43,780 To Get Applications for $60 Million in Refunds. Overall, $126.75 Million Available

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today her office is mailing applications to 43,780 property owners to advise them of nearly $60 million in refunds available for property taxes that have been overpaid since the start of 2004.

Pappas encouraged taxpayers to use her office's Web site and phone system to check their properties from earlier years, because another $67 million in overpayments remain available on earlier years. Valid claims have yet to be filed on those funds, despite earlier mailings. Pappas noted a refund search is available at www.cookcountytreasurer.com, and that the phone system at 312.443.5100 provides the same information 24 hours a day in English, Spanish and Polish.

The mailing of applications is due to overpayments in calendar years 2004 and the first half of 2005. In all, there are 116,814 overpayments worth $126.75 million that remain available. Signed applications and complete proofs of payments must be submitted for the Office to verify that the applicant is entitled to the refund.

Under state law, refund claims must be initiated before the statute of limitations expires five years after an overpayment is made. "We want to make sure valid claims are filed and processed before the deadline passes when we are unable to recapture those funds from the taxing districts," Pappas said.

Overpayments available to be claimed include:

• Tax Year 1999 payable in 2000 - 13,368 PINs, $8,890,051
• Tax Year 2000 payable in 2001 - 21,776 PINs, $19,411,052
• Tax Year 2001 payable in 2002 - 15,806 PINs, $16,532,695
• Tax Year 2002 payable in 2003 - 22,084 PINs, $22,279,847
• Tax Year 2003 payable in 2004 - 32,636 PINs, $42,740,794
• Tax Year 2004 payable in 2005 - 11,144 PINs, $16,896,490

"Because we want taxpayers to get what is rightfully theirs, we have designed our Automated Phone System and Web site to make it easy to check on possible refunds," Pappas said.

A taxpayer returning a refund application should include proofs of all payments made in that tax year. Examples include:

• A copy of the front of a canceled personal check.
• A copy of the receipt or front of a cashier's check or money order.
• A copy of the teller receipt, if paid by cash.
• A bank statement showing funds transferred to the Treasurer's Office, if paid online.
• A title company closing statement showing which party paid.
• A statement from the mortgage firm, bank or title company, showing the PIN, taxpayer's name and address, and amount and date of payment, if paid by escrow

"We need proof of payment so that we can issue the refund to the correct party," Pappas said, noting that false claims are made. "Although many double-payments are homeowners paying in addition to their mortgage companies, other times the current or past owner might be the one entitled to the refund. That is why proof is required."

Taxpayers who cannot find records from past years can write for assistance to Attn: Tax Research, Cook County Treasurer's Office, 118 North Clark Street, Room 112, Chicago, IL 60602-1332.