35 ILCS 200/15-169
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 35 - REVENUE|35 ILCS 200/ - Property Tax Code.|Title 4 - Exemptions

Sec. 15-169. Homestead exemption for veterans with disabilities.(a) Beginning with taxable year 2007, an annual homestead exemption, limited to the amounts set forth in subsections (b) and (b-3),  is granted for property that is used as a qualified residence by a veteran with a disability.(b) For taxable years prior to 2015, the amount of the exemption under this Section is as follows:(1) for veterans with a service-connected disability     of at least (i) 75% for exemptions granted in taxable years 2007 through 2009 and (ii) 70% for exemptions granted in taxable year 2010 and each taxable year thereafter, 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 (i) 75% for exemptions granted in taxable years 2007 through 2009 and (ii) 70% for exemptions granted in taxable year 2010 and each taxable year thereafter, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the annual  exemption is $2,500.(b-3)  For taxable years 2015 and thereafter:(1)  if the veteran has a service connected     disability of 30% or more but less than 50%, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, then the annual exemption is $2,500;(2)  if the veteran has a service connected     disability of 50% or more but less than 70%, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, then the annual exemption is $5,000; and(3)   if the veteran has a service connected     disability of 70% or more,  as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, then the property is exempt from taxation under this Code.(b-5)  If a homestead exemption is granted under this Section and the person awarded the exemption subsequently becomes a resident of a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act or a facility operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, then the exemption shall continue (i) so long as the residence continues to be occupied by the qualifying person's spouse or (ii) if the residence remains unoccupied but is still owned by the person who qualified for the homestead exemption.(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. 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.(c-1)  Beginning with taxable year 2015, nothing in this Section shall require the veteran to have qualified for or obtained the exemption before death if the veteran was killed in the line of duty.(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) Each taxpayer who has been granted an exemption under this Section must reapply on an annual basis. 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.(e-1) If the person qualifying for the exemption does not occupy the qualified residence as of January 1 of the taxable year, the exemption granted under this Section shall be prorated on a monthly basis. The prorated exemption shall apply beginning with the first complete month in which the person occupies the qualified residence.(e-5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each chief county assessment officer may approve this exemption for the 2020 taxable year, without application, for any property that was approved for this exemption for the 2019 taxable year, provided that:(1) the county board has declared a local disaster as     provided in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act related to the COVID-19 public health emergency;(2) the owner of record of the property as of January     1, 2020 is the same as the owner of record of the property as of January 1, 2019;(3) the exemption for the 2019 taxable year has not     been determined to be an erroneous exemption as defined by this Code; and(4) the applicant for the 2019 taxable year has not     asked for the exemption to be removed for the 2019 or 2020 taxable years.Nothing in this subsection shall preclude a veteran whose service connected disability rating has changed since the 2019 exemption was granted from applying for the exemption based on the subsequent service connected disability rating.(e-10) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each chief county assessment officer may approve this exemption for the 2021 taxable year, without application, for any property that was approved for this exemption for the 2020 taxable year, if:(1) the county board has declared a local disaster as     provided in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act related to the COVID-19 public health emergency;(2) the owner of record of the property as of January     1, 2021 is the same as the owner of record of the property as of January 1, 2020;(3) the exemption for the 2020 taxable year has not     been determined to be an erroneous exemption as defined by this Code; and(4) the taxpayer for the 2020 taxable year has not     asked for the exemption to be removed for the 2020 or 2021 taxable years.Nothing in this subsection shall preclude a veteran whose service connected disability rating has changed since the 2020 exemption was granted from applying for the exemption based on the subsequent service connected disability rating.(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 primary residence of a veteran with a disability. 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. 101-635, eff. 6-5-20; 102-136, eff. 7-23-21.)