In the first three townships having a significant commercial and/or industrial tax base, (Norwood Park, Evanston and Elk Grove, the new assessor has been increasing market values by as much 50 to 300%. He claims that properties in the northern suburbs have been grossly underassessed for years, hence a 1-year catch-up was justified.

In the first three townships having a significant commercial and/or industrial tax base, (Norwood Park, Evanston and Elk Grove, the new assessor has been increasing market values by as much 50 to 300%. He claims that properties in the northern suburbs have been grossly underassessed for years, hence a 1-year catch-up was justified. Of course, no consideration was given to the jobs that will be lost as tenants and companies relocate, nor to the investors who will no longer invest in Cook County, nor to the companies that will no longer consider locating in Cook County, nor to the existing companies that will jettison their expansion plans. The same is true for owners of residential income properties that have also experienced significant increases. Who will be able to afford the higher rents that landlords will try to pass on to them? As to the homeowners, many of whom saw only minor increases, what will become of their property values if local jobs disappear and they cannot sell their houses? To date, the assessor has stubbornly refused to grant relief on a vast majority of commercial and industrial appeals, as his property valuations are apparently perfect.

In the never ending battle between the qualifying factors for receiving a charitable property tax exemption as first enunciated in the Korzen case, Methodist Old Peoples Home v. Bernard Korzen, County Treasurer, et al, 233 N.E, 2d, 537, 39 Ill.2d 149 (1968), the Illinois Supreme Court initially set forth the following criteria for successfully obtaining a property tax exemption.

In the never ending battle between the qualifying factors for receiving a charitable property tax exemption as first enunciated in the Korzen case, Methodist Old Peoples Home v. Bernard Korzen, County Treasurer, et al, 233 N.E, 2d, 537, 39 Ill.2d 149 (1968), the Illinois Supreme Court initially set forth the following criteria for successfully obtaining a property tax exemption.

• The Basics Of The Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) And What Your Business Must Do To Comply
• New Salary Minimums Proposed By The Department Of Labor (DOL) And California Requires Harassment Training For Everyone
• The Trademark Trial And Appeal Board (TTAB) Pilot Program That Could Expedite The Trademark Cancellation Process
• Golan Christie Taglia Welcomes New Litigation Attorney, Announces Partner Promotions, And Introduces A Learning Series

Chicago, IL - Golan Christie Taglia, LLP is excited to announce that Steven J. Rosenberg has joined the firm. As a successful civil and criminal litigator for over 40 years, trying over 100 cases to verdict in both state and federal courts, Steven J. Rosenberg brings extensive experience in mail and wire fraud and other white-collar crime, SEC investigations, accounting and securities fraud, complex civil litigation, medical negligence, and employment cases involving breach of contract and civil rights violations.

A board of review decision can also be appealed directly to a circuit court. It’s an option that taxpayers often overlook!

Boards of review don’t have the final say about property tax assessments, however they’re a necessary stop in the appeal process. Taxpayers who are unhappy with their board decision have two options: appeal to the state Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) as described in my Aug. 24, Sept. 12 and Nov. 27 blogs; or, file a tax objection complaint in the circuit court. You cannot file appeals in both venues. The good news is that taxpayers who miss the 30-day filing deadline for taking an appeal to the PTAB still have time to pursue the tax objection remedy.

We are pleased to announce that Steven J. Rosenberg has joined the firm. As a successful civil and criminal litigator for over 40 years, trying over 100 cases to verdict in both state and federal courts, Steve brings extensive experience in mail and wire fraud and other white collar crime, SEC investigations, accounting and securities fraud, complex civil litigation, medical negligence, and employment cases involving breach of contract and civil rights violations.

There’s a remedy for correcting errors or mistakes in a property tax assessment even after the deadline for appealing to an assessor or board of review has passed.

Mistakes happen. If a mistake occurs in the property tax process, it could be costly if not corrected. Fortunately, some errors are fixable -- even those that may have occurred in a previous year or years -- thanks to what is known as a Certificate of Error, or in property tax parlance, a C of E. When an assessment error is discovered, taxpayers can seek relief by filing a C of E with local assessing officials. However, be advised that the granting of a C of E by an assessing authority is discretionary, not mandatory.

The Illinois Condominium and Common Interest Community Ombudsperson Act (the “Act”), was enacted to “educate unit owners, condominium associations, common interest communities, boards of managers and boards of directors” on their respective rights and obligations as imposed by the governing documents, such as bylaws. In response to “anecdotal accounts of abuses” by Associations in handling enforcement of their covenants and restrictions, the stated goal of the Act is to avoid mistakes and misunderstandings in interpreting the documents, which are both costly and divisive to these kinds of communities.

Currently, SAFE Notes are used primarily within the crowdfunding realm for very new startup companies, but are also emerging in more traditional investment environments. In 2015, the SEC adopted Regulation Crowdfunding, allowing smaller, individual investors to participate in securities-backed crowdfunding. Companies are permitted to raise a maximum amount of just over $1 million through crowdfunding. More recently, the SEC has acknowledged an uptick in crowdfunding and the use of SAFE Notes. The SEC specifically warned against the use of SAFE Notes, however, arguing that they are “anything but simple or safe,” and pointing out the danger in the false sense of safety that the name may bring to even the most seasoned investing veterans.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced that in 2019 it will begin sending form letters to employers who have one or more employees whose names do not “match” the Social Security Number listed in the SSA database. There are many reasons that the name and number might not match, so employers are cautioned not to jump to conclusions based on receipt of one of these letters.

Beginning on January 1, 2019, all Illinois employers are required to reimburse employees for all expenses incurred that are “directly related to the services performed for the employer.” Reimbursable expenses are considered those for which employers have authorized the employees’ expenditure, and do not include expenses incurred due to an employee’s own negligence, normal wear and tear, or theft (unless the result of the employer’s own negligence). Employers may require employees to submit any expenditure with supporting documentation within 30 calendar days in order for the employee to receive reimbursement.

WHAT IS COLLABORATION SOFTWARE? Collaboration Software—also known as online or groupware— is designed to enhance productivity of a group of participants. It enables communications, the sharing of ideas and information, and the processing and management of files, data and documents. It can track one project or multiple projects, and can exist in cloud-enabled environments, as well as on dedicated servers.

• Is Your Condo Association In Violation Of The Law?
• What Is A Safe Note And Does It Make Crowdfunding Safer?
• Social Security Administration To Begin Sending Out No-match Letters In 2019
• Well-drafted Expense Reimbursement Policy Necessary To Stop Abuses By Employees
• The Benefits And Perils Of Collaboration Software

Please join Golan Christie Taglia attorneys Beverly Berneman and Darrin Baim for an informative lunch and learn to debunk common myths about growing your business.

Wind energy devices have proliferated across the central Illinois landscape in recent years. Get wind of how the assessment process works by talking to a property tax attorney.

Illinois is home to both the Windy City and a very flat, windy prairie. When the state’s first wind turbine went online in rural Lee County in 2003, no one could have guessed that 15 years later over 2,600 of these devices would be operational and account for 6.2% of all in-state electrical production.*

In the never ending battle between the qualifying factors for receiving a charitable property tax exemption as first enunciated in the Korzen case, Methodist Old Peoples Home v. Bernard Korzen, County Treasurer, et al, 233 N.E, 2d, 537, 39 Ill.2d 149 (1968), the Illinois Supreme Court initially set forth the following criteria for successfully obtaining a property tax exemption.

Don't miss this online seminar that discusses the Wayfair case, the basis for being overturned, and its impact on online purchases. Tax attorneys and general practitioners with intermediate practice experience who attend this program will better understand:

Unfavorable PTAB rulings often lead to an uphill battle in court, but working with an experienced property tax attorney can ensure you are well-positioned for a positive outcome.

When taking a case to the Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB), it’s only natural to hope for the best. However, not everyone receives the result they desire. Fortunately, any party dissatisfied with a PTAB decision can appeal it.*