What is A Property Assessment?
It may help to think of the property tax process like a pie. Taxing bodies, including school districts, villages and the county (and many other taxing districts) determine how much they need to collect in taxes. That determines the size of the pie, and the property assessment determines how the pie is cut up. The assessment process ensures property taxes are fairly distributed. Elected township assessors are primarily responsible for appraising properties and determining a property’s value, which ultimately determines the portion of the total tax burden (or piece of the pie). If you have questions or concerns regarding the assessed value of your property, you should discuss this with your local township assessor’s office.

Meet with a Taxpayer Advocate
Individuals can get free one-on-one assistance with evaluating your assessment at a tax assessment help center. Centers will be provided on Aug. 14 and 21 at the College of Lake County Southlake Campus in Vernon Hills and Aug. 8, 15 and 22 at the University Center of Lake County in Grayslake. These centers will meet from 4 to 7 p.m. More dates will be released on the Chief County Assessment Office website.

Taxpayer advocates also are available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Chief County Assessment Office, 18 N. County Street, 7th Floor, Waukegan.

Should You Appeal Your Property Assessment?
View the five steps to determining if you should appeal your property assessment.

Filing an Appeal? Use our Online System
Our quick and convenient Online Appeal Filing System allows you to get your appeal information to the Board of Review without the hassle of mailing or hand delivering them to the Chief County Assessment Office in Waukegan. Watch this video to learn more about the process to file an appeal online.