Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Illinois

You can try to appeal, but I don't know how successful you'll be. Property taxes are a township's main source of income and they are rarely willing to adjust them.

You can certainly file an appeal. You need to find a lawyer who handles property tax appeals as a regular and ongoing part of his or her practice.

Property tax appeals are usually handled by attorneys on a contingent fee basis meaning, you don't pay unless the attorney successfully reduces your property tax liability. That being said, sometimes a property owner can take steps to reduce their own property taxbill depending on certain circumstances. The first step to any review of the situation is to obtain the ASSESSMENT of your property from the local township Assessor's Office. Assessments are usually 1/3 of ACTUAL Market Value (the value your Assessor believes the property is worth).

Macoupin County's website has a link to all of the local Assessor's if you visit: http://www.macoupincountyil.gov/assessment_evidence.htm

Find your township and call the Assessor to obtain your property's information (most recent assessment and property record card).

If the property is a home, for example, pertinent evidence of Market Value being less than what the Assessor believes your property to be worth is necessary. Evidence can come in the form of an appraisal (even if obtained for refinancing purposes); recent sales of similar properties in the area which sold for less per square foot than your property; or bringing differences in the building characteristics (i.e. square footage of property/home) to the attention of the local Assessor.

Presuming you have evidence of the Assessor's Market Value being too high, see if the Assessor is willing to listen, and if not, file a complaint at the Macoupin County Board of Review (strict filing deadlines can be obtained by calling the Board of Review's Office) and bring your evidence to their attention for cosideration.

If that doesn't work, there is still the possibility of continuing your appeal to the State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (http://www.state.il.us/agency/ptab/forms/default.htm) within receiving a decision from the Board of Review. You MUST file at the Board of Review to continue the appeal process at the State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.