102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB4817

 

Introduced 1/27/2022, by Rep. Deanne M. Mazzochi

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
35 ILCS 200/15-169

    Amends the Property Tax Code. Provides that, if a veteran has a service connected disability of 100% and the property is located in a compliant county, the taxpayer who has been granted a homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities shall no longer be required to reapply for the exemption on an annual basis, and the exemption shall be in effect for as long as the exemption would otherwise be permitted. Provides that "compliant county" means that the Department of Revenue has determined that the chief county assessment officer of the county is actively enforcing the provisions of the exemption that distinguish between property with an equalized assessed value of less than $250,000 and property with an equalized assessed value of $250,000 or more. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning revenue.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Property Tax Code is amended by changing
5Section 15-169 as follows:
 
6    (35 ILCS 200/15-169)
7    Sec. 15-169. Homestead exemption for veterans with
8disabilities.
9    (a) Beginning with taxable year 2007, an annual homestead
10exemption, limited to the amounts set forth in subsections (b)
11and (b-3), is granted for property that is used as a qualified
12residence by a veteran with a disability.
13    (b) For taxable years prior to 2015, the amount of the
14exemption under this Section is as follows:
15        (1) for veterans with a service-connected disability
16    of at least (i) 75% for exemptions granted in taxable
17    years 2007 through 2009 and (ii) 70% for exemptions
18    granted in taxable year 2010 and each taxable year
19    thereafter, as certified by the United States Department
20    of Veterans Affairs, the annual exemption is $5,000; and
21        (2) for veterans with a service-connected disability
22    of at least 50%, but less than (i) 75% for exemptions
23    granted in taxable years 2007 through 2009 and (ii) 70%

 

 

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1    for exemptions granted in taxable year 2010 and each
2    taxable year thereafter, as certified by the United States
3    Department of Veterans Affairs, the annual exemption is
4    $2,500.
5    (b-3) For taxable years 2015 and thereafter:
6        (1) if the veteran has a service connected disability
7    of 30% or more but less than 50%, as certified by the
8    United States Department of Veterans Affairs, then the
9    annual exemption is $2,500;
10        (2) if the veteran has a service connected disability
11    of 50% or more but less than 70%, as certified by the
12    United States Department of Veterans Affairs, then the
13    annual exemption is $5,000; and
14        (3) if the veteran has a service connected disability
15    of 70% or more, as certified by the United States
16    Department of Veterans Affairs, then the property is
17    exempt from taxation under this Code.
18    (b-5) If a homestead exemption is granted under this
19Section and the person awarded the exemption subsequently
20becomes a resident of a facility licensed under the Nursing
21Home Care Act or a facility operated by the United States
22Department of Veterans Affairs, then the exemption shall
23continue (i) so long as the residence continues to be occupied
24by the qualifying person's spouse or (ii) if the residence
25remains unoccupied but is still owned by the person who
26qualified for the homestead exemption.

 

 

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1    (c) The tax exemption under this Section carries over to
2the benefit of the veteran's surviving spouse as long as the
3spouse holds the legal or beneficial title to the homestead,
4permanently resides thereon, and does not remarry. If the
5surviving spouse sells the property, an exemption not to
6exceed the amount granted from the most recent ad valorem tax
7roll may be transferred to his or her new residence as long as
8it is used as his or her primary residence and he or she does
9not remarry.
10    (c-1) Beginning with taxable year 2015, nothing in this
11Section shall require the veteran to have qualified for or
12obtained the exemption before death if the veteran was killed
13in the line of duty.
14    (d) The exemption under this Section applies for taxable
15year 2007 and thereafter. A taxpayer who claims an exemption
16under Section 15-165 or 15-168 may not claim an exemption
17under this Section.
18    (e) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (e),
19each Each taxpayer who has been granted an exemption under
20this Section must reapply on an annual basis. Application must
21be made during the application period in effect for the county
22of his or her residence. The assessor or chief county
23assessment officer may determine the eligibility of
24residential property to receive the homestead exemption
25provided by this Section by application, visual inspection,
26questionnaire, or other reasonable methods. The determination

 

 

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1must be made in accordance with guidelines established by the
2Department.
3    On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of
4the 102nd General Assembly, if a veteran has a service
5connected disability of 100%, as certified by the United
6States Department of Veterans Affairs, and if the property is
7located in a compliant county, the taxpayer who has been
8granted an exemption under this Section shall no longer be
9required to reapply for the exemption on an annual basis, and
10the exemption shall be in effect for as long as the exemption
11would otherwise be permitted under this Section.
12    (e-1) If the person qualifying for the exemption does not
13occupy the qualified residence as of January 1 of the taxable
14year, the exemption granted under this Section shall be
15prorated on a monthly basis. The prorated exemption shall
16apply beginning with the first complete month in which the
17person occupies the qualified residence.
18    (e-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each
19chief county assessment officer may approve this exemption for
20the 2020 taxable year, without application, for any property
21that was approved for this exemption for the 2019 taxable
22year, provided that:
23        (1) the county board has declared a local disaster as
24    provided in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act
25    related to the COVID-19 public health emergency;
26        (2) the owner of record of the property as of January

 

 

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1    1, 2020 is the same as the owner of record of the property
2    as of January 1, 2019;
3        (3) the exemption for the 2019 taxable year has not
4    been determined to be an erroneous exemption as defined by
5    this Code; and
6        (4) the applicant for the 2019 taxable year has not
7    asked for the exemption to be removed for the 2019 or 2020
8    taxable years.
9    Nothing in this subsection shall preclude a veteran whose
10service connected disability rating has changed since the 2019
11exemption was granted from applying for the exemption based on
12the subsequent service connected disability rating.
13    (e-10) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each
14chief county assessment officer may approve this exemption for
15the 2021 taxable year, without application, for any property
16that was approved for this exemption for the 2020 taxable
17year, if:
18        (1) the county board has declared a local disaster as
19    provided in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act
20    related to the COVID-19 public health emergency;
21        (2) the owner of record of the property as of January
22    1, 2021 is the same as the owner of record of the property
23    as of January 1, 2020;
24        (3) the exemption for the 2020 taxable year has not
25    been determined to be an erroneous exemption as defined by
26    this Code; and

 

 

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1        (4) the taxpayer for the 2020 taxable year has not
2    asked for the exemption to be removed for the 2020 or 2021
3    taxable years.
4    Nothing in this subsection shall preclude a veteran whose
5service connected disability rating has changed since the 2020
6exemption was granted from applying for the exemption based on
7the subsequent service connected disability rating.
8    (f) For the purposes of this Section:
9    "Compliant county" means that the Department of Revenue
10has determined that the chief county assessment officer of the
11county is actively enforcing the provisions of this Section
12that distinguish between property with an equalized assessed
13value of less than $250,000 and property with an equalized
14assessed value of $250,000 or more. The Department shall
15provide, by rule, for the reporting of this active enforcement
16and compliance.
17    "Qualified residence" means real property, but less any
18portion of that property that is used for commercial purposes,
19with an equalized assessed value of less than $250,000 that is
20the primary residence of a veteran with a disability. Property
21rented for more than 6 months is presumed to be used for
22commercial purposes.
23    "Veteran" means an Illinois resident who has served as a
24member of the United States Armed Forces on active duty or
25State active duty, a member of the Illinois National Guard, or
26a member of the United States Reserve Forces and who has

 

 

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1received an honorable discharge.
2(Source: P.A. 101-635, eff. 6-5-20; 102-136, eff. 7-23-21.)
 
3    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
4becoming law.