Cook County Treasurer's Office - 9/1/2000

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced that the 1.6 million second-installment real estate tax bills began reaching property owners ahead of schedule on Friday. The bills are for 1999 taxes and will be due Mon., Oct. 2, 2000.

The new bills feature larger, easier-to-read type and include brochures that answer commonly asked questions, and a list of County and LaSalle Bank payment sites. Because the due date was scheduled to fall on a Sunday, tax payments postmarked or submitted in person by Mon., Oct. 2, 2000, will be accepted as on time. Under state law, payments received or postmarked Oct. 3 or later must include a penalty of 1.5 percent per month.

The tax bills feature small but important changes that make them easier to read, Pappas said. There is larger typeface in key areas, such as the amount due and the listing of taxing districts. The brochure also helps to explain the tax system and provides a list of all of the payment sites.

LaSalle Banks across Cook County and the collar counties will again accept payments on these bills. Most all locations offer weeknight, weekend and drive-up service. More than 140,000 taxpayers utilized this convenience during the last billing cycle, Pappas said.

Taxpayers may pay by mail by using the enclosed return envelope. Taxpayers should write their property index number (PIN) and volume number on their checks and envelopes.

Taxpayers may pay in person at any of the Treasurers offices. The Treasurers main office is in Room 112 at 118 N. Clark St. in Chicago. Satellite offices are in the Cook County suburban courthouses in Bridgeview, Markham, Maywood, Rolling Meadows and Skokie.

By completing the tax-bill mailing this week, Pappas will again have finished the task of testing, printing and mailing the bills in two weeks. Taxpayers who do not receive a bill by Sept. 1 should visit one of the Treasurers offices or call (312) 443-5100 to obtain a duplicate bill. Change-of-address forms also are available on the reverse side of the tax-bill coupon.

Taxpayers also may obtain a change-of-address form at one of the Treasurers offices or at the new web site: www.cookcountytreasurer.com. These forms may be submitted in person with proper identification. Forms may also be submitted by mail. Mailed-in forms must be notarized for the taxpayers protection.

Pappas reminded taxpayers that even if they pay taxes through a mortgage escrow account, it is vital to receive bills for their records. The tax bills are also important to have when a taxpayer is verifying that a mortgage company made payment for the full amount, by the due date and on the correct PIN. Having the correct tax-bill mailing address also affects notices for exemptions that can reduce taxes and other important tax-related notices.

Also, Pappas urged taxpayers to avoid delinquencies by verifying that the PINs on the tax bills they pay are the PINs on the deeds that they own. This is particularly important for taxpayers in new developments and recently converted condominiums.