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Illinois Compiled Statutes

Information maintained by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Updating the database of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) is an ongoing process. Recent laws may not yet be included in the ILCS database, but they are found on this site as Public Acts soon after they become law. For information concerning the relationship between statutes and Public Acts, refer to the Guide.

Because the statute database is maintained primarily for legislative drafting purposes, statutory changes are sometimes included in the statute database before they take effect. If the source note at the end of a Section of the statutes includes a Public Act that has not yet taken effect, the version of the law that is currently in effect may have already been removed from the database and you should refer to that Public Act to see the changes made to the current law.


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35 ILCS 200/15-155

    (35 ILCS 200/15-155)
    Sec. 15-155. Port districts. All property belonging to the Chicago Regional Port District or any other port district created by the legislature of this State is exempt. However, a tax may be levied upon a lessee of such property based on the value of a leasehold estate separate and apart from the fee, or upon improvements constructed and owned by others than the Port District.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3370; P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/15-160

    (35 ILCS 200/15-160)
    (Text of Section WITH the changes made by P.A. 97-1161, which has been held unconstitutional)
    Sec. 15-160. Airport authorities and airports.
    (a) All property belonging to any Airport Authority and used for Airport Authority purposes or leased to another entity, which property use would be exempt from taxation under this Code if it were owned by the lessee entity, is exempt. However, the provision added by Public Act 86-219 shall not apply to any property of any Airport Authority located in a county with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants. Property acquired for airport purposes by an Authority shall remain subject to any tax previously levied to pay bonds issued and outstanding on the date of acquisition.
    (b) Also exempt is any airport or restricted land area or other air navigation facility owned, controlled, operated or leased by another state or a political subdivision of another state under the provisions of Sections 25.01 to 25.04, both inclusive, of the "Illinois Aeronautics Act". However if at the time of the acquisition of property to be used for public airport purposes the city, village, township or school district, in which said property is located is indebted for any amount for payment of which it provided for the collection of taxes, the property acquired for public airport purposes shall be subject to taxation for the payment of said indebtedness in the same proportion as said property bore to the taxable property in said city, village, township or school district immediately before the acquisition thereof, according to the last assessment for taxation.
    (c) If property of the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County is leased to a fixed base operator that provides aeronautical services to the public, then those leasehold interests and any improvements thereon are exempt.
(Source: P.A. 97-1161, eff. 6-1-13.)
 
    (Text of Section WITHOUT the changes made by P.A. 97-1161, which has been held unconstitutional)
    Sec. 15-160. Airport authorities and airports. All property belonging to any Airport Authority and used for Airport Authority purposes or leased to another entity, which property use would be exempt from taxation under this Code if it were owned by the lessee entity, is exempt. However, the provision added by Public Act 86-219 shall not apply to any property of any Airport Authority located in a county with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants. Property acquired for airport purposes by an Authority shall remain subject to any tax previously levied to pay bonds issued and outstanding on the date of acquisition.
    Also exempt is any airport or restricted land area or other air navigation facility owned, controlled, operated or leased by another state or a political subdivision of another state under the provisions of Sections 25.01 to 25.04, both inclusive, of the "Illinois Aeronautics Act". However if at the time of the acquisition of property to be used for public airport purposes the city, village, township or school district, in which said property is located is indebted for any amount for payment of which it provided for the collection of taxes, the property acquired for public airport purposes shall be subject to taxation for the payment of said indebtedness in the same proportion as said property bore to the taxable property in said city, village, township or school district immediately before the acquisition thereof, according to the last assessment for taxation.
(Source: P.A. 88-455.)

35 ILCS 200/15-165

    (35 ILCS 200/15-165)
    Sec. 15-165. Veterans with disabilities. Property up to an assessed value of $100,000, owned and used exclusively by a veteran with a disability, or the spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran, as a home, is exempt. As used in this Section, a "veteran with a disability" means a person who has served in the Armed Forces of the United States and whose disability is of such a nature that the Federal Government has authorized payment for purchase or construction of Specially Adapted Housing as set forth in the United States Code, Title 38, Chapter 21, Section 2101.
    The exemption applies to housing where Federal funds have been used to purchase or construct special adaptations to suit the veteran's disability.
    The exemption also applies to housing that is specially adapted to suit the veteran's disability, and purchased entirely or in part by the proceeds of a sale, casualty loss reimbursement, or other transfer of a home for which the Federal Government had previously authorized payment for purchase or construction as Specially Adapted Housing.
    However, the entire proceeds of the sale, casualty loss reimbursement, or other transfer of that housing shall be applied to the acquisition of subsequent specially adapted housing to the extent that the proceeds equal the purchase price of the subsequently acquired housing.
    Beginning with the 2015 tax year, the exemption also applies to housing that is specifically constructed or adapted to suit a qualifying veteran's disability if the housing or adaptations are donated by a charitable organization, the veteran has been approved to receive funds for the purchase or construction of Specially Adapted Housing under Title 38, Chapter 21, Section 2101 of the United States Code, and the home has been inspected and certified by a licensed home inspector to be in compliance with applicable standards set forth in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration Pamphlet 26-13 Handbook for Design of Specially Adapted Housing.
    For purposes of this Section, "charitable organization" means any benevolent, philanthropic, patriotic, or eleemosynary entity that solicits and collects funds for charitable purposes and includes each local, county, or area division of that charitable organization.
    For purposes of this Section, "unmarried surviving spouse" means the surviving spouse of the veteran at any time after the death of the veteran during which such surviving spouse is not married.
    This exemption must be reestablished on an annual basis by certification from the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to the Department, which shall forward a copy of the certification to local assessing officials.
    A taxpayer who claims an exemption under Section 15-168 or 15-169 may not claim an exemption under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 98-1145, eff. 12-30-14; 99-143, eff. 7-27-15.)

35 ILCS 200/15-167

    (35 ILCS 200/15-167)
    Sec. 15-167. Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption.
    (a) Beginning with taxable year 2007, a homestead exemption, limited to a reduction set forth under subsection (b), from the property's value, as equalized or assessed by the Department, is granted for property that is owned and occupied as the principal residence of a veteran returning from an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States who is liable for paying real estate taxes on the property and is an owner of record of the property or has a legal or equitable interest therein as evidenced by a written instrument, except for a leasehold interest, other than a leasehold interest of land on which a single family residence is located, which is occupied as the principal residence of a veteran returning from an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States who has an ownership interest therein, legal, equitable or as a lessee, and on which he or she is liable for the payment of property taxes. For purposes of the exemption under this Section, "veteran" means an Illinois resident who has served as a member of the United States Armed Forces, a member of the Illinois National Guard, or a member of the United States Reserve Forces.
    (b) In all counties, the reduction is $5,000 for the taxable year in which the veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States; however, if the veteran first acquires his or her principal residence during the taxable year in which he or she returns, but after January 1 of that year, and if the property is owned and occupied by the veteran as a principal residence on January 1 of the next taxable year, he or she may apply the exemption for the next taxable year, and only the next taxable year, after he or she returns. Beginning in taxable year 2010, the reduction shall also be allowed for the taxable year after the taxable year in which the veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States. For land improved with an apartment building owned and operated as a cooperative, the maximum reduction from the value of the property, as equalized by the Department, must be multiplied by the number of apartments or units occupied by a veteran returning from an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States who is liable, by contract with the owner or owners of record, for paying property taxes on the property and is an owner of record of a legal or equitable interest in the cooperative apartment building, other than a leasehold interest. In a cooperative where a homestead exemption has been granted, the cooperative association or the management firm of the cooperative or facility shall credit the savings resulting from that exemption only to the apportioned tax liability of the owner or resident who qualified for the exemption. Any person who willfully refuses to so credit the savings is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
    (c) Application must be made during the application period in effect for the county of his or her residence. The assessor or chief county assessment officer may determine the eligibility of residential property to receive the homestead exemption provided by this Section by application, visual inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable methods. The determination must be made in accordance with guidelines established by the Department.
    (d) The exemption under this Section is in addition to any other homestead exemption provided in this Article 15. Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of the State Mandates Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this Section.
(Source: P.A. 96-1288, eff. 7-26-10; 96-1418, eff. 8-2-10; 97-333, eff. 8-12-11.)

35 ILCS 200/15-168

    (35 ILCS 200/15-168)
    Sec. 15-168. Homestead exemption for persons with disabilities.
    (a) Beginning with taxable year 2007, an annual homestead exemption is granted to persons with disabilities in the amount of $2,000, except as provided in subsection (c), to be deducted from the property's value as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue. The person with a disability shall receive the homestead exemption upon meeting the following requirements:
        (1) The property must be occupied as the primary
    
residence by the person with a disability.
        (2) The person with a disability must be liable for
    
paying the real estate taxes on the property.
        (3) The person with a disability must be an owner of
    
record of the property or have a legal or equitable interest in the property as evidenced by a written instrument. In the case of a leasehold interest in property, the lease must be for a single family residence.
    A person who has a disability during the taxable year is eligible to apply for this homestead exemption during that taxable year. Application must be made during the application period in effect for the county of residence. If a homestead exemption has been granted under this Section and the person awarded the exemption subsequently becomes a resident of a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, the Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the ID/DD Community Care Act, or the MC/DD Act, then the exemption shall continue (i) so long as the residence continues to be occupied by the qualifying person's spouse or (ii) if the residence remains unoccupied but is still owned by the person qualified for the homestead exemption.
    (b) For the purposes of this Section, "person with a disability" means a person unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. Persons with disabilities filing claims under this Act shall submit proof of disability in such form and manner as the Department shall by rule and regulation prescribe. Proof that a claimant is eligible to receive disability benefits under the Federal Social Security Act shall constitute proof of disability for purposes of this Act. Issuance of an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card stating that the claimant is under a Class 2 disability, as defined in Section 4A of the Illinois Identification Card Act, shall constitute proof that the person named thereon is a person with a disability for purposes of this Act. A person with a disability not covered under the Federal Social Security Act and not presenting an Illinois Person with a Disability Identification Card stating that the claimant is under a Class 2 disability shall be examined by a physician, optometrist (if the person qualifies because of a visual disability), advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant designated by the Department, and his status as a person with a disability determined using the same standards as used by the Social Security Administration. The costs of any required examination shall be borne by the claimant.
    (c) For land improved with (i) an apartment building owned and operated as a cooperative or (ii) a life care facility as defined under Section 2 of the Life Care Facilities Act that is considered to be a cooperative, the maximum reduction from the value of the property, as equalized or assessed by the Department, shall be multiplied by the number of apartments or units occupied by a person with a disability. The person with a disability shall receive the homestead exemption upon meeting the following requirements:
        (1) The property must be occupied as the primary
    
residence by the person with a disability.
        (2) The person with a disability must be liable by
    
contract with the owner or owners of record for paying the apportioned property taxes on the property of the cooperative or life care facility. In the case of a life care facility, the person with a disability must be liable for paying the apportioned property taxes under a life care contract as defined in Section 2 of the Life Care Facilities Act.
        (3) The person with a disability must be an owner of
    
record of a legal or equitable interest in the cooperative apartment building. A leasehold interest does not meet this requirement.
If a homestead exemption is granted under this subsection, the cooperative association or management firm shall credit the savings resulting from the exemption to the apportioned tax liability of the qualifying person with a disability. The chief county assessment officer may request reasonable proof that the association or firm has properly credited the exemption. A person who willfully refuses to credit an exemption to the qualified person with a disability is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
    (d) The chief county assessment officer shall determine the eligibility of property to receive the homestead exemption according to guidelines established by the Department. After a person has received an exemption under this Section, an annual verification of eligibility for the exemption shall be mailed to the taxpayer.
    In counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the chief county assessment officer shall provide to each person granted a homestead exemption under this Section a form to designate any other person to receive a duplicate of any notice of delinquency in the payment of taxes assessed and levied under this Code on the person's qualifying property. The duplicate notice shall be in addition to the notice required to be provided to the person receiving the exemption and shall be given in the manner required by this Code. The person filing the request for the duplicate notice shall pay an administrative fee of $5 to the chief county assessment officer. The assessment officer shall then file the executed designation with the county collector, who shall issue the duplicate notices as indicated by the designation. A designation may be rescinded by the person with a disability in the manner required by the chief county assessment officer.
    (d-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each chief county assessment officer may approve this exemption for the 2020 taxable year, without application, for any property that was approved for this exemption for the 2019 taxable year, provided that:
        (1) the county board has declared a local disaster as
    
provided in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act related to the COVID-19 public health emergency;
        (2) the owner of record of the property as of January
    
1, 2020 is the same as the owner of record of the property as of January 1, 2019;
        (3) the exemption for the 2019 taxable year has not
    
been determined to be an erroneous exemption as defined by this Code; and
        (4) the applicant for the 2019 taxable year has not
    
asked for the exemption to be removed for the 2019 or 2020 taxable years.
    (d-10) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each chief county assessment officer may approve this exemption for the 2021 taxable year, without application, for any property that was approved for this exemption for the 2020 taxable year, if:
        (1) the county board has declared a local disaster as
    
provided in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act related to the COVID-19 public health emergency;
        (2) the owner of record of the property as of January
    
1, 2021 is the same as the owner of record of the property as of January 1, 2020;
        (3) the exemption for the 2020 taxable year has not
    
been determined to be an erroneous exemption as defined by this Code; and
        (4) the taxpayer for the 2020 taxable year has not
    
asked for the exemption to be removed for the 2020 or 2021 taxable years.
    (d-15) For taxable years 2022 through 2027, in any county of more than 3,000,000 residents, and in any other county where the county board has authorized such action by ordinance or resolution, a chief county assessment officer may renew this exemption for any person who applied for the exemption and presented proof of eligibility, as described in subsection (b), without an annual application as required under subsection (d). A chief county assessment officer shall not automatically renew an exemption under this subsection if: the physician, advanced practice registered nurse, optometrist, or physician assistant who examined the claimant determined that the disability is not expected to continue for 12 months or more; the exemption has been deemed erroneous since the last application; or the claimant has reported their ineligibility to receive the exemption. A chief county assessment officer who automatically renews an exemption under this subsection shall notify a person of a subsequent determination not to automatically renew that person's exemption and shall provide that person with an application to renew the exemption.
    (e) A taxpayer who claims an exemption under Section 15-165 or 15-169 may not claim an exemption under this Section.
(Source: P.A. 102-136, eff. 7-23-21; 102-895, eff. 5-23-22; 103-154, eff. 6-30-23.)