Christine J. Johnson, DeKalb County Treasurer, announces the opening of the application period for the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program. Johnson said, “Under this program, those senior citizens who qualify can apply to defer the property taxes on their personal residences for this upcoming tax year. I am happy to offer this opportunity for senior citizens seeking property tax relief.”
Treasurer Christine Johnson
In order to participate in the program, several requirements must be met. A person must be 65 or older, and must not have a total household income of more than $55,000.00. If the property is owned jointly, both owners must sign the application forms.
If a taxpayer is applying for the Tax Deferral Program for the first time in 2013 (for the 2012 tax year) and thereafter, and the property is being held in a trust, the trust must be an Illinois Land Trust with the deferral applicants being the sole beneficiaries of the trust.
The maximum amount of taxes that can be deferred each year is now limited to $5,000.00.
Other requirements for participation include that the property must be used exclusively for residential purposes; there must not be a lien against the property for unpaid real estate taxes; the taxpayer must have owned and occupied the property as a residence for at least the last three years; and the taxpayer must show sufficient evidence that the property is insured against fire or casualty loss for at least the total amount of taxes which have been deferred.
Applications have been mailed to the previous participants in the program. Senior citizens interested in the program can contact Treasurer Johnson’s office at 815-895-7112 for an application or for more information. Additional information is also available on line at www.dekalbcounty.org/Treasurer/treas_faq_seniorcitizen.html. Applications must be received in the DeKalb County Treasurer’s office at 110 E. Sycamore Street, Sycamore, Illinois 60178 by March 3, 2014.
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