Property Tax Exemptions

Home Property Tax Exemptions

General Homestead (Owner Occupied) Exemption

To receive this exemption, you must have lived on the property which is your principal residence on or before January 1st of the tax year, otherwise the value may be prorated for the portion of the year that it was owner occupied. This exemption lowers the equalized assessed value of your property by $6,000.

Home Improvement Exemption

This exemption defers, for four years, any increase in the assessment of your property due to an addition or other improvement to your home for which the County Assessor would add value.
A maximum of $75,000 of fair market value may be deferred under this program. The property has to be the taxpayers principal residence.

Senior Homestead (Owner Occupied Over 65) Exemption

  • Have reached age 65 during the tax year.
  • Own and live in the property as your principal residence.
  • Apply for the exemption at the County Assessor’s office.
  • You will need to bring a copy of the deed to the property and proof of age with you when you apply. If the property is held in trust, you will also need a copy of the trust agreement indicating the beneficiary.
  • This exemption lowers the equalized assessed value of your property by $5,000 and may be claimed in addition to the Homestead Limited Exemption.

Senior Citizen's Assessment Freeze

  • To qualify you must also receive the Senior Homestead Exemption and have had the property you are applying for be your principal residence for a period of time that would include the past two January 1st .
  • First-time applicants can obtain forms from the County Assessor’s Office.
  • This exemption freezes the assessment on your property if your total household income is 65,000.00 or less.
  • This exemption does not freeze your tax rate; it freezes the assessed valuation that appears on your tax bill.
  • This exemption must be renewed annually. The County Assessor mails applications to all taxpayers receiving the Senior Homestead Exemption.
  • If you are applying for this exemption and the property is held in trust, the law requires that we verify the applicant is a beneficiary of that trust. The exemption cannot be applied without this verification. Please include a copy of that part of the actual trust agreement which states that the applicant is the beneficiary. This can usually be found on the first few pages of the trust document. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly at 618-998-2189 ext. 1183.

Returning Veteran's Exemption

  • Lowers the equalized assessed value of your property by $5,000 in the year you return from active duty in an armed conflict and the following year after.
  • This can be claimed in addition to the General Homestead Limited Exemption and any applicable Senior Citizen’s Exemptions.
  • To receive this exemption, you must own and occupy the property applied for as your principal residence on January 1 of the tax year.
  • Supply a copy of your DD214, if applicable; otherwise a copy of your most recent military orders and travel voucher showing the date of your return.
  • If you are applying for this exemption and the property is held in trust, the law requires that we verify the applicant is a beneficiary of that trust. The exemption cannot be applied without this verification. Please include a copy of that part of the actual trust agreement which states that the applicant is the beneficiary. This can usually be found on the first few pages of the trust document. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly at 618-998-2189 ext. 1183.

Disabled Veteran's Standard Homestead Exemption

This exemption may be claimed in addition to the General Homestead Limited Exemption and the Senior Citizen’s Homestead Exemptions, if applicable; however, it cannot be claimed in addition to the Disabled Veterans’ Exemption of $70,000, or the Disabled Persons’ Homestead Exemption. To receive this exemption, you must:

  • Be a Williamson County, Illinois resident and have served in the United States Armed Forces, The Illinois National Guard, or U.S. Reserve Forces, and have received an honorable discharge.
  • A disabled veteran with at least a 70% service-connected disability will receive a $5,000 reduction in the property’s EAV.
  • A disabled veteran with at least 50%, but less than 70% service-connected disability will receive a $2,500 reduction in property’s EAV.
  • Have owned and occupied the property as the primary residence on or before January 1st of the tax year.
  • Supply documentation as required by the instructions on the back of the form.
  • Have a total equalized assessed value (EAV) of less than $250,000.
  • An unmarried surviving spouse of a disabled veteran can continue to receive this exemption on his or her spouse’s homestead property or transfer the exemption to a new primary residence.  To qualify, the surviving spouse must meet the following requirements:
  1. Sell the disabled veteran’s previous homestead property before transferring this exemption to his or her  new primary residence.
  2. Own and occupy the property as a primary residence and hold a legal or beneficial title to the property on January 1 of the assessment year.
  3. Have a total equalized assessed value (EAV) of less than $250,000. If you are applying for this exemption and the property is held in trust, the law requires that we verify the applicant is a beneficiary of that trust. The exemption cannot be applied without this verification. Please include a copy of that part of the trust agreement which states that the applicant is the beneficiary. This can usually be found on the first few pages of the trust document. First-time applicants can obtain forms from the County Assessor’s office. Please note that this exemption will require annual verification of eligibility. The County Assessor will mail the appropriate forms each year to all disabled veterans or their surviving spouses who received the exemption in the prior year

Disabled Person's Homestead Exemption

This exemption lowers the equalized assessed value of your property by $2,000, and may be claimed in addition to the Homestead Limited Exemption and the Senior Citizen’s Homestead Exemptions, if applicable. This exemption cannot be claimed in addition to the Disabled Veterans’ Standard Homestead Exemption or the Disabled Veterans’ Exemption of $70,000; you can only receive one of these exemptions and, if you are a veteran, you should choose to apply for the one most beneficial to you.  To receive this exemption, you must:

  • Own or have a legal or equitable interest in the property
  • Have lived on the property on or before January 1st of the tax year.
  • Be disabled under the Federal Social Security Act and supply either:
      1. A copy of your Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card stating that you are under a  Class 2 disability (for each year you qualify); or
      2. Proof of Social Security Administration Social Security Benefits.  This proof includes an award letter, verification letter, or annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) – This paperwork must be issued in the tax year for which you are applying.  Whichever you supply, it must indicate that the benefits are for disability; or
      3. Proof of Veterans Administration disability benefits which would be an award letter showing total 100% disability; or
      4. Proof of Railroad or Civil Service disability benefits which would be an award letter showing a total 100% disability.

If you are applying for this exemption and the property is held in trust, the law requires that we verify the applicant is a beneficiary of that trust. The exemption cannot be applied without this verification. Please include a copy of that part of the actual trust agreement which states that the applicant is the beneficiary. This can usually be found on the first few pages of the trust document.Please note that this exemption requires annual verification of eligibility.  The Williamson County Assessor’s office will mail the appropriate forms each year to all disabled persons who received the exemption in the prior year.

First-time applicants can obtain forms from the County Assessor’s office.

Current Military Exemption

  • Military personnel on active duty out of state or overseas for extended periods that include the due date for real-estate taxes are eligible to defer payment of their taxes under the provisions of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act and related Illinois statutes.
  • Instead of the penalties, costs and fees for real-estate taxes normally imposed under Illinois law, the penalties can be waived through 180 days after the return from active duty of the member of the military who owns the real estate in question.

Senior Citizens' Tax Deferral Program

The Senior Citizens Tax Deferral is a program that allows qualified senior citizens to defer part or all of the property taxes on their personal residence.

General Information:

  • This is a state loan with a 6% simple interest rate.
  • Repayment upon death or sale of home.
  • A lien will be placed on your property.
  • The program may be utilized for multiple years, if you meet the qualifications.
  • Must file a new application each new tax year.
  • You may apply for other senior tax programs even though you are on the deferral program.
  • Those that have a current mortgage, 2nd mortgage or reverse mortgage must check with their lending institution to see if you qualify.
  • Your completed application must be notarized and returned by March 1st of each year.

Mail to:
Williamson County Treasurer
407 N. Monroe St., Suite 104
Marion, IL 62959

Requirements of Eligibility:

• Applicant must be 65 years old as of June 1st of the tax year claimed.
• Total household income $65,000.00.
• Maximum shall not exceed $7,500.00 per taxpayer per year.
• Proof of house insurance
• Property cannot be income producing, such as rental income.
• Applicant must own and occupy residence.
• Property taxes must be current at the time of application.
• The cumulative amount of the deferral plus interest cannot exceed the market value less the value of any liens.
• Taxes may be paid at any time without affecting the deferral status.

Please contact the Williamson County Treasurer’s Office at 618-998-2142, Ext. 1162 for a Tax Deferral Application or if you have any questions.

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