Names of 58,000 Taxpayers Owing $134 Million Are Published

The names of some 58,000 property owners who owe about $134 million in property taxes that should have been paid in 2005 are being published in community newspapers this week, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today.

Next week, the owners will receive by certified mail a "Final Delinquency Notice: 2004 Property Tax Bill" warning that if they do not pay the delinquent bills by June 1, their unpaid taxes will be offered for auction at the Cook County Annual Tax Sale, which begins June 6.

If unpaid taxes are bought at the Tax Sale, the owner can redeem to the tax buyer with penalties and interest. But if taxes remain unredeemed for two years, the tax buyer can ask a judge for the deed to the property - after several notices to the owner and court authorization.

"Please pay last year's taxes to avoid the Tax Sale and possibly jeopardizing your home ownership," Pappas urged delinquent property owners.

Delinquency payment can be made only by certified check, cashier's check or money order and mailed or taken to the Treasurer's Office at 118 N. Clark St., Suite 112, Chicago. Cash payment is accepted only in person at the Treasurer's Office. Banks can not accept delinquency payments.

To determine if they owe tax year 2004 taxes (due in 2005), property owners can:

• Visit Pappas' website at www.cookcountytreasurer.com.
• Call 312.443.5100 and use her office's automated answering system 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in English, Polish or Spanish.

For information by website or phone, the owner should have his or her 14-digit Property Index Number. The PIN is found on the top of the bill and on the property deed.

Yearly, Pappas' office collects more than $9 billion in property taxes on more than 1.6 million parcels of property in two installments. To recover unpaid taxes, the Treasurer's Office publishes delinquency names and sends final bills by certified mail before conducting the Tax Sale.