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Exemptions
General Homestead Exemption ("Owner Occupied")
Annual exemption available to residential property that is occupied by January 1 of the assessment year by its owner or owners as his or their principal dwelling place, or that is a leasehold interest on which a single family residence is situated, which is occupied as a residence by a person who has an ownership interest therein, legal or equitable or as a lessee, and on which the person is liable for the payment of property taxes. The amount of the exemption is the increase in the current year's equalized assessed value (EAV), above the 1977 EAV, up to a maximum of $6,000. This exemption is labeled "Owner Occupied" in the Formula For Tax Calculation on the left hand side of the Real Estate Tax Bill mailed by the County Collector. The General Homestead Exemption is granted automatically in most cases; however, as is the case with all exemptions, it is the taxpayer's responsibility to ensure this exemption has been properly applied to their tax bills each year.
Leasehold Owner Occupied Exemption
Download 2024 Application for Leasehold Exemption
Annual exemption that is available to those meeting the requirements listed on the Application for General Homestead Exemption (for Single-Family Dwellings Subject to a Lease). Deadline to receive this exemption is the last business day in March of each year. TAX YEAR 2024 – DEADLINE – March 29, 2024. If you have any questions regarding this exemption, please contact the Moultrie County Assessment Office.
A tenant/lessee with a lease cannot claim the Veterans with Disabilities Exemption. Per statute for the Veterans with Disabilities Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-169) describes a “Qualified residence” in paragraph (f) as real property, but less any portion of that property that is used for commercial purposes and clarifies that property rented for more than 6 months is presumed to be used for commercial purposes.
Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption ("65 & Over")
**Eligibility for the 2024 Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption is limited to:
• Properties owned and occupied by qualifying senior citizens
• If you previously received a senior citizens homestead exemption and now reside in a facility licensed under the Assisted Living and Share Housing Act, Nursing Home Care Act, or ID/DD (intellectually disabled/developmentally disabled) Community Care Act of 2013, MC/DD (Medically Complex for the Developmentally Disabled) Act, or Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act, you are still eligible to receive this exemption provided:
o your property is occupied by your spouse, who is 65 years of age or older, or
o your property remains unoccupied during the assessment year
• For purposes of age verification, you will be required to provide one of the following:
o A valid birth certificate
o A state-issued driver's license
o A state-issued identification card**
(also known as Elderly Exemption)
Step 1: Download Application(PTAX-324) Step 2: Submit Application via Email
Annual exemption that is available to those meeting the requirements of the general homestead exemption (see above) but for property that is occupied as a primary residence by a person that is 65 years of age or older anytime during the assessment year. The amount of this exemption, in addition to the "owner occupied" exemption, is a $5,000 reduction in the equalized assessed value (EAV) of the property. Moultrie County requires an initial application, Form PTAX-324, Application for Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption, be filed with the Moultrie County Assessment Office.
Low Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption ("Senior Freeze")
**Eligibility for the 2024 Low Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption is limited to properties owned and occupied by qualifying senior citizens with a “household income” of $65,000.
• "Household income" means the combined income of the members of a household in 2023.
• "Income" has the same meaning as provided in Section 3.07 of the Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities Property Tax Relief Act, except "income" does not include veteran's benefits.
• Members of the household include:
o The applicant
o The applicant’s spouse (even if the spouse lived elsewhere); and
o All other persons living on the property as of January 1, 2024.
• For purposes of income verification:
o All members of the household must provide a copy of their complete 2023 federal income tax return (including all schedules)
o Any household member who is not required to file AND did not file a 2023 federal tax return must provide copies of all 1099 form for the 2023 year (including but not limited to SSA-1099 and any 1099 forms for annuities, 401Ks, other pensions, interest income, rental income, life insurance dividends, and all other income sources);
o Any household member who is not required to file a 2023 federal income tax return MUST file the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Individual Income Certification.**
Use this conversion form to apply amounts from your household tax documents to the Low Income Senior Freeze application form.
Step 1: Download 2024 Application (PTAX-340); [CALL the Assessment Office for the 2023 Application] Last date to apply is Monday, July 1, 2024. Please call our office if you miss this deadline
Step 2: Submit Application via Email
The senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption allows qualified senior citizens to freeze the equalized assessed value (EAV) of their residential property to prevent or limit any increase due to inflation. Upon eligibility, the applicant establishes a "base year" (usually the year before the year you first qualify and apply) for which the assessed valuation is "frozen" at a "base amount". Freezing the property's EAV, however, does not mean the property taxes will not increase because other factors affect the tax bill. For example, the tax bill could increase if the tax rate (which is based on the amount of revenues taxing districts request) increases.
The senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption qualifications for the 2023 tax year (for the property taxes paid in 2024), are listed below.
• You will be 65 or older during 2024.
• Your total household income in 2023 was $65,000 or less.
• On January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, you
- used the property as your principal place of residence,
- owned the property, or had a legal or equitable interest in the property as evidenced by a written instrument, or had a leasehold interest in the property used as a single-family residence, and
- were liable for the payment of property taxes.
Mobile Homes On Privilege Tax -- You do not qualify for this exemption if your property is assessed under the mobile home privilege tax. Surviving spouse - Even if you are not 65 or older during 2024, you are eligible for this exemption for 2024, if your spouse died in 2024 and would have met all of the qualifications. Residents in a health facility - Even if you did not use the property as your principal place of residence on January 1, 2024, you qualify for this exemption if you are a resident of a facility licensed under the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act, Nursing Home Care Act, ID/DD (intellectually disabled/developmentally disabled) Community Care Act, or Specialized Mental Health Rehabilitation Act of 2013 and you meet all other requirements, have received this exemption previously, and your property is either unoccupied or is occupied by your spouse. Residents of cooperatives - If you are a resident of a cooperative apartment building or cooperative life-care facility, you qualify for this exemption if you are liable for the payment of the property taxes on your residence and meet the other eligibility requirements.
Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program
This program allows persons 65 years of age and older to defer all or part of the real estate taxes and special assessments on their principal residences. The program has income limits and other qualification requirements. Contact the Moultrie County Treasurer's Office at 217-728-4032 for full information.
Homestead Improvement Exemption (HIE)
This is an exemption allowed for new improvements to existing structures on residential homestead property or the rebuilding of residential structures following a catastrophic event. The exemption is limited to a maximum of $75,000 per year in fair cash value ($25,000 equalized assessed value) and continues for four years from the date the improvement or rebuilding is completed and occupied. Moultrie County grants the Homestead Improvement Exemption automatically; however, as is the case with all exemptions, it is the taxpayer's responsibility to ensure this exemption has been properly applied to their tax bills each year. Please call the Moultrie County Assessment Office to confirm your eligibility or if you have any questions about this exemption.
Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption
Step 1: Download Application (PTAX-341) Step 2: Submit Application via Email
The Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption provides a one-time $5,000 reduction in a property's equalized assessed value (EAV) of the veteran's principal residence for the taxable year that 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 for the exemption for the next taxable year, and only the next taxable year after he or she returns. The veteran must own and occupy the property on January 1 of the assessment year as his or her principal residence. To receive this exemption, the veteran must file an application upon their return home.
You can claim only one of the following disabled homestead exemptions on your property for a single assessment year. This Disabled Veterans' Homestead Exemption is up to a $100,000 reduction in a property's equalized assessed value (EAV) for specially adapted housing, or Disabled Veterans' Standard Homestead Exemption is an annual reduction in a property's EAV, of $2,500 for a service connected disability of 30% to 49%, or $5,000 for a service connected disability of 50% to 69%, or TOTAL exemption from taxes for a service connected disability of 70% or greater, or Disabled Person's Homestead Exemption is an annual $2,000 reduction in a property's EAV.
Disabled Veterans' Homestead Exemption
Step 1: Download Application (PTAX-342) Step 2: Submit Application via Email
The Disabled Veterans' Homestead Exemption provides up to a $100,000 reduction in the equalized assessed value (EAV) for specially adapted housing. Contact the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs at 217-782-3421 for information and application.
For more information about Veteran Disability ratings, please watch this video from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Disabled Veterans' Standard Homestead Exemption and Annual Renewal
**DECISION OF BENEFITS LETTER NOT ACCEPTABLE, WE MUST HAVE THE SUMMARY OF BENEFITS LETTER**
Follow these instructions on how to get your Summary of Benefits letter from the VA--Click for Instructions
Step 1: Download Annual Verification (PTAX-342-R) Step 2: Submit Application via Email
The Disabled Veterans' Standard Homestead Exemption provides an annual reduction in the equalized assessed value (EAV) of a primary residence owned and occupied by a disabled veteran on January 1 of the assessment year. The amount of the exemption depends on the percentage of the service connected disability as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs. A disabled veteran with at least a 70% service-connected disability will receive a TOTAL exemption from the taxes on the residential land and buildings. A disabled veteran with at least 50%, but less than 70% service connected disability will receive a $5,000 reduction in property's EAV. A disabled veteran with at least 30% but less than 50% will receive a $2,500 reduction in property's EAV. A disabled veteran must file an initial application and an annual renewal application to receive this exemption.
A tenant/lessee with a lease cannot claim the Veterans with Disabilities Exemption. Per statute for the Veterans with Disabilities Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-169) describes a “Qualified residence” in paragraph (f) as real property, but less any portion of that property that is used for commercial purposes and clarifies that property rented for more than 6 months is presumed to be used for commercial purposes.
Application for the Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities and Annual Renewal
Step 1: Download Application (PTAX-343) Step 2: Submit Application via Email
Step 1: Download Annual Verification (PTAX-343-R)
Last date to apply 07/01/2024. Please call our office if you miss this deadline.
Physician's Statement for the Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities
Step 1: Download Application (PTAX-343-A)
The Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities provides a $2,000 reduction in the equalized assessed value (EAV) of the property owned and occupied as a primary residence on January 1 of the assessment year by a disabled person who is liable for the payment of property taxes. A disabled person must file an initial application and an annual renewal application to receive this exemption.
Application for Solar Energy Assessment
Step 1: Download Application (PTAX-330) Step 2:Submit Application via Email
You should complete this form to request an alternate assessment if you are using a solar energy system that has been installed on your property. The solar energy system must conform to the standards established by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity . You must file this with the chief county assessment officer (CCAO) at the address shown below.
NOTE: Attach copies of receipts for cost and installation of the solar energy system. If you discontinue the use of the solar energy system valued under this alternate assessment, you must notify the CCAO in writing, by certified mail, within 30 days.
Per 35 ILCS 200/10-10
Sec. 10-10. Valuation of solar energy systems. When a solar energy system has been installed in improvements on any property, the owner of that property is entitled to claim, by filing with the chief county assessment officer, an alternate valuation of those improvements. When a claim for alternate valuation is filed, the chief county assessment officer shall ascertain the value of the improvements as if equipped with a conventional heating or cooling system and the value of the improvements as equipped with the solar energy system. So long as the solar energy system is used in total or part as the means of utilizing solar energy improvements, the alternate valuation computed as the lessor of the two values ascertained under this paragraph shall be applied. When the solar energy system so valued ceases to be used as the means of heating or cooling those improvements, the owner of that property shall within 30 days notify the chief county assessment officer in writing by certified mail.
(Source: P.A. 80-430; 88-455.)
Non-Homestead Exemptions for Religious, Charitable, Educational, or Governmental Organizations
Properties of religious, charitable, and educational organizations, as well as units of federal, state and local governments, are eligible for exemption from property taxes to the extent provided by law. The organization must apply for exemption to the Moultrie County Board of Review which reviews the application and forwards it to the Illinois Department of Revenue (ILDOR) for the final administrative decision. Please contact the Moultrie County Assessment Office for applications and further information.