Property Tax Appeals
Is Your Property Over-Assessed? You Have the Right to Appeal.
For most Illinois property owners, real estate taxes are among the largest costs of ownership—and they have climbed steadily in recent years. Unlike your mortgage or utility bills, however, your property tax assessment is not fixed. If your property is assessed for more than it is worth, Illinois law gives you the right to challenge that valuation. Shifrin Legal handles property tax appeals for community associations and individual property owners, and we do it on a contingency basis: if we do not obtain a reduction, you owe us no legal fee.
How Property Tax Appeals Work
Your property tax bill is driven largely by your assessed valuation—the assessor's estimate of what your property is worth. Assessors value thousands of properties at a time using mass appraisal techniques, and those valuations are frequently higher than the evidence supports. An appeal asks the county to review that valuation using evidence such as sales of comparable properties, uniformity with similar neighboring properties, and the property's actual condition.
A successful appeal lowers your assessed valuation, which in turn reduces the property taxes you pay. Appeals proceed through defined stages—typically the County Assessor, the Board of Review, and, where warranted, the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board—each with its own rules, evidence requirements, and strict filing deadlines that vary by county and township. We handle every step so you don't have to.
Group Appeals for Community Associations
Property tax appeals are a natural extension of our work as counsel to condominium, homeowner, and townhome associations. Illinois law permits an association's board of directors to file a single appeal on behalf of all unit owners—and a group appeal is almost always the better approach. County assessors value the building or development as a whole, so a unified appeal presents the strongest case; it promotes the uniform treatment of every unit; and it delivers potential savings to all owners in the community without any owner having to lift a finger. For boards, pursuing a well-founded group appeal is more than good stewardship—it is one of the most direct ways a board can put money back in owners' pockets.
- CAI-Illinois member and active industry participant
- Offices in Chicago and Northbrook
- Transparent fee structure — no surprise billing
Appeals for Individual Owners
We also represent individual property owners who believe their assessments are too high, including single-family homeowners and owners of individual condominium and townhome units. If you are unsure whether your assessment is worth challenging, send us your property address or Property Index Number (PIN) and we will take a look—there is no cost and no obligation.
What It Costs — Our Contingency Arrangement
We handle property tax appeals on a contingency fee basis. That means no retainer, no hourly fees, and no upfront costs. Our legal fee is a portion of the tax savings we obtain for you—and if we do not secure a reduction, you owe us no legal fee at all. Your interests and ours are perfectly aligned: we only succeed when you save.
What We Handle for You
- Review your current assessed valuation and evaluate whether an appeal is warranted
- Gather and analyze the evidence, including comparable sales and uniformity data
- Prepare and file the appeal with the appropriate county authority
- Monitor all filing windows and deadlines for your township and county
- Advocate before the County Assessor, Board of Review, and, where appropriate, the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board
- Report the results to you—and, for associations, provide the board with a summary it can share with owners
Frequently Asked Questions ABOUT Property Tax Appeals
Will appealing raise my taxes or trigger scrutiny?
An appeal challenges your assessed valuation with evidence. Filing a well-founded appeal is a routine, established process used by property owners throughout Illinois every year.
How often can we appeal?
Assessments can generally be appealed every year during your township's filing window, and reassessment years often present the best opportunities. Because deadlines vary by county and township and are strictly enforced, the best time to contact us is before your window opens—we will track it for you.
Does a successful appeal guarantee future savings?
A reduction applies to the assessment at issue. Because properties are periodically reassessed, we recommend reviewing your valuation each cycle. For association clients, we make this part of our ongoing representation.
We represent associations and their boards — not individual unit owners seeking to challenge their board.
Get a Free Review of Your Property Tax Assessment
Whether you serve on an association board or own your home, you should not pay more than your fair share of property taxes. Contact us with your property address or PIN, and we will evaluate your assessment at no cost.
