As we enter into 2026, Cook County is still wrapping up the 2025 tax year assessment appeals—and we’re already gearing up for what’s next. The Cook County Board of Review has announced that February 3 is the final day to file an assessment appeal for properties in Lake, Orland, Palatine, Schaumburg, and Thornton townships. We are still awaiting the filing deadline for North, South, Rich, Niles, Bloom, and Hanover, and we will notify our clients immediately once those dates are released.

If your property is in a different Cook County township—or in any Illinois county outside of Cook (other than Jefferson)—and an appeal has not already been filed, the window to contest your 2025 assessment has closed. However, there is still the opportunity to reduce your next tax bill if you have failed to apply for the appropriate exemptions. Homeowners may be eligible for valuable exemptions, including the Homeowner, Senior Citizen, Military, Veteran, and Disability exemptions. The Cook County exemption filing period typically opens in April, and GCT will alert you as soon as the Assessor’s Office announces official deadlines.

If you were eligible for an exemption in prior years but did not receive it, we encourage you to contact us—GCT can assist with filing a Certificate of Error to secure any refunds you may be owed.

Looking ahead, 2026 is a reassessment year for townships in the South and Western suburbs of Cook County. This includes properties in Berwyn, Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Cicero, Lemont, Lyons, Oak Park, Orland, Palos, Proviso, Rich, River Forest, Riverside, Stickney, Thornton, and Worth. GCT will be reaching out soon to property owners in these areas to prepare for the upcoming assessment cycle, ensuring you’re positioned to act quickly as new values are released.

As always, we’re here to help you navigate the complexities of property taxation and maximize your potential savings. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your property, please reach out to Brianna Golan at blgolan@gct.law.