Public Act 1553 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SB2797 Enrolled LRB096 18007 RLJ 33379 b

Public Act 096-1553

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing Sections 9-260, 9-265, 9-270, 15-20, 16-95, 16-135, and 16-140 as follows:

(35 ILCS 200/9-260)

Sec. 9-260. Assessment of omitted property; counties of 3,000,000 or more.

(a) After signing the affidavit, the county assessor shall have power, when directed by the board of appeals (until the first Monday in December 1998 and the board of review beginning the first Monday in December 1998 and thereafter), or on his or her own initiative, subject to the limitations of Sections 9-265 and 9-270, to assess properties which may have been omitted from assessments for the current year and not more than 3 years prior to the current year or during any year or years for which the property was liable to be taxed, and for which the tax has not been paid, but only on notice and an opportunity to be heard in the manner and form required by law, and shall enter the assessments upon the assessment books. Any notice shall include (i) a request that a person receiving the notice who is not the current taxpayer contact the office of the county assessor and explain that the person is not the current taxpayer, which contact may be made on the telephone, in writing, or in person upon receipt of the notice, and (ii) the name, address, and telephone number of the appropriate personnel in the office of the county assessor to whom the response should be made. Any time period for the review of an omitted assessment included in the notice shall be consistent with the time period established by the assessor in accordance with subsection (a) of Section 12-55. No charge for tax of previous years shall be made against any property if (1) the assessor failed to notify the board of review of the omitted assessment in accordance with subsection (a-1) of this Section; (2) (a) the property was last assessed as unimproved, (b) the owner of such property gave notice of subsequent improvements and requested a reassessment as required by Section 9-180, and (c) reassessment of the property was not made within the 16 month period immediately following the receipt of that notice; (3) the owner of the property gave notice as required by Section 9-265; (4) the assessor received a building permit for the property evidencing that new construction had occurred or was occurring on the property but failed to list the improvement on the tax rolls; (5) the assessor received a plat map, plat of survey, ALTA survey, mortgage survey, or other similar document containing the omitted property but failed to list the improvement on the tax rolls; (6) the assessor received a real estate transfer declaration indicating a sale from an exempt property owner to a non-exempt property owner but failed to list the property on the tax rolls; or (7) the property was the subject of an assessment appeal before the assessor or the board of review that had included the intended omitted property as part of the assessment appeal and provided evidence of its market value.

(a-1) After providing notice and an opportunity to be heard as required by subsection (a) of this Section, the assessor shall render a decision on the omitted assessment, whether or not the omitted assessment was contested, and shall mail a notice of the decision to the taxpayer of record or to the party that contested the omitted assessment. The notice of decision shall contain a statement that the decision may be appealed to the board of review. The decision and all evidence used in the decision shall be transmitted by the assessor to the board of review on or before the dates specified in accordance with Section 16-110.

(b) Any taxes based on the omitted assessment of a property pursuant to Sections 9-260 through 9-270 and Sections 16-135 and 16-140 shall be prepared and mailed at the same time as the estimated first installment property tax bill for the preceding year (as described in Section 21-30) is prepared and mailed. The omitted assessment tax bill is not due until the date on which the second installment property tax bill for the preceding year becomes due. The omitted assessment tax bill shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest beginning on the day after the due date of the second installment (as described in Section 21-25). Any taxes for omitted assessments deemed delinquent after the due date of the second installment tax bill shall bear interest at the rate of 1.5% per month or portion thereof until paid or forfeited (as described in Section 21-25).

(c) The assessor shall have no power to change the assessment or alter the assessment books in any other manner or for any other purpose so as to change or affect the taxes in that year, except as ordered by the board of appeals (until the first Monday in December 1998 and the board of review beginning the first Monday in December 1998 and thereafter). The county assessor shall make all changes and corrections ordered by the board of appeals (until the first Monday in December 1998 and the board of review beginning the first Monday in December 1998 and thereafter). The county assessor may for the purpose of revision by the board of appeals (until the first Monday in December 1998 and the board of review beginning the first Monday in December 1998 and thereafter) certify the assessment books for any town or taxing district after or when such books are completed.

(Source: P.A. 93-560, eff. 8-20-03.)

(35 ILCS 200/9-265)

Sec. 9-265. Omitted property; interest; change in exempt use or ownership. If any property is omitted in the assessment of any year or years, not to exceed the current assessment year and 3 prior years, so that the taxes, for which the property was liable, have not been paid, or if by reason of defective description or assessment, taxes on any property for any year or years have not been paid, or if any taxes are refunded under subsection (b) of Section 14-5 because the taxes were assessed in the wrong person's name, the property, when discovered, shall be listed and assessed by the board of review or, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, by the county assessor either on his or her own initiative or when so directed by the board of appeals or board of review. The board of review in counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants or the county assessor in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants may develop reasonable procedures for contesting the listing of omitted property under this Division. For purposes of this Section, "defective description or assessment" includes a description or assessment which omits all the improvements thereon as a result of which part of the taxes on the total value of the property as improved remain unpaid. In the case of property subject to assessment by the Department, the property shall be listed and assessed by the Department. All such property shall be placed on the assessment and tax books. The arrearages of taxes which might have been assessed, with 10% interest thereon for each year or portion thereof from 2 years after the time the first correct tax bill ought to have been received, shall be charged against the property by the county clerk.

When property or acreage omitted by either incorrect survey or other ministerial assessor error is discovered and the owner has paid its tax bills as received for the year or years of omission of the parcel, then the interest authorized by this Section shall not be chargeable to the owner. However, nothing in this Section shall prevent the collection of the principal amount of back taxes due and owing.

If any property listed as exempt by the chief county assessment officer has a change in use, a change in leasehold estate, or a change in titleholder of record by purchase, grant, taking or transfer, it shall be the obligation of the transferee to notify the chief county assessment officer in writing within 90 30 days of the change. If mailed, the The notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall include the name and address of the taxpayer, the legal description of the property, and the property index number of the property when an index number exists. If notice is provided in person, it shall be provided on a form prescribed by the chief county assessment officer, and the chief county assessment officer shall provide a date stamped copy of the notice. Except as provided in item (6) of subsection (a) of Section 9-260, item (6) of Section 16-135, and item (6) of Section 16-140 of this Code, if If the failure to give the notification results in the assessing official continuing to list the property as exempt in subsequent years, the property shall be considered omitted property for purposes of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 88-455; 89-126, eff. 7-11-95; 89-671, eff. 8-14-96.)

(35 ILCS 200/9-270)

Sec. 9-270. Omitted property; limitations on assessment. A charge for tax and interest for previous years, as provided in Sections 9-265 or 14-40, shall not be made against any property for years prior to the date of ownership of the person owning the property at the time the liability for the omitted tax was first ascertained. Ownership as used in this section shall be held to refer to bona fide legal and equitable titles or interests acquired for value and without notice of the tax, as may appear by deed, deed of trust, mortgage, certificate of purchase or sale, or other form of contract. No charge for tax of previous years, as provided in Section 9-265, shall be made against any property if (1) the assessor failed to notify the board of review of an omitted assessment in accordance with subsection (a-1) of Section 9-260; (2) (a) the property was last assessed as unimproved, (b) the owner of the property gave notice of subsequent improvements and requested a reassessment as required by Section 9-180, and (c) reassessment of the property was not made within the 16 month period immediately following the receipt of that notice; (3) the owner of the property gave notice as required by Section 9-265; (4) the assessor received a building permit for the property evidencing that new construction had occurred or was occurring on the property but failed to list the improvement on the tax rolls; (5) the assessor received a plat map, plat of survey, ALTA survey, mortgage survey, or other similar document containing the omitted property but failed to list the improvement on the tax rolls; (6) the assessor received a real estate transfer declaration indicating a sale from an exempt property owner to a non-exempt property owner but failed to list the property on the tax rolls; or (7) the property was the subject of an assessment appeal before the assessor or the board of review that had included the intended omitted property as part of the assessment appeal and provided evidence of its market value. The owner of property, if known, assessed under this and the preceding section shall be notified by the county assessor, board of review or Department, as the case may require.

(Source: P.A. 86-359; 88-455.)

(35 ILCS 200/15-20)

Sec. 15-20. Notification requirements after change in use or ownership. If any property listed as exempt by the chief county assessment officer has a change in use, a change in leasehold estate, or a change in titleholder of record by purchase, grant, taking or transfer, it is the obligation of the transferee to notify the chief county assessment officer in writing within 90 30 days of the change. If mailed, the The notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall include the name and address of the taxpayer, the legal description of the property, the address of the property, and the permanent index number of the property where such number exists. If notice is provided in person, it shall be provided on a form prescribed by the chief county assessment officer, and the chief county assessment officer shall provide a date stamped copy of the notice. Except as provided in item (6) of subsection (a) of Section 9-260, item (6) of Section 16-135, and item (6) of Section 16-140 of this Code, if If the failure to give such notification results in the assessment officer listing the property as exempt in subsequent years, the property shall be considered omitted property for purposes of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 87-895; 87-1189; 88-455; incorporates 88-221; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)

(35 ILCS 200/16-95)

Sec. 16-95. Powers and duties of board of appeals or review; complaints. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, until the first Monday in December 1998, the board of appeals in any year shall, on complaint that any property is overassessed or underassessed, or is exempt, review and order the assessment corrected.

Beginning the first Monday in December 1998 and thereafter, in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the board of review:

(1) shall, on written complaint of any taxpayer or any taxing district that has an interest in the assessment that any property is overassessed, underassessed, or exempt, review the assessment and confirm, revise, correct, alter, or modify the assessment, as appears to be just; and

(2) may, upon written motion of any one or more members of the board that is made on or before the dates specified in notices given under Section 16-110 for each township and upon good cause shown, revise, correct, alter, or modify any assessment (or part of an assessment) of real property regardless of whether the taxpayer or owner of the property has filed a complaint with the board; and

(3) shall, after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 9-260, 9-265, 2-270, 16-135, and 16-140, review any omitted assessment proposed by the county assessor and confirm, revise, correct, alter, or modify the proposed assessment, as appears to be just.

No assessment may be changed by the board on its own motion until the taxpayer in whose name the property is assessed and the chief county assessment officer who certified the assessment have been notified and given an opportunity to be heard thereon. All taxing districts shall have an opportunity to be heard on the matter.

(Source: P.A. 91-393, eff. 7-30-99; 91-425, eff. 8-6-99.)

(35 ILCS 200/16-135)

Sec. 16-135. Omitted property; Notice provisions. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the owner of property and the executor, administrator, or trustee of a decedent whose property has been omitted in the assessment in any year or years or on which a tax for which the property was liable has not been paid, and the several taxing bodies interested therein, shall be given at least 30 5 days notice in writing by the board of appeals (until the first Monday in December 1998 and the board of review beginning the first Monday in December 1998 and thereafter) or county assessor of the hearing on the proposed assessments of the omitted property. The board or assessor shall have full power to examine the owner, or the executor, administrator, trustee, legatee, or heirs of the decedent, or other person concerning the ownership, kind, character, amount and the value of the omitted property.

If the board determines that the property of any decedent was omitted from assessment during any year or years, or that a tax for which the property was liable, has not been paid, the board shall direct the county assessor to assess the property. However, if the county assessor, on his or her own initiative, makes such a determination, then the assessor shall assess the property. No charge for tax of previous years shall be made against any property prior to the date of ownership of the person owning the property at the time the liability for such omitted tax is first ascertained. Ownership as used in this Section refers to bona fide legal and equitable titles or interests acquired for value and without notice of the tax, as may appear by deed, deed of trust, mortgage, certificate of purchase or sale, or other form of contract. No such charge for tax of previous years shall be made against any property if:

(1) the assessor failed to notify the board of review of an omitted assessment in accordance with subsection (a-1) of Section 9-260 of this Code; or

(2) (a) the property was last assessed as unimproved, (b) the owner of the property, gave notice of subsequent improvements and requested a reassessment as required by Section 9-180, and (c) reassessment of the property was not made within 16 months of receipt of that notice; or

(3) the owner of the property gave notice as required by Section 9-265; or

(4) the assessor received a building permit for the property evidencing that new construction had occurred or was occurring on the property but failed to list the improvement on the tax rolls; or

(5) the assessor received a plat map, plat of survey, ALTA survey, mortgage survey, or other similar document containing the omitted property but failed to list the improvement on the tax rolls; or

(6) the assessor received a real estate transfer declaration indicating a sale from an exempt property owner to a non-exempt property owner but failed to list the property on the tax rolls; or

(7) the property was the subject of an assessment appeal before the assessor or the board of review that had included the intended omitted property as part of the assessment appeal and provided evidence of its market value.

The assessment of omitted property by the county assessor may be reviewed by the board in the same manner as other assessments are reviewed under the provisions of this Code and when so reviewed, the assessment shall not thereafter be subject to review by any succeeding board.

For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this Code, relating to property omitted from assessment, the taxing bodies interested therein are hereby empowered to employ counsel to appear before the board or assessor (as the case may be) and take all necessary steps to enforce the assessment on the omitted property.

(Source: P.A. 88-455; 89-126, eff. 7-11-95; 89-671, eff. 8-14-96.)

(35 ILCS 200/16-140)

Sec. 16-140. Omitted property. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the board of appeals (until the first Monday in December 1998 and the board of review beginning the first Monday in December 1998 and thereafter) in any year shall direct the county assessor, in accordance with Section 16-135, when he or she fails to do so on his or her own initiative, to assess all property which has not been assessed, for any reason, and enter the same upon the assessment books and to list and assess all property that has been omitted in the assessment for the current year and not more than 3 years prior to the current year of any year or years. If the tax for which that property was liable has not been paid or if any property, by reason of defective description or assessment thereof, fails to pay taxes for any year or years, the property, when discovered by the board shall be listed and assessed by the county assessor. The board may order the county assessor to make such alterations in the description of property as it deems necessary. No charge for tax of previous years shall be made against any property if:

(1) the assessor failed to notify the board of review of an omitted assessment in accordance with subsection (a-1) of Section 9-260 of this Code; or

(2) (a) the property was last assessed as unimproved, (b) the owner of the property gave notice of subsequent improvements and requested a reassessment as required by Section 9-180, and (c) reassessment of the property was not made within 16 months of receipt of that notice; or

(3) the owner of the property gave notice as required by Section 9-265; or

(4) the assessor received a building permit for the property evidencing that new construction had occurred or was occurring on the property but failed to list the improvement on the tax rolls; or

(5) the assessor received a plat map, plat of survey, ALTA survey, mortgage survey, or other similar document containing the omitted property but failed to list the improvement on the tax rolls; or

(6) the assessor received a real estate transfer declaration indicating a sale from an exempt property owner to a non-exempt property owner but failed to list the property on the tax rolls; or

(7) the property was the subject of an assessment appeal before the assessor or the board of review that had included the intended omitted property as part of the assessment appeal and provided evidence of its market value.

The board shall hear complaints and revise assessments of any particular parcel of property of any person identified and described in a complaint filed with the board and conforming to the requirements of Section 16-115. The board shall make revisions in no other cases.

(Source: P.A. 88-455; 89-126, eff. 7-11-95; 89-671, eff. 8-14-96.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.