My office is managing about $122 million in potential refunds for property tax overpayments going back 20 years that I’m eager to send back to property owners. But determining who’s entitled to a refund isn’t simple.

Most overpayments occurred because more than one person paid the same tax bill. Reasons why duplicate payments were made include:

• Both the property owner and the property owner’s mortgage company paid the property tax bill;
• Both spouses paid the property tax bill without telling the other; or
• Two or more mortgage companies, banks or title companies paid the same taxes during a property purchase or refinancing.

You may be entitled to a refund even if you bought or sold your property long ago. The law allows refunds for duplicate payments made as many as 2 decades ago. So even if you’ve moved, you’re still entitled to that refund if you overpaid.

Ella McWilliams recently learned she’ll be receiving a refund after learning there was a substantial overpayment back in 2004 when both the title company and the mortgage company made payments. Also, McWilliams made smaller overpayments in 2007, 2008 and 2009. But they add up. In all, McWilliams is owed just under $1,350.

McWilliams told the story of her $1,346 refund as a guest on my “Black Houses Matter” radio show which airs at 11:30 a.m. every Monday on WVON-AM 1690.

“I guess God put it in my heart to call and I did,” said McWilliams.

Employees in my office helped the 79-year-old widow file the paperwork she needed to apply for her refund. She filled out a form labeled, “Refund Application: Duplicate & Overpayment.” The form can be filed electronically and is available online at cookcountytreasurer.com.

After providing contact information, you may be asked to submit proof of payment. We require documentation to ensure that refunds are issued to only those who made the overpayment. It also helps prevent people attempting to file fraudulent claims from obtaining refunds.

The documents must show that you paid the taxes for the tax year and installment when the overpayment occurred. The type of documentation depends on how the payment was made.

• If you paid cash, a copy of your receipt serves as proof of payment.
• If you paid by personal check or business check, a copy of the front of the canceled check used to pay the taxes or a copy of the monthly bank statement showing the corresponding check number and payment amount is needed.
• If you paid online at cookcountytreasurer.com, you’ll need a copy of your bank statement showing the transfer of funds to the Treasurer’s Office or a copy of your credit card statement showing payment.
• If a mortgage company paid the taxes, you can provide a copy of the IRS Form 1098 indicating taxes were paid for the tax year in question.

In McWilliams’ case, she had to provide proof that she made the property tax payment back in 2004 when the largest overpayment was made.

“I had no idea I was going to be talking to the right people and getting what I needed to be done. But I got it done and I thank you all so much for that,” said McWilliams.

Visit cookcountytreasurer.com to find out if you are owed a share of more than $100 million in overpayment refunds. But you can only get refunded for payments going back twenty years, so the time to act is now!