1. Frank Miles
Madison County
Treasurer
Understanding the Real Estate
Property Tax Cycle

2. Duties and Responsibilities of the
Madison County Treasurer
 The County Treasurer serves the dual function
of Treasurer and Collector of funds.
 The Treasurer’s office is responsible for the
preparation and mailing of 130,000 tax bills
annually.
 The Treasurer collects tax revenues on behalf
of taxing districts and then disburses the
monies collected to over 200 taxing districts in
Madison County.
 The Treasurer is responsible for receiving and
investing the tax revenues and other funds of
the County.
 The Treasurer’s office maintains records of all
financial accounts for the County.

3. Tasks in the Tax Cycle Process
 The Treasurer is not responsible for
assessing property values, notifying
taxpayers of assessment changes, setting
the tax rates, approving local taxing
districts yearly budgets, determining the
township and state multiplier, or making
decisions in the tax appeal process.
 These duties are the tasks of taxing
districts within our county, your Township
Assessor, the Chief County Assessor, the
County Clerk, the Illinois Department of
Revenue and the Madison County Board
of Review.

4. How is your Property
Assessed?
• To determine your assessed value, your local
Township Assessor, or the Chief County Assessor,
will establish the fair market value of your property.
• The equalized assessed value of the property is 1/3
(33⅓%) of the property’s fair market value.
• Your Assessor will notify you of any change to your
assessment.
• The fair market value of your house is based on
recent sales of properties with similar characteristics
(age, square footage, type of construction, etc.) in
your neighborhood.

5. Will You Be Notified of
Assessment Changes?
 Yes, any change in your Real Estate
assessment must be published in a
newspaper of general circulation every
year from June through August 9.
 Every four (4) years your Township
Assessor or the Chief County Assessor
will do a Quadrennial reassessment of all
property in your township. The complete
list of reassessed property will then be
published and individual taxpayers will be
notified of any change by mail.

6. Is Your Assessment Fair?
 There are two (2) criteria used to determine if
your assessment is fair.
1. Compare the fair market value of your
property with recent sales of similar
properties in your neighborhood.
2. Compare the assessed value of your
property with similar properties in your
neighborhood to determine uniformity of
assessment.

7. What To Do If You Believe Your Bill or
Assessment Is Not Fair or Incorrect?
 Informal Appeal
• You may contact your township or multi-township assessor or
chief assessment officer if you have a complaint. Calling an
erroneous assessment to the assessor’s attention early in the
year may result in a correction without using the formal appeal
process. If the assessor still has the assessment books for that
year, he or she can correct any erroneous assessment.
 Formal Appeal
• A formal appeal can be in writing to Madison County Board of
Review. Assessment appeals are to be filed with the Madison
County Board of Review no later than September 10 of the
current year.
• If the taxpayer is dissatisfied by the Board of Review’s decision
they may file a tax objection in the Circuit Court or file an
appeal with the State of Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.

8. Steps in Appealing an
Assessment:
 Obtain a property record card with the
assessed valuation of the property.
 Determine the fair market value for
the property.
 Determine the prevailing assessment
level for your neighborhood.
 File a written complaint on Form
PTAX-230, Non-farm Assessment
Complaint, with the County Board of
Review.

9. What Can I Do If I Disagree With The
Decision of the
Madison County Board of Review?
 Once you have filed a formal complaint with the Madison County
Board of Review, the board will make a determination based on the
facts and evidence presented by the property owner.
 There are two options available if you disagree with the Madison
County Board of Review’s decision.
1. The decision may be appealed (in writing) to the State of Illinois
Property Tax Appeal Board. The board will make a decision based
upon written evidence submitted by you and the Board of Review. Taxes
MUST be paid pending the outcome of the appeal. To obtain more
information and forms for a PTAB appeal contact the Property Tax
Appeal Board at (217) 782-6076 or visit www.state.il.us/agency/ptab
2. The County Board of Review’s decision may be appealed directly to
the Circuit Court by filing a tax objection. Filing a tax objection
requires a $109.00 non-refundable filing fee and all taxes for the property
MUST be paid in full. Once the objection has been filed it will be
reviewed by the court and a decision will be entered by a judge.

10. Are You Receiving the Following
Deductions
That May Apply to You?
Type of Deduction Qualifications Assessment When must you Type of Deduction
Reduction Amount Renew?
General Homestead 1. Owner Occupied Up to $6,000.00 Not required after General Homestead
Exemption initial application Exemption
Senior Citizens 1. Owner Occupied $4000.00 Annually Senior Citizens
Homestead 2. 65 or older by Homestead
Exemption December 31, 2009 Exemption
Senior Citizens 1. Owner Occupied Assessment is frozen Annually Senior Citizens
Property Assessment 2. 65 or older by at its value in the year Property Assessment
Freeze December 31, 2009 prior to the initial Freeze
3. Annual household application
income less than
$55,000.00
Disabled Persons’ Qualifying property $2000.00 Annually Disabled Persons’
Homestead owned by a disabled Homestead
Exemption 35 ILCS person Exemption 35 ILCS
200/15-168 200/15-168
Disabled Veterans Veteran with a service 50 % - 74 % Annually Disabled Veterans
Standard Homestead connected disability Disability $2,500.00 Standard Homestead
Exemption 35 ILCS 50%-74% Disability Exemption 35 ILCS
200/15-165 75% Disability 75% Disability 200/15-165
$5,000.00

11. When Will You Receive Your
Tax Bill?
 Once property assessments are finalized and
tax rates are determined, the Treasurer’s Office
generates and mails out the Real Estate Tax
Bills between early May and early June.
 The four (4) payment plan passed by the
County Board in 2009 will continue for this tax
year and allows taxpayers to make four (4)
equal payments. The tentative due dates are:
 July 7, 2010
 September 7, 2010
 October 7, 2010
 December 7, 2010

12. How Do You Pay Your Taxes?
 The Treasurer’s Office offers multiple
payment options to choose from:
 In the office
 Credit card
 Immediate withdrawal from a checking or
savings account.
 Scheduled withdrawal from a checking or
savings account.
 At one of over 115 participating local bank
branches.
 Monthly Payment Plan
 Pay in 1 full installment, 2 equal installments,
or 4 equal installments.

13. MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN
PROGRAM
What is the “Monthly Payment Plan?”
 The Madison County Treasurer’s Office
has a program that allows an extended
period of time to pay real estate taxes to
help relieve financial strain to taxpayers.
 The “Monthly Payment Plan” gives
taxpayers the opportunity to make
payments on their yearly real estate taxes
on a monthly basis.

14. MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN
PROGRAM
How does it work?
 Payments are made monthly beginning in December and ending in
November each year. The taxes are estimated based on the previous
year’s bill.
 Monthly payments are then calculated for a 12 month period.
 This figure will change if the taxpayer signs up after the first payment
date of December. For example, if you sign up in November to have
your first payment due in December, your payment would be based on
a 12 month period.
 If you sign up in February to have your first payment due in March,
your payments will be based on a 9 month period. This would
correspondingly increase the amount of the monthly payment.

15. MONTHLY PAYMENT
PLAN PROGRAM
Who is eligible to participate in the Monthly Payment Plan?
Anyone can sign up for the payment plan provided they have no
delinquent taxes.
When is the sign up period ?
The enrollment period is from November of the prior year
through April 30 each year.
How to make payments?
After you sign up, you will be mailed a letter confirming your
participation. If you choose to pay by check or money order,
you will receive payment coupons and envelopes to use when
mailing your payments.
You may also have your monthly payment directly withdrawn
from your checking or savings account. If you enroll in the
automatic withdrawal program, a letter with the scheduled dates
and amounts will be sent.

16. State Property Tax Relief
Programs
 Illinois has several property tax relief programs. These
programs include:
1. Illinois “Circuit Breaker” tax relief program that
provides relief to the elderly and disabled based on
income level.
2. Illinois “Income Tax Credit” allows all homeowners,
regardless of income level, a credit equal to 5% of the
taxpayer’s residential property tax bill
3. The “Senior Citizen Tax Deferral” Program that
provides tax relief for qualified senior citizens by
deferring all or part of their property taxes and special
assessment payments on their principal residence. The
deferral is a loan from the State of Illinois against the
property’s market value. The State of Illinois pays the
taxes, then charges a six percent simple interest rate on
the deferred amount and a lien is filed on the property.

17. How Are Tax Dollars
Distributed?
 Once property taxes are collected – the
Treasurer’s Office distributes all
monies received to over 200 Taxing
Districts within Madison County.
 Distributions to taxing districts are
based on each districts approved yearly
budget.

18. How your Tax dollars are Spent!
 Once property taxes are collected – the Treasurer’s Office distributes all monies received
to over 200 Taxing Districts within Madison County.
 Distributions to taxing districts are based on each districts approved yearly budget.
 Taxing Districts in Madison County use property taxes to support their annual operating
budgets.
 Tax dollars help to provide fire and police protection, repair roads, install street lights,
support local libraries and provide other necessary services for residents of cities, villages
and townships throughout Madison County.
 In Madison County the largest share of your property taxes goes to school districts for
educational purposes.

19. Where Can You Get
Additional Information?
 Property Assessment Appeals:
 Local Township Assessor, County Assessor, or
www.co.madison.il.us/CCAO/CCAO.shtml
 Property Tax Objection:
 Madison County Circuit Clerk
 155 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL
 (618) 296-4464
 www.co.madison.il.us/CircuitCourt/CircuitCourt.
shtml

20. FRANK MILES
MADISON COUNTY TREASURER
Treasurer’s Help Desk
(618)692-6260
www.madcotreasurer.org