•November 11, 2015•

Additional property tax relief is now available for veterans with disabilities and their families.

The Moultrie County Chief County Assessment Officer is announcing the following exemption changes and additions to the Illinois Property Tax Code.

Beginning Tax Year 2015 (tax bills paid in 2016), changes to the Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans With Disabilities will significantly increase the exemption benefit for a veteran with a service-connected disability of at least 30% or greater as certified by the United States Department of Veterans’ Affairs. (Previously the service-connected disability had to be at least 50% or greater to qualify for this exemption at all.)

This annual exemption provides a reduction in the taxable value on the veteran’s primary residence or the surviving spouse’s primary residence prior to the tax rate being applied.

To be eligible, the veteran must a) be an Illinois resident who served as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty or state active duty, Illinois National Guard or U.S. Reserve Forces, and who has an honorable discharge; and b) have at least a 30 percent service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs; and c) own and occupy the primary residence on January 1 of the assessment year or lease and occupy a single family residence on January 1 of the assessment year and be liable for the payment of the property taxes to the County.      Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.