What Will County property taxes pay for and who collects them

Will County property taxes fund schools, roads, police and fire departments, courts, and county services. The money goes to multiple taxing bodies: your school district, the county government, your municipality, park districts, and sometimes library districts or community colleges. Each body sets its own tax rate and bills you through a single property tax bill.

The Will County Assessor's Office determines the assessed value of your property — the value used to calculate your tax bill. The Will County Treasurer collects the taxes you owe and distributes the money to each taxing body. You receive one bill, usually twice a year, but the money is split among all the bodies that serve your address.

Property tax bills in Will County arrive in two installments: the first typically in May or June, and the second in September or October. The exact dates depend on when your municipality and school district process their bills. If you own property in an unincorporated area of Will County, the county handles billing directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Will County property taxes fund schools, county services, municipalities, and special districts, with each body setting its own rate.
  • The Assessor's Office determines your property's assessed value, and the Treasurer collects and distributes the tax money.
  • You receive two bills per year, usually in May or June and September or October, though exact dates vary by municipality.
  • Your bill shows the assessed value, the tax rate for each taxing body, and the total amount owed to each.
  • Homeowners over 65 and disabled homeowners may reduce their tax burden through the Homestead Property Tax Exemption and other state programs.

How your assessed value is determined

The Will County Assessor's Office assigns an assessed value to every property in the county. This value is not the market price of your home — it is a percentage of what the Assessor believes your property would sell for on the open market. In Illinois, the assessment rate is 33.33 percent of market value for residential property, though the actual assessed value depends on the Assessor's estimate of your home's market value.

The Assessor's Office uses sales data from comparable homes in your area, the condition of your property, and any improvements you have made to estimate market value. If you add a deck, finish a basement, or make other major improvements, the Assessor may increase the assessed value. You can view your property record and assessed value through the Will County Assessor's website or by visiting their office in Joliet.

Assessed values are reviewed every three years in most of Will County, though some municipalities reassess annually. After a reassessment, you receive a notice showing the new assessed value. If you believe the value is wrong, you can file a formal objection with the Assessor's Office or appeal to the Board of Review, which hears property tax disputes.

Understanding your property tax bill

Your Will County property tax bill shows several pieces of information: your property address and identification number, the assessed value, the tax rate for each taxing body, and the amount owed to each. The total bill is the sum of taxes owed to your school district, the county, your municipality, and any other taxing bodies that serve your address.

The tax rate is expressed as a percentage or as dollars per $100 of assessed value. For example, if your assessed value is $100,000 and the school district rate is 2.5 percent, you owe $2,500 to the school district. The rates for the county, municipality, and other bodies are added separately. The bill also shows any exemptions you receive, such as the Homestead Exemption, which reduces the assessed value before taxes are calculated.

If you do not understand a line item on your bill, the Treasurer's Office can explain what each taxing body is and why it appears on your bill. You can contact them by phone or visit their office in Joliet during business hours.

Homestead Property Tax Exemption and other tax relief

Illinois offers the Homestead Property Tax Exemption, which reduces the assessed value of your primary residence by up to $6,000 (the amount varies by year and is set by state law). To receive this exemption, you must own and live in the home as your principal residence. The exemption is not automatic — you must file a form with the Will County Assessor's Office.

Homeowners age 65 and older may also receive an additional Senior Exemption, which provides further reduction in assessed value. Disabled homeowners and disabled veterans may receive a Disabled Person Exemption or Disabled Veteran Exemption. Each exemption requires a separate application and proof of may be able to access, such as a birth certificate, disability information letter, or military discharge papers.

Will County also administers the Property Tax Deferral Program for homeowners age 65 and older with household income below a certain threshold. This program allows you to defer paying property taxes, though interest accrues and the debt is eventually due. The Assessor's Office or Treasurer's Office can provide information about current income limits and how to apply.

What to do if you cannot pay your property tax bill

If you receive a property tax bill you cannot pay in full by the due date, contact the Will County Treasurer's Office immediately. The Treasurer can explain payment plan options and the consequences of non-payment. Paying late results in a penalty and interest charges, which are added to your bill.

If your property tax bill remains unpaid for a long period, the county may file a tax lien against your property or sell your property tax debt to a third party. A tax lien gives the county or the debt holder a legal claim on your home. If the debt is sold, the new holder can pursue collection or, in some cases, foreclose on the property. These actions take time — typically years — but they can result in loss of your home.

Some homeowners may be able to reduce their tax burden through exemptions or the Property Tax Deferral Program. Others may contact local nonprofits or legal aid organizations to discuss options. The Treasurer's Office can provide referrals to community resources.

How to appeal your assessed value

If you believe your assessed value is too high, you can file a formal objection. The first step is to contact the Will County Assessor's Office and request a review of your property record. The Assessor may adjust the value if you can show that the assessment is incorrect — for example, if the Assessor overestimated the condition of your home or missed a major defect.

If the Assessor does not adjust the value or you disagree with the adjustment, you can appeal to the Will County Board of Review. The Board of Review is an independent body that hears property tax disputes. You must file your appeal within a specific time window — usually 30 days after you receive your assessment notice. The Board will schedule a hearing where you can present evidence that your assessed value is wrong.

Evidence that helps your case includes recent appraisals, sales prices of comparable homes in your area, photographs showing property defects, and documentation of major repairs needed. You do not need a lawyer to appeal, though some homeowners choose to hire one. The Board's decision is final unless you pursue further legal action through the courts.

Property tax rates and how they change year to year

Property tax rates in Will County vary by location because different municipalities, school districts, and special districts set their own rates. A home in one part of the county may have a very different tax rate than an identical home in another part. Rates also change year to year as taxing bodies adjust their budgets and the total assessed value in the county changes.

When a taxing body needs more money, it may raise its tax rate. When assessed values in the county increase, the taxing body may lower its rate to collect the same amount of money. This is called a "tax rate reduction" and does not mean your bill will go down — if your assessed value increased, your bill may still rise even though the rate fell.

You can view the tax rates for all taxing bodies that serve your address on your property tax bill or through the Will County Assessor's website. The Treasurer's Office publishes an annual report showing tax rates and revenue collected by each body. If you want to understand why your bill changed from year to year, comparing the assessed value and tax rates on your current and previous bills will show you what moved.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out what my property is worth for tax purposes?

Visit the Will County Assessor's website and search for your property by address or parcel number. The site shows your assessed value, the market value estimate used to calculate it, and details about your property. You can also call the Assessor's Office or visit in person in Joliet to request a copy of your property record.

Can I get a property tax exemption if I rent instead of own?

No. Exemptions like the Homestead Exemption are for homeowners only. Renters do not pay property tax directly — the landlord does. However, renters may be able to reduce their housing costs through rental assistance programs or housing vouchers, which are separate from property tax relief.

What happens if I miss a property tax payment deadline?

Late payments result in a penalty and interest charges added to your bill. If you miss multiple payments over time, the county may file a tax lien against your property or sell the debt to a collection agency. Contact the Treasurer's Office as soon as you know you will miss a payment to discuss options.

How long do I have to appeal my assessed value?

You typically have 30 days from the date you receive your assessment notice to file an appeal with the Board of Review. The exact deadline is printed on the notice. If you miss this deadline, you may lose the right to appeal that year's assessment, though you can appeal the following year's assessment if it is issued.

Do senior homeowners pay less property tax?

Yes. Homeowners age 65 and older can receive the Senior Exemption in addition to the Homestead Exemption, which reduces the assessed value further. You must file separate applications for each exemption with the Assessor's Office. The amount of the reduction varies by year and is set by state law.