Cook County homeowners have an important deadline approaching.
The first installment of Cook County property tax bills is due April 1, 2026. This payment applies to the 2025 tax year because Illinois property taxes are paid in arrears, which means homeowners pay this year for last year’s taxes.
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas announced that nearly 1.8 million First Installment bills would be mailed by March 2. Online payments opened February 20, allowing homeowners to pay early and avoid waiting for a paper bill.
Bills were mailed later than usual this year, shifting the due date from the typical early March deadline to April 1. The change follows major delays in the previous billing cycle. The second installment of 2024 property tax bills was not mailed until mid-November 2025 and was due December 15, giving property owners a much shorter window than usual to pay. Ongoing upgrades to the county’s property tax technology system contributed to the delay, and officials adjusted the 2026 timeline so homeowners would not face back-to-back bills with little time to prepare.
If you own a home, inherited property, or a multi-unit building, here is what you need to know.
How to find your Cook County property tax bill online
You can look up your property tax bill using your address or your Property Index Number (PIN).
- Visit the Cook County Property Tax Portal:
https://www.cookcountypropertyinfo.com/default.aspx - Select Search by Property Address or Search by PIN.
- Enter your information. If searching by address, type your house number and street name, then choose your property from the results. If searching by PIN, enter the full PIN with no spaces.
- The search results will appear. You may see this message: “For future inquiries on the Portal or other Cook County property tax websites, please keep a copy of your PIN available for reference.” Click the property address link to open the detailed property tax page.
- Scroll down to Tax Billed Amounts & Tax History.
- Click More Tax Bill Information under the annual listings. This is where you will find the 2025 First Installment bill. It includes amount due, due date, payment status, and printable bill.
Important: The summary list shows past totals. You must click More Tax Bill Information to see the current installment bill.
Tip: Save your PIN. You will need it anytime you check your tax bill, apply for exemptions, or file an appeal.
What the first installment covers
The first installment is not your full tax bill.
It is typically about 55 percent of last year’s total tax bill.
This installment is based on the prior year’s taxes because the current year calculations are not finished yet.
Your second installment, due later in 2026, will reflect:
- updated property values
- local tax rates
- exemptions
That bill shows the total amount owed for the 2025 tax year.
Exemptions that can reduce your property taxes
Many homeowners pay more than they should because they miss available exemptions. These exemptions lower the taxable value of your home, which reduces the amount of property tax you owe.
Most exemptions are applied to your second installment bill, not the first installment.
Common exemptions include:
- Homeowner Exemption
- Senior Citizen Exemption
- Senior Freeze Exemption
- Disabled Persons Exemption
- Veterans Exemption
Understanding your property tax bill helps you avoid penalties, claim savings, and plan ahead.
For many South Side families, homeownership is a foundation for building and protecting generational wealth. Staying informed about deadlines, exemptions, and payment options can help keep homes in families and prevent unnecessary financial strain.
If you know a neighbor, relative, or senior homeowner who may miss this deadline, consider sharing this information.
Stay Connected with Chicago Southsider
See something we missed?
Email us at hello@chicagosouthsider.com so we can keep our neighbors informed.
Want more opportunities and resources?
- Chicago Southsider – Gain access to the latest events, solutions journalism, and Chicago’s history.
- Sash & Style Magazine – Gain access to exclusive interviews from pageant delegates from all over the world.
- Chicago Southsider – Gain access to the latest events, solutions journalism, and Chicago’s history.
- Behind the Board – Learn how to position yourself for paid board opportunities.
- Wealthy Women Daily – A newsletter to help you build a stock portfolio that’s bigger than your shoe collection.
