Pappas: Friday, September 1, Is Due Date for Property Tax Bills

With Friday, September 1, 2006, as the last day for on-time payment, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today that some 600,000 property tax bills totaling $2.4 billion remain unpaid.

Cook County has more than 1.6 million parcels of property. Pappas' office collects over $9 billion yearly in two installments, then distributes the revenue to 1,600 local units of government.

"As of this week, payment on about 600,000 parcels has not been received," Pappas said. "The unpaid total is $2.4 billion, about half of the amount due for this installment."

Property owners whose bills are received after Friday's due date will be charged 1.5 percent per month in late penalties. Pappas said on-time payment for the second installment of tax year 2005 can be made:

• At www.cookcountytreasurer.com, from a banking or checking account, until 11:59 p.m. Friday.
• At 293 Chase Bank locations, until the close of business Friday.
• By direct debit at 211 participating community banks, until the close of business Friday.
• By return mail, postmarked no later than September 1, 2006.

Pappas advised owners to have their 14-digit Property Index Number (PIN) ready when they make on-line payments, and to have the entire bill and coupon for payments at banks. Payments by mail must include the coupon portion of the bill, Pappas said.