Hinch Law

I represent some Illinois homeowners associations, and in the past year have seen several for which the association common areas received property tax bills and assessments as if they were privately owned parcels. In one case that was just resolved, I was able to help the association timely appeal the assessment, make our case before the county board of review, demonstrate the error to the county, and achieve a significant tax savings for the HOA and its residents (in that case, the assessed value went from in excess of $100,000 to essentially $0). Here's the reason why: In Illinois, the property tax code (See in particular 35 ILCS 200/10-35 ) contains a special provision for subdivision common areas, specifying that the assessed value of such parcels is fixed at $1.00. For such properties, the valuation of the individual lots in the subdivision is supposed to already account for the value of the common areas and any common area amenities. It does not matter how fancy is the ...

The new property tax assessments were published in The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL newspaper) the other day (see the paper or the county website to check your specific township). Every year we get calls, particularly in January and when the new tax bills go out in the spring, about this. Assessments can ONLY be challenged within 30 days of public notice, so the deadline to appeal this assessment is September 24 (see the website below for more on specific rules for that deadline and what must be done)! Please share this and let others know, anyone whose tax bill/assessment is out of whack has a very short time window to appeal (even if you don't get anything in the mail, printing this in the paper is legally all the notice they have to give you). If you wait until the actual bill comes out, that is too late!! Any questions you can either call my office or your lawyer, or see the  McLean County Assessor  page for more information.   Nate Hinch is an attorney and part...