Property Tax Help for Veterans

What criteria make someone eligible for the Veterans’ with Disabilities Exemption?  The amount of the exemption apparently doesn’t vary by county.

The Illinois Disabled Veterans’ Standard Homestead Exemption provides a reduction in a property’s equalized assessed value (EAV) to a qualifying property owned by a Veteran with a service-connected disability.  A service-connected disability is a medical condition that arose because of a specific event during military service. That is, the event either caused the development of the ailment or created the conditions that ultimately led to its development.

A $2,500 homestead exemption is available to a Veteran with a service-connected disability of at least 30% but less than 50%. A $5,000 homestead exemption is available to a Veteran with a service-connected disability of at least 50% but less than 70%.  However, Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 70% are exempt from paying property taxes on their primary residence entirely.

In DuPage County for example, qualifying Illinois Veterans who have VA-rated disabilities (30% minimum) can qualify for property tax exemptions on a sliding scale based on the percentage of the disability rating. VA-rated disabilities at 70% or higher are eligible for a full property tax exemption on a qualifying primary residence. There are similar property tax breaks for those Veterans who own specially adapted housing in Illinois.

In Cook County and Lake County, qualifying Illinois Veterans are entitled to $5,000 off the total assessed value if their disability is 70% or more and $2,500 off the total assessed value if their disability is 50% to 69%.  However, the Disabled Veterans’ Standard Homestead Exemption provides an annual exemption of up to a maximum of $250,000 off the total assessed value if the disability is 70% or more; $5,000 off the total assessed value if the disability is 50% to 69% and $2,500 off the total assessed value – If the disability is 30% to 49%.

This exemption is also available to the unmarried surviving spouse of a service-connected Veteran provided that the Veteran was in receipt of the exemption prior to their death. Additionally, beginning in tax year 2015 and thereafter, the unmarried surviving spouse of a service member killed in the line of duty is exempt from paying property taxes on the primary residence. Once approved, qualifying Veterans and Surviving Spouses must file an annual application by their counties’ deadlines to continue to receive this exemption. The State of Illinois offers special benefits for its military Service members and Veterans including property tax exemptions, exemptions for specially adapted housing and mobile homes, state employment preferences and assistance, education and tuition assistance, special vehicle tags, Veterans homes, burial benefits as well as hunting, fishing licenses, and state camping privileges. Eligibility for some benefits may depend on residency, military component and the Veteran’s disability status and the applications MUST be filed annually.