Pay at Chase or Online; First-Installment Payments Due by March 1, 2006

Property tax bills for more than 1.6 million parcels of real estate began reaching mailboxes across Cook County today and property owners have through March 1, 2006, to pay on time, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said.

Owners of Cook County homes and other property can see what is owed for the first installment of tax year 2005 on www.cookcountytreasurer.com. Payment can be made:

• On the treasurer's website, from a checking or savings account. This electronic payment will be recorded as on time until 11:59 p.m. of the due date (March 1).
• At 285 Chase Bank locations across Cook County, until the close of business at the bank.
• By direct debit at 213 participating community banks, until the close of business.
• By mail in an envelope that comes with the bill, postmarked no later than March 1, 2006 (metered mail does not determine timeliness).

Pappas noted that because of the availability of banking locations in which to pay, her office was able to streamline by closing installations at Rolling Meadows and Markham.

In two installments, Pappas' office collects more than $9 billion in property taxes yearly on more than 1.6 million parcels that include homes, land and businesses. Second-installment bills for tax year 2005 will be issued later this year.

The office distributes the revenue to some 1,600 local governments such as municipalities, school boards, library districts and police and fire districts.

Property owners can see their payment, exemption and refund history on Pappas' website, which provides information about the property tax system in 21 languages. Pappas' phone system (312.443.5100) provides information in English, Polish and Spanish. Users of the website or phone system should know their Property Index Number, found at the upper right-hand corner of the bill.

Pappas urged property owners to pay current bills before March 1 to avoid late-payment penalties, set by the state, of 1.5 percent per month.