Timeline and What Homeowners Need to Know
Cook County officials announced that the long-delayed second installment property tax bills for the 2024 tax year are being mailed to 1.8 million property owners on November 14, 2025, with payment due by December 15. This year’s mailing comes four months later than usual, a delay attributed to ongoing issues with the county’s property tax system modernization and vendor contracting.
Technology Problems and Bridge Loan Program
The cook county’s move to upgrade its decades-old billing infrastructure caused the significant holdup, forcing local taxing districts to seek alternative funding, including short-term bridge loans. County Board President Toni Preckwinkle launched a new Bridge Loan Program, offering more than $20 million in interest-free assistance to nearly 20 local taxing bodies to cover gaps created by the delays.
How to Pay Property Taxes
Property owners can pay their bills online at cookcountytreasurer.com, in-person at any Illinois Chase Bank branch or the Cook County Treasurer’s Office, or by mail. Homeowners missing exemptions should file a Certificate of Error quickly, which can be processed at local offices such as the CCAO Skokie branch.
Impact and Looking Ahead
Residents face the nation’s highest property tax rates, with bills up 78% since 2007 while property values have grown only 7.3%. Because of this year’s delays, the first installment for 2025 will also be pushed back to at least April, offering some relief during the holiday season but extending uncertainties for local governments and taxpayers.