"Get in Before Deadline on Refunds - And Do It Yourself"

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas encouraged property owners to act immediately on about $10 million in refunds that will expire between now and December if they go unclaimed - and urged taxpayers not to waste money on so-called "refund services" that demand one-third to one-half of the refund.

"Companies like Kensington brag of having a 'relationship' with my office, which is not true. Others use official-sounding names like 'Cook County Refunds.' Taxpayers should not fall for it. Taxpayers should always file on their own and get every penny due them," Pappas said.

Pappas said those with duplicate payments or overpayments from nearly five years ago need to act soon - because the refunds on 10,000 properties will stay with local governments between July and December unless claims are filed before the five-year statute of limitations expires.

The Treasurer's Office is mailing refund applications to the 10,000 affected properties, but if taxpayers want to check on any property they owned in the last five years, Pappas noted that refund searches also can be performed:

• On the internet at www.cookcountytreasurer.com, which has a refund search engine, application forms and instructions on how to apply.
• On the automated phone system at 312.443.5100, where taxpayers may search for refunds and have an application sent by fax immediately or mailed the next day.

"This is a classic do-it-yourself project for property owners," Pappas said. "There's no need to hire a refund service. Even if a taxpayer files a flawed application just under the deadline, the taxpayer can perfect that claim with all of the necessary proofs within a reasonable amount of time. What's most important is getting in under the deadline."