The City of Evanston’s Property Tax Assessment Review Office reminds residents that first installment property tax bills for tax year 2015 arrived in the last week of January and are due by Tuesday, March 1, 2016.
Property taxes are paid in two installments. The first installment bill is fifty-five percent (55%) of the total property tax bill for the previous year. Taxpayers should note that first installment bills will not reflect Homeowner, Senior Citizen or other exemptions, nor will they reflect successful assessment appeals that were filed for tax year 2015. The first installment is just an estimate based on what was paid last year. When the second installment bill is mailed in the summer, it will reflect all exemptions for which the property is eligible, as well as any savings due to successful 2015 tax appeals.
Evanston residents are encouraged to call the City’s Property Tax Assessment Review Office, at 847-448-8168, or email mgibbs@cityofevanston.org, with any questions or concerns.
Details about Paying Taxes
If money for property taxes is paid into an escrow account with a taxpayer’s mortgage company, the financial institution should receive the tax bill electronically, even if the taxpayer also receives a copy of the bill. Taxpayers with property tax escrows held by their mortgage companies should not pay property taxes on their own. If they do, an overpayment of property taxes may result.
Property owners who do not have mortgage companies paying their taxes on their behalf can make tax payments in person, by mail, or online at the Cook County Treasurer’s website, cookcountytreasurer.com. In-person payments are accepted at the Cook County Treasurer’s downtown Chicago office at 118 N. Clark St., and at any Chase Bank in the Chicagoland area. Chase Bank branches most convenient to Evanston residents are located at the following addresses:
- 1603 Orrington Ave., Evanston
- 1900 Central St., Evanston
- 901 Grove St., Evanston
- 1901 McDaniel Ave., Evanston
- 635 Chicago Ave., Evanston
- 1791 W. Howard St., Chicago
The City’s Property Tax Assessment Review Office acts as a taxpayer advocate for Evanston residents. The Office does not assess property, but answers residents’ questions and aids in exemption and appeal applications. Property assessment is done by the Cook County Assessor’s Office for all of Cook County.
Residents with questions about their property tax bills or exemptions should call Mitzi Gibbs, Tax Assessment Reviewer, at 847-448-8168.