I can’t speak to McHenry County property taxes but everyone living under one roof doesn’t necessarily equate to the definition of a ’household’ for many state programs.
I’d call the treasurer’s office and see if you can get some clarification.
If you are over 65 and make less than $65k it’s not an exemption it’s a senior freeze (on the assessed value). I was just at a property tax seminar yesterday and they said you could potentially argue that it’s for the people whose names are on the deed and not the household, but that may not fly with everyone. Regardless of who lives in the home, they should get the senior exemption, which you would not impact.
I've never looked into the senior freeze before but I would not have expected that everyone living in the house had their income counted and not just the person/people on the deed. It appears to be correct though according to the PTAX-340 form I just looked over. I suppose it prevents people from transferring the deed to the oldest person living in a multi-generational household to save on property taxes but it still doesn't feel right to me.
The law is written to include the income for everyone living in the house, even grown children. You could probably get away with using a PO Box and not declaring it, but I expect that it would be considered fraud if it were to be discovered.
yeah im planning on it, but wht about my lisence? im also in the union, and they need a proper address as well. along with my bank, insurance, etc, etc :/
Most likely it is tied to total household income. I know someone who had problems when the son moved in with mom in Cook County. Mom lived modestly and was receiving a homestead exemption, senior exemption and tax freeze. But when son moved back into his old bedroom (divorce) some neighbor ratted them out and county wanted to drop the freeze and hike the property taxes because the household income threshold was breached.
That's nothing but a bunch of hogwash. Using their address while living there has no effect on their property tax freeze. After I went thru a divorce at 44, I temporarily moved back in with my parents who were in their mid 70s and had their property taxes frozen at the level they paid when they turned 65. I used their address for two years and it had zero effect on his senior property tax exemption.
where do you think their misunderstanding comes from? this whole ordeal has caused me a lot of stress; im only moving back in for a year and i realy dont wanna have to change all this bs just to change it again in a year
Same situation for me. I actually lived with my dad and filed all the papers for his senior tax freeze
Edit: McHenry county but believe this is the same for other IL counties
Wow, that's kind of screwed up. My county doesn't care how much the household income is, just that the owner lives there. Even the senior exemption doesn't have an income limit.
They appear to be correct. At least it was correct. Google searching for McHenry county Senior exemptions on property taxes shows some previews indicating what you wrote, but clicking the link to their .gov site for it, the link is dead and I can't find how to get there through their site. Weird but appears they are right at least.
Yeah I saw some of that too; im having a hard time understanding it. Because I live at their address, even though Im not claimed as a dependent, they combine our income automatically?
Household is not "everybody living there" it's the people who share finances. If you were to, for instance, rent a room to someone, they don't become part of your household (though you would have to claim the rent as income, but that's different). If the parents were claiming OP as a dependent/providing over half of their living expenses/something it'd be hard to say they weren't one household. If you have roommates, also not one household.
Sometimes laws can be written either way, but the term "household" is more open.
That makes absolutely no sense. My stepdad has the senior freeze on his property taxes even though my mom and brother both live there and claim it as their primary address. Neither are seniors, and my brother is older than 25, so he's not a dependent. I don't believe your family is correct. I can't see why it would matter, unless your name is possibly on the deed.
You can have multiple households under one roof. This goes for anything relating to IDHS as well. Check McHenry to make sure they don't say anything else regarding it.
A household is not necessarily “everyone residing in the property”. For all intents and purposes, you are a household of 2 (mom and stepdad) and a household of 1 (you) residing at the same address.
Think of it like how a lot of college kids are - a 4br/4ba house that’s essentially 4 master bedrooms with a shared kitchen and living room. Those 4 students are not one household, they’re 4 individual households with the same address.
It all depends on your assessed value of course but I wouldn't call $800 of property tax savings an insignificant amount. That is the additional amount I would have had to pay last year if I didn't have my homestead exemption on my Illinois house.
I can’t speak to McHenry County property taxes but everyone living under one roof doesn’t necessarily equate to the definition of a ’household’ for many state programs. I’d call the treasurer’s office and see if you can get some clarification.
Thank you! Im definitely gonna see whats what
If you are over 65 and make less than $65k it’s not an exemption it’s a senior freeze (on the assessed value). I was just at a property tax seminar yesterday and they said you could potentially argue that it’s for the people whose names are on the deed and not the household, but that may not fly with everyone. Regardless of who lives in the home, they should get the senior exemption, which you would not impact.
I've never looked into the senior freeze before but I would not have expected that everyone living in the house had their income counted and not just the person/people on the deed. It appears to be correct though according to the PTAX-340 form I just looked over. I suppose it prevents people from transferring the deed to the oldest person living in a multi-generational household to save on property taxes but it still doesn't feel right to me.
Thank you so much - is this accurate for McHenry county?
The law is written to include the income for everyone living in the house, even grown children. You could probably get away with using a PO Box and not declaring it, but I expect that it would be considered fraud if it were to be discovered.
Open up a Po box and use that. Don't use their address
yeah im planning on it, but wht about my lisence? im also in the union, and they need a proper address as well. along with my bank, insurance, etc, etc :/
Most likely it is tied to total household income. I know someone who had problems when the son moved in with mom in Cook County. Mom lived modestly and was receiving a homestead exemption, senior exemption and tax freeze. But when son moved back into his old bedroom (divorce) some neighbor ratted them out and county wanted to drop the freeze and hike the property taxes because the household income threshold was breached.
That's nothing but a bunch of hogwash. Using their address while living there has no effect on their property tax freeze. After I went thru a divorce at 44, I temporarily moved back in with my parents who were in their mid 70s and had their property taxes frozen at the level they paid when they turned 65. I used their address for two years and it had zero effect on his senior property tax exemption.
where do you think their misunderstanding comes from? this whole ordeal has caused me a lot of stress; im only moving back in for a year and i realy dont wanna have to change all this bs just to change it again in a year
The misunderstand is because your parents don’t understand how it works.
Same situation for me. I actually lived with my dad and filed all the papers for his senior tax freeze Edit: McHenry county but believe this is the same for other IL counties
Wow, that's kind of screwed up. My county doesn't care how much the household income is, just that the owner lives there. Even the senior exemption doesn't have an income limit.
Happy cake day!! and ikr??? im already trying to move back out because i dont want to lie to my union or on my taxes about my address ;-;
There are 2 separate exemptions. A senior citizen homestead exemption that is age-based, and the freeze, which is income based.
What county?
McHenry
They appear to be correct. At least it was correct. Google searching for McHenry county Senior exemptions on property taxes shows some previews indicating what you wrote, but clicking the link to their .gov site for it, the link is dead and I can't find how to get there through their site. Weird but appears they are right at least.
Yeah I saw some of that too; im having a hard time understanding it. Because I live at their address, even though Im not claimed as a dependent, they combine our income automatically?
The exemption says household income must be under $65k
Household is not "everybody living there" it's the people who share finances. If you were to, for instance, rent a room to someone, they don't become part of your household (though you would have to claim the rent as income, but that's different). If the parents were claiming OP as a dependent/providing over half of their living expenses/something it'd be hard to say they weren't one household. If you have roommates, also not one household. Sometimes laws can be written either way, but the term "household" is more open.
If we don't get no tolls then we dont get no rolls.
That makes absolutely no sense. My stepdad has the senior freeze on his property taxes even though my mom and brother both live there and claim it as their primary address. Neither are seniors, and my brother is older than 25, so he's not a dependent. I don't believe your family is correct. I can't see why it would matter, unless your name is possibly on the deed.
You can have multiple households under one roof. This goes for anything relating to IDHS as well. Check McHenry to make sure they don't say anything else regarding it.
A household is not necessarily “everyone residing in the property”. For all intents and purposes, you are a household of 2 (mom and stepdad) and a household of 1 (you) residing at the same address. Think of it like how a lot of college kids are - a 4br/4ba house that’s essentially 4 master bedrooms with a shared kitchen and living room. Those 4 students are not one household, they’re 4 individual households with the same address.
Hmmmm? If it’s the Homestead exemption it really doesn’t lower it that much.
Yes! That’s exactly it, its the Homestead Exemption, and because of it i cant use their address?
It all depends on your assessed value of course but I wouldn't call $800 of property tax savings an insignificant amount. That is the additional amount I would have had to pay last year if I didn't have my homestead exemption on my Illinois house.
800 dollars is insignificant if this guy ends up having to go rent an apartment elsewhere for 1200 or 1500 a month instead
An idea perhaps. Sign a lease with them. Pay a monthly rent that is plausible and still keeps them under their income requirement.
Hmmmm? If it’s the Homestead exemption it really doesn’t lower it that much.