{"id":782316,"date":"2026-05-08T16:31:25","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T16:31:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/782316\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T16:31:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T16:31:25","slug":"the-5-most-common-mistakes-homeowners-make-with-property-taxes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/782316\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make with Property Taxes"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\nColumn: Your Property Taxes with Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>
\nBy Maria Pappas<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every year, my office hears from thousands of homeowners who run into problems with their property taxes due to common errors.<\/p>\n

Here are the five most common mistakes homeowners make and what you can do to avoid them.<\/p>\n

Paying the Same Bill Twice<\/strong><\/p>\n

This happens more often than you might think. For example, a homeowner pays online and then their mortgage company also pays. Or a spouse makes a payment without telling the other, who also makes a payment. Suddenly, they\u2019ve paid twice. If this happens to you, don\u2019t worry \u2014 your money isn\u2019t lost. You may qualify for a refund directly from my office. Applying is free, simple and safe at cookcountytreasurer.com and an attorney or third-party service is not needed.<\/p>\n

\"CookCook County Treasurer Maria Papas<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Not Updating Your Mailing Address<\/strong><\/p>\n

When you move, and continue to own that property, your bills don\u2019t automatically follow you. If you don\u2019t update your address with the Treasurer\u2019s Office, your tax bills and notices will continue to arrive at your old home. That means you could miss an important deadline, which might lead to penalties or even having your taxes sold at the Annual Tax Sale. The solution is easy: submit a change-of-address form online. It costs nothing and could save you money.<\/p>\n

Forgetting to Check Exemptions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cook County offers valuable property tax exemptions such as the Homeowner Exemption, Senior Exemption and exemptions for veterans and people with disabilities.<\/p>\n

The mistake many people make once they qualify is assuming these exemptions appear on their bills automatically. The truth is you must apply and for some exemptions you must apply annually. So, review your second installment bill or review your exemptions online to make sure you\u2019ve received every possible one. If an exemption is missing, you can apply to correct it going back four years.<\/p>\n

Believing You Can\u2019t Make Partial Payments<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many families believe they can\u2019t pay anything until they can pay everything. Not true. The Cook County Treasurer\u2019s Office accepts and encourages partial payments. Even small payments make a difference, because every dollar you pay lowers your balance. So, if you don\u2019t have the entire bill amount, paying in installments can reduce the amount of interest you owe and help keep you on track.<\/p>\n

Waiting Too Long to Act<\/strong><\/p>\n

The last mistake is waiting until it\u2019s too late. Whether it\u2019s applying for an exemption, updating your address or making a payment, delaying can cost you money.<\/p>\n

Stay informed. Check your bill. Use our website to track your payments, refunds and exemptions. The tools are free, easy and available in more than 240 languages.<\/p>\n

Property taxes don\u2019t have to be confusing. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can save money, reduce stress and protect your home. Take a few minutes today to check your property tax status at cookcountytreasurer.com<\/strong><\/a>. Don\u2019t wait \u2014 and don\u2019t pay for services you can get for free from us.<\/p>\n


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\"Ray<\/a> Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ\u00a0Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and\u00a0Suburban Chicagoland.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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