The steps for appeal:

1. Receive notice of the proposed assessed valuation in the mail when the assessor's office reassesses your property (every three years). You have 30 days to file an assessment appeal with the Cook County Assessor's office.

2. Fill out the appeal form included in the proposed assessed valuation notice. Also, make any corrections to the property description on the back of your appeal form.

3. Be sure to mark the box for appeal type. You can file an appeal based on uniformity, over-valuation or description error (see Reasons for Appeal at the right).

4. Compare your proposed assessed valuation with your neighbors, or similar properties in the area, by visiting the Cook County Assessor's website at www.cookcountyassessor.com, where you can search by the property identification number (the 14 digit number located on your proposed assessed valuation), by address or by neighborhood.

5. Assemble supporting documentation for reduction, including lower assessments from homes comparable to your property.

6. Mail or drop off your appeal form and supporting documentation to the Cook County Assesor's Office, 118 N. Clark Street, 3rd floor, Chicago IL 60602. If you mail your appeal, you will receive a letter with an appeal number in about a week. If you file at the assessor's office downtown, you will receive an appeal number immediately.

7. The assessor's office will mail out a letter either granting or denying your appeal in three to six months.

Possible money-saving property tax exemptions:

HOMEOWNER'S EXEMPTION - You can save an average of $450 on your property tax bill if you have lived in your home as your principal place of residence.

SENIOR CITIZEN EXEMPTION - Can save you up to an additional $250 if you were born in 1937 or before, own the property as of January 1, 2002, and use the property as your principal place of residence.

SENIOR CITIZEN ASSESSMENT FREEZE EXEMPTION - This exemption freezes the equalized assessed valuation of the property at the level prior to the year applied for. To qualify for the exemption, you must be age 65 or older, have a total household income (all residents of the household) of $40,000 or less, and be the principal owner of the property.

Contact the Cook County Assessor's Office at 312-443-7550 for any questions regarding exemptions.

If you lose your appeal with the assessor's office:

1. File a complaint form with the Cook County Board of Review within 30 days of your township "Opening for Review." To find out when your township is open for re-review, call 312-603-5542.
   
   Upon request, the Board of Review will provide a description of your property. Check for possible errors and submit the corrections to the Board via an affidavit.

2. The Board of Review will furnish a "Summary Sheet" requesting specific information: pictures of your property, Property Index number, address, assessed valuation of your property, and the assessed valuation of comparable properties (4 to 5) in your neighborhood.

3. Submit the "Summary Sheet" with your complaint before the date of your hearing.

4. Within three weeks you will receive a hearing notice.

5. A decision is mailed to you about two weeks after the hearing. Decisions are now also published online. If you have any questions pertaining to the Board of Review please call 312-603-5542.

6. If you appeal is denied, you can file a final complaint with the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. Call 312-782-6076 for details.