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On April 17 & 18, 2013, storms moved through the area bringing several inches of rain and as a result of this severe weather, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn along with Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen both declared Kane County to be a major disaster area, which allows for Disaster Area Reassessment Relief of the Illinois Property Tax Code. This includes Disaster Area Reassessment and the Natural Disaster Homestead Exemption.
Disaster Area Reassessment provides that upon the declaration of a disaster area, any portion of real property that was “substantially damaged by the disaster”, may be eligible for reassessment upon the filing of an application with the Kane County Assessment Office. Please note that loss of personal property will NOT be eligible as a basis for assessment relief. Limited assessment reductions will be based on structural damage such as loss of finished lower levels, damaged foundations, drywall, etc.
Taxpayers who believe they may be eligible for disaster reassessment should fill out the attached PTAX 245-Disaster Area Application for Reassessment Form and return it to the Kane County Assessment Office as indicated on the form, which will then be forwarded to the respective Assessor’s Office for inspection purposes and reassessment review. Your Assessor, Laura Ross or a Deputy Assessor will conduct an on-site inspection, take photos and determine if a reduction would be permissible. This will be a one-year 2013 assessment adjustment that will affect taxes payable in 2014.
Natural Disaster Homestead Exemption was enacted by the General Assembly in 2012 for homes that are rebuilt within two years after a disaster that have a square footage of no more than 110% of the prior structure and must have been occupied by the property owner. Application forms for these programs are available at www.kanecountyassessments.org/flooddamaged.pdf.
We realize the hardship far outweighs any modest tax relief but hope that you take the time to review these property relief methods. Please be prepared to show evidence of loss in the form of receipts, insurance claims, photographs, or other evidence during the inspection process or on the attached “Storm Damage Assessment Relief Request 2013”.
If you have any questions, please call Sugar Grove Assessor’s Office or Kane County Assessment Office at 630-208-3818. Our office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00pm.
Sincerely,
Laura E. Ross, CIAO
Sugar Grove Township Assessor
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