Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Details How Property Tax Bills Are Calculated

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas oversees the mailing of roughly 1.8 million property tax bills to county owners twice a year. Each bill lists the total amount due, the due date, and a 14‑digit Property Index Number (PIN) that identifies the specific property.

The middle section breaks down how the tax is allocated among local taxing bodies such as schools, parks and libraries, and compares the current bill to the previous year. A tax calculator explains the computation: the assessor’s estimated market value, a 10 % assessment level for residential properties, the statewide equalization factor set by the Illinois Department of Revenue, and the resulting equalized assessed value. The Cook County Clerk then applies the district tax rate. Any applicable exemptions – homeowner, senior, etc. – appear as dollar credits, and owners are urged to verify eligibility on the Treasurer’s website. Late payments incur penalties that are clearly shown on the bill.