of any changes in their homes' assessed value starting in October of this year. They'll then have 30 days to file an appeal with the Kendall County Board of Review. This three-member board handles all assessment appeals filed in the county.

Homeowners not happy with their property's assessment must fill out the Kendall County Board of Review Appeal Form, which can be found here. The form asks homeowners for their property address, home phone, township and reason for appeal. It also provides spaces for homeowners to list the prices that similar homes in their neighborhood have sold for.

Once homeowners complete the form and turn it in to the board of review, they'll be assigned a hearing date. It is at this time that they will officially argue their case with the board of review. The township assessor who originally completed the disputed assessment might also attend the hearing to explain the assessment.

Board of review members will either make a decision at the hearing or at a later date.

These appeals are becoming a more common occurence in Kendall County. Nicoletti said that in 2010, the county faced about 730 assessment appeals. In 2009, that number stood at 785. In 2008, though, the county only faced 530 appeals. Nicoletti said that prior to 2009, the county usually saw about 500 appeals a year.