Chief County Assessment Officer
Paula Bates, CIAO

Exemptions and Forms

Illinois State Law allows for several exemptions for homeowners to help reduce real estate taxes.

In addition to exemptions listed here 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 (35 ILCS 200/15). The organization must apply for the exemption with the county board of review which reviews the application and forwards it to the Illinois Department of Revenue for the final administrative decision. For more information contact the County Board of Review

Additional assistance may be available through the Illinois Department on Aging.

For information about the Real Estate Tax Deferral Program contact the County Treasurer's Office .

Unfortunately, faxed or emailed copies of forms available on this page cannot be accepted.

  • This exemption freezes your assessment at a base year causing your net assessment not to increase. This does NOT freeze your taxes, only your assessed value.
  • To qualify the property must be the primary residence of the owner on January 1 for two consecutive years, and the owner must be 65 or older by December 31 of the assessment year, and must meet certain household income requirements. The current maximum household income is $65,000.
  • Statutory Reference: 35 ILCS 200/15-172
  • Contact the County Assessment Office at (217) 384-3760 or by email at Assessor@co.champaign.il.us to have a form mailed to you.
  • Click here to download a Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (SCAFHE) application form.
  • This exemption requires annual application. After the initial application is approved, you will be mailed a new form each subsequent year. Proof of income is required - Federal 1040.
  • This exemption reduces the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) and the current reduction is $2,000.
  • To qualify the property must be the primary residence of the owner on January 1 of the assessment year and the owner must be liable for the property taxes. Also, the taxpayer must be "unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or medical impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months." A person becoming disabled during the assessment year is eligible in that same year. See the application form for a list of evidence that indicates the taxpayer meets the conditions for eligibility.
  • Statutory Reference: 35 ILCS 200/15-168
  • Contact the County Assessment Office at (217) 384-3760 or by email at Assessor@co.champaign.il.us to have a form mailed to you.
  • Click here to download a Persons with Disabilities Homestead Exemption application form.
  • This exemption reduces the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) and the reduction is one of the following:
    • All EAV from the property (before taxes are calculated) for a veteran with at least a 70% service-connected disability.
    • $5,000 in EAV from the property (before taxes are calculated) for a veteran with a 50% to 69% service-connected disability.
    • $2,500 of EAV from the property (before taxes are calculated) for a veteran with a 30% to 49% service-connected disability.
  • To qualify for the Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities the veteran must meet the following requirements:
    • Must be an Illinois resident who has served as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty or state active duty Illinois National Guard or U.S. Reserve Forces.
    • Have at least a 30% service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs
    • The property cap on eligibility is a $250,000 equalized assessed value maximum exemption.
  • Statutory Reference: 35 ILCS 200/15-169
  • Contact the County Assessment Office at (217) 384-3760 or by email at Assessor@co.champaign.il.us to have a form mailed to you.
  • Click here to download a Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities application form.
  • This exemption provides a two year reduction in the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) and the current reduction is $5,000.
  • To qualify for the Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption the veteran must meet the following requirements:
    • Be an Illinois resident who has served as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, Illinois National Guard or U.S. Reserve Forces.
    • Returning from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States during the assessment year.
    • A veteran who dies during his or her active duty service is eligible to receive this exemption.
    • Owned or had a legal or equitable interest in the property used as the principal place of residence on January 1 of the assessment year.
    • Must be liable for the payment of the property taxes.
  • This exemption may be claimed only in the year in which the eligible veteran taxpayer returns from active duty in an armed conflict. If a veteran taxpayer receives this exemption, then is again deployed on active duty in an armed conflict and returns again in a subsequent year, the veteran taxpayer is eligible for this exemption again if the other conditions are met.
  • Statutory Reference: 35 ILCS 200/15-167
  • Contact the County Assessment Office at (217) 384-3760 or by email at Assessor@co.champaign.il.us to have a form mailed to you.
  • Click here to download a Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption application form.
  • This exemption provides a reduction in the Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) based on the difference between the EAV the first taxable year for which the taxpayer applies for an exemption minus the EAV of the residence for the taxable year prior to the taxable year in which natural disaster occurred.
  • To be eligible for the Natural Disaster Homestead Exemption the taxpayer must meet the following requirements:
    • you must own or have a legal or equitable interest in the property on which a single family residence is occupied as your principal residence during the assessment year.
    • you must be liable for payment of the real estate taxes.
    • the residential structure must be rebuilt within 2 years after the date of the natural disaster.
    • the square footage of the rebuilt residential structure may not be more than 110 percent of the square footage of the original residential structure as it existed immediately prior to the natural disaster.
  • Property is not eligible for the NDHE (35 ILCS 200/15-173) and the Homestead Improvement Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-180) for the same natural disaster or catastrophic event. The property may, however, remain eligible for an additional Homestead Improvement Exemption for any separate event occurring after the property qualified for the NDHE.
  • Statutory Reference: 35 ILCS 200/15-173
  • Contact the County Assessment Office at (217) 384-3760 or by email at Assessor@co.champaign.il.us to have a form mailed to you.
  • Click here to download a Natural Disaster Homestead Exemption application form.