HB1352 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB096 09522 JDS 19679 b

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB1352

Introduced 2/18/2009, by Rep. Jim Watson

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

35 ILCS 200/15-169

Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that a veteran's surviving spouse is eligible for the disabled veterans' standard homestead exemption if the veteran would have qualified for the benefit but died before October 12, 2007. Effective immediately.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning revenue.

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 Section 15-169 as follows:

(35 ILCS 200/15-169)

Sec. 15-169. Disabled veterans standard homestead exemption.

(a) Beginning with taxable year 2007, an annual homestead exemption, limited to the amounts set forth in subsection (b), is granted for property that is used as a qualified residence by a disabled veteran.

(b) The amount of the exemption under this Section is as follows:

(1) for veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 75%, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the annual exemption is $5,000; and

(2) for veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 50%, but less than 75%, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the annual exemption is $2,500.

(c) The tax exemption under this Section carries over to the benefit of the veteran's surviving spouse as long as the spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the homestead, permanently resides thereon, and does not remarry. A surviving spouse of a disabled veteran is eligible for this exemption if the veteran would have qualified for the exemption but died before October 12, 2007. If the surviving spouse sells the property, an exemption not to exceed the amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax roll may be transferred to his or her new residence as long as it is used as his or her primary residence and he or she does not remarry.

(d) The exemption under this Section applies for taxable year 2007 and thereafter. A taxpayer who claims an exemption under Section 15-165 or 15-168 may not claim an exemption under this Section.

(e) Application must be made during the application period in effect for the county of his or her residence. The assessor or chief county assessment officer may determine the eligibility of residential property to receive the homestead exemption provided by this Section by application, visual inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable methods. The determination must be made in accordance with guidelines established by the Department.

(f) For the purposes of this Section:

"Qualified residence" means real property, but less any portion of that property that is used for commercial purposes, with an equalized assessed value of less than $250,000 that is the disabled veteran's primary residence. Property rented for more than 6 months is presumed to be used for commercial purposes.

"Veteran" means an Illinois resident who has served as a member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty or State active duty, a member of the Illinois National Guard, or a member of the United States Reserve Forces and who has received an honorable discharge.

(Source: P.A. 95-644, eff. 10-12-07.)

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