Meet Your Township Team

Shannon is accountable for assessing and managing appeals, offering explanation for any questions the residents of the township may have. 2023 is the Quadrennial Reassessment Year where all properties are allowed to be reassessed. This also means all assessments will be published in the Northwest Herald in 2023 and property owners should receive an Assessment Notice. You will see staff members out and about the Township updating property record cards or following up on permits. They will have identification on them. If they miss you they will leave a hangtag. If you wish to schedule a site visit please email Shannon at her email below or call 815.648.2994 and leave a voicemail with detailed information including your name, phone number, address/PIN, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. This office is Hours by Appointment only. Tax Bill Information can be found on the McHenry County Treasurer's Department page: https://mchenryil.devnetwedge.com/ Make sure to toggle between years to find the most current information. Assessments are updated there each year once published along with any Exemptions on a property. The Township Assessor is required by law to uniformly assess properties at a median level of 33 1/3% (one third) of market value. Equitable assessments ensure a fair distribution of the property tax burden among all property owners. Local property taxes pay for such services as schools, villages, libraries, park districts, and fire protection districts. The Assessor's staff maintains a file for every property located within the township. This file includes the lot size, building sketch if the property is improved, and descriptions of the improvements. When buildings are constructed, the assessor's staff gathers information through field inspections of each property. Changes to properties are monitored through building permits, sales listing information, and neighborhood inspections. Exemption Forms may be found at the McHenry County Assessment's Office Webpage https://www.mchenrycountyil.gov/county-government/departments-a-i/assessments/forms-and-rules Annual Homestead Exemption Illinois statutes provide for an exemption of up to $6,000 in equalized assessed valuation on homes where the occupant is the person legally responsible for the payment of the real estate tax bill. This exemption is initiated by the Assessor's Office; however, it is advisable that new homeowners contact the Assessor's Office upon moving into a residence to verify that the exemption has been, or will be granted. Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption The Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption reduces the equalized assessed value by $5,000. Beginning the 2023 tax year, the exemption will remove up to $8,000 from the equalized assessed value before the taxes are calculated. The exemption is available when the owner-occupant reaches the age of 65 during the assessment year, and was the owner of the property on January 1st of the assessment year. Upon turning 65, the owner may apply for the exemption at the Assessor's Office. Applicants are required to provide proof of age (driver's license or birth certificate) and proof of ownership (deed or title policy). Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption This exemption freezes the assessed value of a property at a base year level, the first year the exemption is received. As property values increase, the exemption amount increases. This exemption does not protect against tax rate increases. The Assessment Freeze Exemption is available when an owner-occupant is 65 or older, with a total household income, before deductions, of $65,000 or below, who owned and occupied the property two consecutive January 1sts. Applications for this exemption are available each year in April, and the deadline to apply for the exemption is October 1st. As long as the form was completed the year before you will be added to the mailing list to automatically be sent a form each year. Homestead Improvement Exemption This four-year exemption reduces the assessed value of an existing, owner-occupied home up to $25,000 ($75,000 market value) when the assessment has increased due to a new improvement to the property. This exemption is granted automatically upon the initial assessment of the new improvement. Applicants are eligible to claim only one of the following exemptions available to disabled individuals: Disabled Veterans' Standard Homestead Exemption This exemption is available to disabled veterans (or their surviving, unmarried spouses). The veteran must be at least 30% disabled, as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs. The market value of the applicant's property must not be more than $750,000. This exemption provides an annual exemption of a maximum of $250,000 off the assessed value if applicant's level of disability is 70% or greater. If the level of disability is 50% to 69%, the exemption is $5,000 off the total assessed value. The exemption subtracts $2,500 off the assessed value if the level of disability is 30% to 49%. The applicant must file form PTAX-342 annually by October 1st, at the McHenry County Supervisor of Assessments' Office. For more information call the Supervisor of Assessments' Office at 815-334-4290. Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities Disabled Veterans' Exemption, (for Adaptive Housing) This exemption is available to disabled veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States (or their surviving, unmarried spouses). The veteran must have acquired, in connection with that service a disability of such a nature that the Federal Government has authorized payment for purchase or construction of specially adapted housing as set forth in the U.S. CODE TITLE 38, Chapter 21. This exemption will be granted by the McHenry County Supervisor of Assessments upon notification by the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs. This exemption provides for an annual deduction of up to $70,000 from the assessed value of the property. For more information contact the Supervisor of Assessments' Office at 815-334-4290. Disabled Persons' Homestead Exemption This exemption is available to property owners who are disabled or become disabled during the assessment year. Applicant must have occupied the property as of January 1st of the assessment year and be liable for payment of property taxes. This exemption provides for an annual deduction of $2,000 from the assessed value. The applicant must file form PTAX-343 annually by October 1st, at the McHenry County Supervisor of Assessments' Office. For more information call the Supervisor of Assessments' Office at 815-334-4290. Annual Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities Farm Information In accordance with: "Section 10-110 of the Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/10-110)" FARMLAND: The equalized assessed value of a farm, as defined in Section 1-60 and if used as a farm for the 2 preceding years, except tracts subject to assessment under Section 10-145, shall be determined as described in Sections 10-115 through 10-140. In accordance with: "Section 10-125 of the Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/10-125)" ASSESSMENT LEVEL BY TYPE OF FARMLAND: Cropland, permanent pasture and other farmland shall be defined according to the U.S. Census Bureau definitions in use during that assessment year and assessed in the following way: (a) Cropland shall be assessed in accordance with the equalized assessed value of its soil productivity index as certified by the Department and shall be debased to take into account factors including, but not limited to, slope, drainage, ponding, and field size and shape. (b) Permanent pasture shall be assessed at 1/3 of its debased productivity index equalized assessed value as cropland. (c) Other farmland shall be assessed at 1/6 of its debased productivity index equalized assessed value as cropland. (d) Wasteland shall be assessed on its contributory value to the farmland parcel. Instructions for Farmland Assessments Farmland Information Bulletin Frequently Asked Questions Does Hebron Township have Individual Property Information available online? A. The only individual parcel information online is available at www.co.mchenry.il.us/county-government/departments-a-i/assessments. You can find recent assessment, sales as well as lot size on that site. As far as Square footage, age, specific interior details on properties no, that information is not currently online. Q. Will I be notified if my assessment changes? A. Yes, if your property is re-assessed by the Township Assessor, or the County has made any changes you will receive a notice of assessment change in the mail. The new assessment will also appear in the newspaper. **If the only change to your assessment is due to a multiplier or equalization factor (usually applied township-wide, based on sales data), the factor will be published in a local paper, but no individual notices will be sent. ** In McHenry County, all such notifications and publications are handled by the Chief County Assessment Officer (Supervisor of Assessments). Q. My assessed value has been declining, why is my tax bill higher? A. There are two factors that determine your tax bill: A) The Assessed Value and B) The Tax Rate. The assessed value is determined by the Township assessor. The tax rate is determined by the local taxing bodies; School District, Park District, City, County, etc. Assessed values can decline, and if the taxing bodies levy for more money tax rates will increase causing your bill to increase. Q. When I get my tax bill, is it too late to complain? A. Generally, yes. It is too late to appeal for that assessment year, unless you have already filed with the Board of Review. It might still beneficial to talk with the Assessor, if you have not done so already, for the current assessment year. Q. What can I do if I disagree with my assessed value? A. First, contact your township assessor's office for an explanation of your assessment. The Assessor will probably ask you for your data supporting your opinion of your property's value. Such data could include such things as comparable properties with supporting sales data, a recent appraisal of your property, or a request for inspection if poor condition is claimed. You may also file a complaint with your local Board of Review, on forms available at the Chief County Assessor's Office. Can I examine the Assessor's records to be sure they have the correct information on my property? A. Yes, you may contact us for that information. Not only is information on your home available, records about other homes are also accessible. Assessed Value X Tax Rate = Tax Bill Assessed Value is determined by Your Township Assessor along with the County Assessment office to assess your property at one-third of its fair market value. Your tax Rate is determined by the taxing bodies you support, ie: School, libraries, college, county, forest, township, city, park, road & bridge districts. To reduce your taxes attend their meetings; See how your tax dollars are being spent and make your feelings known.