It has happened again. You received that dreaded blue notice in the mail telling you the value at which your house and property have been assessed. You haven’t seen your taxes yet, but you just know they will go up. Is there anything you can do about this? The short answer is yes. Lake County, Illinois has an appeal process for property owners who are unhappy with their assessment.

But is it always wise to appeal? The more complicated answer is no—not always. The Lake County Board of Review has the authority to both raise and lower assessments. A good attorney will be honest with you about whether you should move forward.

Here are some situations where it is advisable to appeal:

• The assessed property is factually inaccurate, such as square footage or lot size.
• The assessed value is higher than the property’s most recent sale price.
• The assessed value is higher than the market value of the property.
• The assessed value is higher than the value of comparable properties.
• You have a unique property with no valid comparables.

There are several types of hearings, and while the Lake County Assessor’s office offers resources and seminars, the process can be confusing. A taxpayer can generally conduct his or her own appeal unless the property is commercial or owned by an LLC. In those cases, your representative must be an attorney. Real estate agents and others may help you gather paperwork, but they cannot submit your appeal. If they do, the submission will be returned to you, and if the filing deadline has passed, you will lose the opportunity.

Speaking of deadlines, all appeals must be filed within 30 days after the publication of the assessments. Missing the deadline means no extensions are granted.

Call Harter & Schottland today to discuss appealing your property taxes. The consultation is free: 847-546-0022.

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