What's on your Will County property tax bill and why
Your Will County property tax bill lists the amount you owe on your property for the current tax year, broken down by which government bodies are charging you and what they're charging for. The bill shows your property's assessed value, the tax rate applied to it, and the total due. It also tells you when payment is due and where to send it.
Will County Assessor's Office calculates your property's assessed value based on recent sales of similar homes in your area. The county then applies tax rates set by your municipality, school district, park district, and other local bodies. Each of these entities gets a portion of what you pay. Your bill is the single document that collects all of these charges together.
The bill arrives in two installments per year in Will County — one in spring and one in fall. Each installment covers six months of the tax year. Understanding what each line means helps you spot errors, plan your budget, and know whether you have options to reduce what you owe.
Key Takeaways
- Your Will County property tax bill shows your assessed value, the tax rates applied by each taxing body, and the total amount due in two installments per year.
- The assessed value on your bill may differ from what you think your home is worth, and you have the right to challenge it through the assessment review process.
- Payment is due on specific dates listed on your bill, and late payments trigger penalties and interest charges that compound monthly.
- If you own your home with a mortgage, your lender may pay the tax bill from an escrow account, so check your loan documents to see who is responsible.
- Senior citizens, disabled homeowners, and certain veterans may be may have access to to tax breaks that reduce the amount you owe.
How to find the key numbers on your bill
The assessed value appears near the top of your bill and is labeled "Assessed Value" or "EAV" (Equalized Assessed Value). This is not the market value of your home — it is typically 33.3 percent of the market value in Will County. The assessor estimates it by comparing your property to recent sales of similar homes. If you believe this number is wrong, you can challenge it, which is covered in a later section.
Below the assessed value, you will see a section listing each taxing body — your municipality, school district, park district, library, and any others — with a tax rate next to each one. The tax rate is expressed as a percentage or as a dollar amount per $100 of assessed value. Multiply your assessed value by each rate to see how much of your total bill goes to each entity.
The total amount due appears at the bottom of the bill, usually labeled "Total Tax" or "Amount Due." This is the sum of all the individual tax charges. The bill also shows the due date for that installment. In Will County, spring installments are typically due in June and fall installments in September, though exact dates vary by municipality. Check your bill for the specific date.
Understanding the two payment installments
Will County splits property taxes into two bills per year rather than one annual bill. The spring installment (usually due in June) covers January through June. The fall installment (usually due in September) covers July through December. You will receive a separate bill for each one.
If you pay both installments on time, you avoid penalties. If you miss a due date, the county charges a penalty on that installment, and interest begins to accrue. The penalty is typically 1.5 percent of the unpaid amount, and interest compounds monthly at a rate set by state law. These charges add up quickly, so paying by the due date is important even if you have to borrow money to do it.
If your mortgage lender handles your taxes through an escrow account, the lender receives the bills and pays them directly from the money you deposit each month with your mortgage payment. In that case, you will not see the bills yourself — your lender will. You can request copies from Will County if you want to review them, but you are not responsible for sending payment.
How assessed value is determined and how to challenge it
The Will County Assessor's Office values your property every three years using a process called reassessment. The assessor compares your home to recent sales of similar properties in your neighborhood — same size, age, condition, and location. The assessed value is set at one-third of the estimated market value. This means if your home would sell for $300,000, the assessed value would be roughly $100,000.
If you believe your assessed value is too high, you can file a complaint with the Will County Board of Review. The important date to file is typically 30 days after the bill is mailed, though you should check your bill for the exact date. You will need to provide evidence that your home is worth less than the assessor says — comparable sales of nearby homes, a recent appraisal, or documentation of damage or needed repairs that reduce value.
The Board of Review will review your complaint and either uphold the assessed value, lower it, or in rare cases raise it. If you disagree with their decision, you can appeal to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB), which is a state body that hears property tax disputes. This process takes several months and may require you to hire an attorney or property tax consultant, so weigh the cost against the potential savings before you proceed.
Tax breaks for seniors, disabled homeowners, and veterans
Illinois offers property tax reductions for homeowners who meet certain criteria. The Homeowner's Exemption reduces the assessed value by $6,000 for most homeowners, which lowers your tax bill. You must own and live in the home as your primary residence to may have access to. If you have not claimed this exemption, you can file for it with the Will County Assessor's Office — there is no important date, and it applies retroactively to the current tax year.
Senior citizens (age 65 and older) may be may have access to to the Senior Citizen's Assessment Freeze, which locks your assessed value at the level it was when you first claimed the exemption. This means your taxes will not increase due to rising property values, though they may still increase if tax rates go up. You must file for this exemption with the assessor, and you must continue to own and live in the home to keep it.
Disabled homeowners and certain veterans may also be may have access to to exemptions or assessment freezes. The specific programs and income limits vary, so contact the Will County Assessor's Office directly to learn what you may be may have access to to. These exemptions are not automatic — you must file for them, and the important date is usually early in the tax year.
What to do if you cannot pay by the due date
If you cannot pay your property tax bill by the due date, contact Will County's Treasurer's Office when ready. Do not wait until after the important date. The county offers a payment plan option that allows you to pay in installments rather than in full. You will still owe penalties and interest on the unpaid balance, but a payment plan prevents the county from filing a tax lien on your property or moving toward a tax sale.
A tax lien is a legal claim against your property that gives the county the right to sell it to recover the unpaid taxes. If the county files a lien, it appears on your credit report and makes it nearly impossible to refinance or sell your home. A tax sale can occur if taxes remain unpaid for several years. Setting up a payment plan before the important date is far less costly than dealing with a lien or sale.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, some municipalities in Will County offer property tax deferral programs for seniors or disabled homeowners. These programs allow you to delay payment and have the taxes added to your property as a lien that is paid when you sell or pass the home to your heirs. Ask the Will County Treasurer's Office whether your municipality participates in such a program.
Common errors to look for on your bill
Check that your property address and parcel number match your deed and mortgage documents. A wrong address or parcel number can cause your bill to be sent to the wrong place or to be applied to the wrong property. If you find an error, contact the Will County Assessor's Office to have it corrected.
Verify that the assessed value has not jumped dramatically from the previous year without explanation. A large increase may indicate an error in the assessor's records — for example, if the assessor thinks you added a room or garage when you did not. If the increase seems wrong, request a reassessment or file a complaint with the Board of Review.
Check that all taxing bodies listed on your bill are ones that actually serve your property. If you see a tax for a school district or park district you do not live in, or if you see a duplicate charge, contact the assessor's office. These errors are uncommon but do happen, and they can be corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my mortgage lender pays my property taxes and I receive a bill anyway?
Your lender receives the bill separately and pays it from your escrow account. You may still receive a copy of the bill in the mail. Do not pay it again — contact your lender to confirm they have received and paid it. If you want to verify payment, you can check the Will County Treasurer's website or call their office with your parcel number.
Can I pay my property tax bill online?
Yes. Will County Treasurer's Office accepts online payments through their website. You can also pay by mail, in person at the Treasurer's Office, or through an authorized payment service. Check your bill for the website address and payment instructions specific to your municipality.
What happens if I pay late?
A penalty of 1.5 percent is added to the unpaid amount, and interest begins to accrue at the rate set by state law. Interest compounds monthly. If taxes remain unpaid for an extended period, the county may file a tax lien on your property, which damages your credit and makes it difficult to refinance or sell.
How do I know if I am may be able to access for the Homeowner's Exemption?
You must own the property and live in it as your primary residence. You cannot claim the exemption on a rental property or a second home. If you meet these requirements, file for the exemption with the Will County Assessor's Office. There is no income limit, and you can file at any time during the tax year.
Can I get a copy of my bill if I did not receive one in the mail?
Yes. Contact the Will County Treasurer's Office with your parcel number or property address, and they will provide a copy. You can also view your bill online through the county's website if you register for an account. Your parcel number appears on your deed or mortgage documents.