Property tax in Cook County is an ad valorem tax, meaning it's based on your property's value. Here's how it works and how to understand your bill:

🧾1. Assessment by the Assessor

The Cook County Assessor determines your property’s market value and converts that to an assessed value—typically a percentage of market value—across a triennial reassessment cycle (cookcountyassessor.com).

⚖️2. Equalization & Exemptions

The assessed value is adjusted by Illinois’ Equalization Factor and then reduced by any exemptions (like Homeowner or Senior), lowering your Equalized Assessed Value (EAV) (cookcountyassessor.com).

💲3. Applying Tax Rates

Your EAV is multiplied by the combined millage rate from county, municipal, school, park, and other taxing bodies to determine the tax owed (en.wikipedia.org). Cook County’s effective rates are among the highest in Illinois at over ~2.7% (smartasset.com).

🏛️4. Billing & Payment

Bills are mailed in two installments:

First Installment: 55% of last year's total, due early March

Second Installment: Remaining balance, issued late summer after new rates apply (cookcountyassessor.com)

🌐5. Viewing Your Tax Info

You can review your property’s detailed assessment, exemptions, tax history, and payment breakdown on the Cook County Property Tax Portal (cookcountypropertyinfo.com).

6. Use Our Website – CookCountyTaxAppeal.com

We make it easier:

View your assessed value, EAV, and exemptions

See your current and past property tax bills

Discover if you’re overpaying and whether you qualify for a tax appeal

👉 Quickly get started here: cookcountytaxappeal.com

💡Bottom Line

A Cook County property tax is calculated by assessing your property’s value, applying exemptions and local millage rates, and billing in two installments. For a user-friendly breakdown and expert guidance on appeals, visit CookCountyTaxAppeal.com.