Assessor

Corinne Erickson

P: 815-513-3990

Corinne or a field tech will be out taking photos for the files. This is a busy year for updating properties. The vehicle will be clearly marked, and the person will be wearing a vest.

 The visit will be for FILE DATA, please note a card will be left in your mailbox, or at the door when someone has been to the house. The vehicle will also have Rutland Township identification on the outside to be seen clearly from a distance. The worker (Corinne or field tech) will also have ID. They will NEVER ask to enter the home.

 Please call with any concerns. 

In 2024, new and old Senior Exemptions will once again be offered by the State of Illinois to all homeowners 65 and over. If you are new, in addition to the Owner Occupied Exemption, which reduces the assessment by $6000, there are two other exemptions: a.) the Senior Homestead Exemption ($5000); and  b.) the Senior Homestead Freeze Limit (reduction varies by age and length of time in program).

To qualify for the senior Homestead Exemption, all first time applications must be provided along with the completed PTAX-324 form. This form MUST be notarized and we will need to see a photo identification.

ORIGINALS MUST BE SUBMITTED.
WE WILL NOT ACCEPT
PHOTOCOPIES, FAXES OR EMAIL COPIES.
 

The Senior Homestead Freeze Limit Exemption does have some additional qualifying criteria:

  • Be 65 years of age or older this taxable year
  • Your gross income must be $65,000 or less for the prior years income
  • Have used the property as your principal place of residence on January 1st of the taxable year and the previous year
  • Own the property, or have legal or equitable interest in the property and
  • Be liable for the payment of the property taxes for the taxable year

SENIOR ASSESSMENT FREEZE (PTAX-340) NO LONGER NEEDS TO BE NOTARIZED

Senior Homestead Exemption: Homestead property that is owned and occupied as the principal residence by a person 65 years of age or older who is liable for the real estate taxes on the property and is owner of record or has a legal interest in the property. You must file for this exemption. Forms are available February 1st of every Year. Rutland Township will mail the forms the 1st week of February.  This is a $5,000 reduction off your equalized assessed valuation.

Once again, if you have qualified for either of these exemptions in the past, the forms will be mailed to the last address that the County has on file in February.

The current  application for this exemption is located under the tab- Information Center on this website.

ASSESSMENT TOO HIGH??  

When a taxpayer considers filing a complaint on their assessment, the first step along the way is the assessor’s office.  This is to make sure that a clerical error wasn’t made.  The assessor will explain the things you may wish to include with your complaint: a. assessment and pictures of three comparable properties b.  possibly, an appraisal.  pictures indicating wear and tear on the homed.  brief explanation of the reason you are filing the complaint on a recent purchase price.   recent remodeling costs (labor will be included if it isn’t already) There may be other specific issues which you may wish to present at a hearing with the county Board of Review which are not covered above.  If the issue cannot be resolved locally, the taxpayer can ask for a hearing with the

Board of Review by calling 815-434-8233 or sending an email to: www.lasallecountyil.gov

Breakdown of available exemptions for qualifying homeowners

For more information on each of the exemptions listed below, please call the Corinne Erickson at her HOME Office at (815) 955-6045 or view LaSalle County Assessors website at https://lasallecountyil.gov/lasalle-county-chief-assessment-officer/


General Homestead Exemption: Also called the Residential Homestead Exemption. Homestead property includes property that is occupied by the owners as their principal dwelling place. The Residential Homestead Exemption exempts $6,000 of the equalized assessed value for the current assessment year.


Homestead Improvement Exemption: Limited to an annual maximum of $25,000 of equalized assessed value when the property is owner-occupied and used exclusively for a residential purpose. When an increase in assessed value is attributable solely to a new improvement of an existing structure, the amount of the exemption shall be limited to the actual value added by the new improvement up to an annual maximum of $25,000 and shall continue for 4 years from the date the improvement is completed and occupied.


Veterans Exemption: The Veterans Exemption is granted to a disabled veteran who has served in the armed forces of the United States and who has acquired in connection with that service a disability of such nature that the Federal Government has authorized payment for purchase or construction of specially adapted housing as set forth in the U.S. Code Title 38, Chapter 21. This exemption covers the veteran’s owner-occupied real property up to an equalized assessed value of $70,000. The Veterans Exemption must be reestablished on an annual basis by certification from the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs to the Supervisor of Assessments’ Office. Note that you will not be eligible if you are claiming exemption under the Disabled Persons Homestead Exemption or the Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption.


Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption: The Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption is granted to a disabled veteran (or the surviving unmarried spouse of a disabled veteran) who has served in the armed forces of the United States and who has acquired in connection with that service at least a 50% disability as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption Note exempts up to $5,000 off the equalized assessed value of the veteran’s owner-occupied property. Note that you will not be eligible if you are claiming exemption under the Disabled Persons Homestead Exemption or the Veterans Exemption.


Returning Veterans Exemption: The Returning Veterans Exemption grants a one-year only $5,000 exemption off the equalized assessed value on the veteran’s owner-occupied real property in the tax year that the veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the U.S.


Disabled Persons Homestead Exemption: Exempts $2,000 of the equalized assessed valuation on real property owned and occupied by a disabled person (i.e., a person certified as disabled by the State of Illinois or U.S. Government). Note that you will not be eligible if you are claiming exemption under the Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption or the Veterans Exemption.