A GUIDE TO FILING AN APPEAL

STEP #1: CAREFULLY REVIEW YOUR ASSESSMENT NOTICE

FOR ACCURACY.

By law, your local township assessor uses valid sales (excluding

foreclosures and short sales) in your area from 2016, 2017 and 2018 to

determine your market value for 2019. The assessor then divides the

estimated market value by 3 to determine your assessment. If needed,

the Supervisor of Assessments then applies a factor to that assessment to

get your equalized assessed value.

If you disagree with the figures on this notice, you have 30 calendar days

from the date of the notice to file an appeal with the Will County Board

of Review. Failure to file an appeal within that time forfeits your right to

appeal. The dates of publication are August 7th and 8th of 2019.

STEP #2: TALK WITH YOUR LOCAL

TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR.

Many times simply talking with your assessor will

clear up any issues you have with your assessment.

Assessors are usually very busy after assessment

notices are published, so don’t wait to talk to them.

You can find your assessor’s contact information

on the front of your assessment notice.

STEP #3: CHECK THAT THE

PROPERTY CHARACTERISTICS

ARE CORRECT ON YOUR

PROPERTY RECORD CARD.

Property record cards are kept in your

assessor’s office. The cards contain

relevant information about your property

like square footage, year built, etc. The

Supervisor of Assessments and some

assessors have webistes with property

record card information as well.

However, you must use copies of

original property record cards when

submitting evidence for your appeal.

Appeals must be filed with the Board of Review no later

than 30 calendar days after the date of this notice.

STEP #4: DETERMINE THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF YOUR

HOME, AND CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR ASSESSMENT IS

COMPARABLE TO ASSESSMENTS AND SALES OF LIKE

HOMES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

It’s important to know the market value of your home before you file an

appeal. You can look at recent sales of similar properties in your area to

make that determination. Many assessors have websites that allow you

to view your neighbors’ assessment values. Other resources for

assessment and sales information include www.willcountysoa.com,

Multiple Listing Service (MLS), personal knowledge, and the Will

County Supervisor of Assessments Office.

Please note that while assessment information obtained from the

Supervisor of Assessments and its website is available to help you in-

vestigate assessments, it cannot be used as evidence in your appeal.

Property Record Card

WIL L COUNTY SUPERVISOR

OF ASSESSMENTS OFFICE

RHONDA R. NOVAK, CIAO/I

CHIEF COUNTY

ASSESSMENT OFFICER

302 N. CHICAGO ST

2ND FLOOR

JOLIET, IL 60432

PHONE: (815) 740-4648

FAX: (815) 740-4696

WWW.WILLCOUN TYSOA.COM

HOURS:

MONDAY - FRIDAY

STEP #5: DETERMINE THE BASIS FOR YOUR APPEAL.

You can file an appeal based on one or more of the following reasons:

1. Recent Sale: The assessor has placed a market value estimate on

your parcel that is higher than the actual market value.

2. Comparable Sales: The assessment is higher than those of similar

properties in your area.

3. Assessment Equity: The assessment is based on inaccurate parcel

characteristics.

4. Recent Construction: The subject property was recently purchased,

and the assessment is higher than 33.33% of the purchase price.

STEP #6: COMPILE EVIDENCE AND FILE A FORMAL WRITTEN COMPLAINT.

Once you’ve determined your basis for appeal, you can

formally file a written complaint with the Will County Board

of Review. You must follow the Board of Review’s directions

for filing an appeal. Failure to comply fully with all the rules

and requests of the Board of Review may result in the dismis-

sal of your appeal. The Board only accepts official appeal

forms. Letters stating your objection to your assessment do

not constitute a formal appeal. All appeal forms and evidence

must be delivered or postmarked by the deadline. You can also submit your

appeal electronically at borappeals.willcountysoa.com.

The deadline to file an appeal for 2019 is September 9, 2019.

Recommended types of evidence include:

 An appraisal (The appraisal needs to use comparables prior to January 1st of

the current year, which is what your assessments would be based upon.)

 Copies of property record cards from your assessor

 List of recent sales of similar properties

 Photographs of subject property and comparables

 Characteristic information for subject property and comparables (bedrooms,

bathrooms, square footage, garages, lots, etc.)

 Real estate transfer declaration or other sale evidence

Appeal forms can be obtained on our Web site

at www.willcountysoa.com or by calling the

Supervisor of Assessments Office.

All evidence should be submitted with your

appeal form.

STEP #7: PRESENT YOUR EVIDENCE AT A BOARD OF REVIEW

HEARING.

You have the right to present your claim and evidence at a Board of Review

hearing. You will be notified about the date and time of your hearing no lat-

er than 5 calendar days before the hearing. If you do not wish to present

your evidence before the Board, you may also waive your right to a hearing.

PROPERTY TAX APPEAL BOARD (PTAB)

After your hearing, the Board of Review will send you written notice of its

decision. If you are not satisfied with the Board’s decision, you have 30

calendar days to appeal to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. For more

information about the PTAB or to download PTAB appeal forms, visit

http://www.state.il.us/agency/ptab/. You can also download PTAB forms at