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2005 Illinois 35 ILCS 200/      Property Tax Code. Title 4 - Exemptions


      (35 ILCS 200/Tit. 4 heading)
TITLE 4. EXEMPTIONS

      (35 ILCS 200/Art. 15 heading)
Article 15. Exemptions

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑5)
    Sec. 15‑5. Creation of exemptions. Any person wishing to claim an exemption for the first time, other than a homestead exemption under Sections 15‑165 through 15‑180, shall file an application with the county board of review or board of appeals, following the procedures of Section 16‑70 or 16‑130. In addition, in counties with a population of 3,000,000 or more, the board of review shall transmit to the county assessor's office, within 14 days of receipt, a copy of any application that requests exempt status under Section 15‑40.
(Source: P.A. 92‑333, eff. 8‑10‑01.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑10)
    Sec. 15‑10. Exempt property; procedures for certification. All property granted an exemption by the Department pursuant to the requirements of Section 15‑5 and described in the Sections following Section 15‑30 and preceding Section 16‑5, to the extent therein limited, is exempt from taxation. In order to maintain that exempt status, the titleholder or the owner of the beneficial interest of any property that is exempt must file with the chief county assessment officer, on or before January 31 of each year (May 31 in the case of property exempted by Section 15‑170), an affidavit stating whether there has been any change in the ownership or use of the property or the status of the owner‑resident, or that a disabled veteran who qualifies under Section 15‑165 owned and used the property as of January 1 of that year. The nature of any change shall be stated in the affidavit. Failure to file an affidavit shall, in the discretion of the assessment officer, constitute cause to terminate the exemption of that property, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code. Owners of 5 or more such exempt parcels within a county may file a single annual affidavit in lieu of an affidavit for each parcel. The assessment officer, upon request, shall furnish an affidavit form to the owners, in which the owner may state whether there has been any change in the ownership or use of the property or status of the owner or resident as of January 1 of that year. The owner of 5 or more exempt parcels shall list all the properties giving the same information for each parcel as required of owners who file individual affidavits.
    However, titleholders or owners of the beneficial interest in any property exempted under any of the following provisions are not required to submit an annual filing under this Section:
        (1) Section 15‑45 (burial grounds) in counties of
    
less than 3,000,000 inhabitants and owned by a not‑for‑profit organization.
        (2) Section 15‑40.
        (3) Section 15‑50 (United States property).
    If there is a change in use or ownership, however, notice must be filed pursuant to Section 15‑20.
    An application for homestead exemptions shall be filed as provided in Section 15‑170 (senior citizens homestead exemption), Section 15‑172 (senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption), and Sections 15‑175 and 15‑176 (general homestead exemption), respectively.
(Source: P.A. 92‑333, eff. 8‑10‑01; 92‑729, eff. 7‑25‑02; 93‑715, eff. 7‑12‑04.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑15)
    Sec. 15‑15. Obligation to file copies of leases or agreements. If any property listed as exempt by the chief county assessment officer is leased, loaned or otherwise made available for profit, the titleholder or the owner of the beneficial interest shall file with the assessment officer a copy of all such leases or agreements and a complete description of the premises, so the chief county assessment officer can ascertain the exact size and location of the premises in order to create a tax parcel. Failure to file such leases, agreements or descriptions shall, in the discretion of the chief county assessment officer, constitute cause to terminate the exemption, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 87‑895; 87‑1189; 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑20)
    Sec. 15‑20. Notification requirements after change in use or ownership. If any property listed as exempt by the chief county assessment officer has a change in use, a change in leasehold estate, or a change in titleholder of record by purchase, grant, taking or transfer, it is the obligation of the transferee to notify the chief county assessment officer in writing within 30 days of the change. The notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall include the name and address of the taxpayer, the legal description of the property, the address of the property, and the permanent index number of the property where such number exists. If the failure to give such notification results in the assessment officer listing the property as exempt in subsequent years, the property shall be considered omitted property for purposes of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 87‑895; 87‑1189; 88‑455; incorporates 88‑221; 88‑670, eff. 12‑2‑94.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑25)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 92‑651)
    Sec. 15‑25. Removal of exemptions. If the Department determines that any property has been unlawfully exempted from taxation, or is no longer entitled to exemption, the Department shall, before January 1 of any year, direct the chief county assessment officer to assess the property and return it to the assessment rolls for the next assessment year. The Department shall give notice of its decision to the owner of the property by certified mail. The decision shall be subject to review and hearing under Section 8‑35, upon application by the owner filed within 10 days after the notice of decision is mailed. However, the extension of taxes on the assessment shall not be delayed by any proceedings under this Section. If the property is determined to be exempt, any taxes extended upon the assessment shall be abated or, if already paid, be refunded.
(Source: P.A. 92‑651, eff. 7‑11‑02.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 92‑658)
    Sec. 15‑25. Removal of exemptions. If the Department determines that any property has been unlawfully exempted from taxation, or is no longer entitled to exemption, the Department shall, before January 1 of any year, direct the chief county assessment officer to assess the property and return it to the assessment rolls for the next assessment year. The Department shall give notice of its decision to the owner of the property by certified mail. The decision shall be subject to review and hearing under with Section 8‑35, upon application by the owner filed within 60 days after the notice of decision is mailed. However, the extension of taxes on the assessment shall not be delayed by any proceedings under this Section. If the property is determined to be exempt, any taxes extended upon the assessment shall be abated or, if already paid, be refunded.
(Source: P.A. 82‑554; 88‑455; 92‑658, eff. 7‑16‑02.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑30)
    Sec. 15‑30. Payment to taxing districts for services. Any taxing district may enter into a mutually acceptable agreement with the owner of any exempt property whereby the owner agrees to make payments to the taxing district for the direct and indirect cost of services provided by the district. However, an agreement is not required to establish tax exempt status for the property, nor shall a taxing district use the absence of an agreement to defer or delay zoning changes, site exceptions from zoning, or other administrative measures to coerce an owner of property exempt from taxation to enter into an agreement to make voluntary payments in lieu of property taxes for the direct or indirect costs of services provided by the taxing district. However, any such zoning change, site exception from zoning, or other variance or special use granted by a municipality shall be reversed and returned to its prior status if the property is acquired by a taxable entity or used for a taxable purpose within 10 years after the change in zoning, site exception from zoning, or other variance or special use is granted. No agreement may be of more than 5 years duration, survive a change of use, or require payments in excess of taxes reasonably calculated to be due if such an agreement were not in effect and the property were not granted an exemption. An agreement may be renewed for periods of no more than 5 years.
(Source: P.A. 87‑895; 87‑1189; 88‑455; incorporates 88‑234; 88‑670, eff. 12‑2‑94.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑35)
    Sec. 15‑35. Schools. All property donated by the United States for school purposes, and all property of schools, not sold or leased or otherwise used with a view to profit, is exempt, whether owned by a resident or non‑resident of this State or by a corporation incorporated in any state of the United States. Also exempt is:
        (a) property of schools which is leased to a
    
municipality to be used for municipal purposes on a not‑for‑profit basis;
        (b) property of schools on which the schools are
    
located and any other property of schools used by the schools exclusively for school purposes, including, but not limited to, student residence halls, dormitories and other housing facilities for students and their spouses and children, staff housing facilities, and school‑owned and operated dormitory or residence halls occupied in whole or in part by students who belong to fraternities, sororities, or other campus organizations;
        (c) property donated, granted, received or used for
    
public school, college, theological seminary, university, or other educational purposes, whether held in trust or absolutely;
        (d) in counties with more than 200,000 inhabitants
    
which classify property, property (including interests in land and other facilities) on or adjacent to (even if separated by a public street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or other public way) the grounds of a school, if that property is used by an academic, research or professional society, institute, association or organization which serves the advancement of learning in a field or fields of study taught by the school and which property is not used with a view to profit;
        (e) property owned by a school district. The
    
exemption under this subsection is not affected by any transaction in which, for the purpose of obtaining financing, the school district, directly or indirectly, leases or otherwise transfers the property to another for which or whom property is not exempt and immediately after the lease or transfer enters into a leaseback or other agreement that directly or indirectly gives the school district a right to use, control, and possess the property. In the case of a conveyance of the property, the school district must retain an option to purchase the property at a future date or, within the limitations period for reverters, the property must revert back to the school district.
            (1) If the property has been conveyed as
        
described in this subsection, the property is no longer exempt under this Section as of the date when:
                (A) the right of the school district to use,
            
control, and possess the property is terminated;
                (B) the school district no longer has an
            
option to purchase or otherwise acquire the property; and
                (C) there is no provision for a reverter of
            
the property to the school district within the limitations period for reverters.
            (2) Pursuant to Sections 15‑15 and 15‑20 of this
        
Code, the school district shall notify the chief county assessment officer of any transaction under this subsection. The chief county assessment officer shall determine initial and continuing compliance with the requirements of this subsection for tax exemption. Failure to notify the chief county assessment officer of a transaction under this subsection or to otherwise comply with the requirements of Sections 15‑15 and 15‑20 of this Code shall, in the discretion of the chief county assessment officer, constitute cause to terminate the exemption, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code.
            (3) No provision of this subsection shall be
        
construed to affect the obligation of the school district to which an exemption certificate has been issued under this Section from its obligation under Section 15‑10 of this Code to file an annual certificate of status or to notify the chief county assessment officer of transfers of interest or other changes in the status of the property as required by this Code.
            (4) The changes made by this amendatory Act of
        
the 91st General Assembly are declarative of existing law and shall not be construed as a new enactment; and
        (f) in counties with more than 200,000 inhabitants
    
which classify property, property of a corporation, which is an exempt entity under paragraph (3) of Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or its successor law, used by the corporation for the following purposes: (1) conducting continuing education for professional development of personnel in energy‑related industries; (2) maintaining a library of energy technology information available to students and the public free of charge; and (3) conducting research in energy and environment, which research results could be ultimately accessible to persons involved in education.
(Source: P.A. 91‑513, eff. 8‑13‑99; 91‑578, eff. 8‑14‑99; 92‑16, eff. 6‑28‑01.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑40)
    Sec. 15‑40. Religious purposes, orphanages, or school and religious purposes.
    (a) Property used exclusively for:
        (1) religious purposes, or
        (2) school and religious purposes, or
        (3) orphanages
qualifies for exemption as long as it is not used with a view to profit.
    (b) Property that is owned by
        (1) churches or
        (2) religious institutions or
        (3) religious denominations
and that is used in conjunction therewith as housing facilities provided for ministers (including bishops, district superintendents and similar church officials whose ministerial duties are not limited to a single congregation), their spouses, children and domestic workers, performing the duties of their vocation as ministers at such churches or religious institutions or for such religious denominations, including the convents and monasteries where persons engaged in religious activities reside also qualifies for exemption.
    A parsonage, convent or monastery or other housing facility shall be considered under this Section to be exclusively used for religious purposes when the persons who perform religious related activities shall, as a condition of their employment or association, reside in the facility.
    (c) In Cook County, whenever any interest in a property exempt under this Section is transferred, notice of that transfer must be filed with the county recorder. The chief county assessment officer shall prepare and make available a form notice for this purpose. Whenever a notice is filed, the county recorder shall transmit a copy of that recorded notice to the chief county assessment officer within 14 days after receipt.
(Source: P.A. 92‑333, eff. 8‑10‑01.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑45)
    Sec. 15‑45. Cemetery purposes. All property used exclusively for cemetery purposes is exempt. Property used exclusively for cemetery purposes includes cemetery grounds and improvements such as offices, maintenance buildings, mausoleums, and other structures in which human or cremated remains are buried, interred, entombed, or inurned and real property that is used exclusively in the establishment, operation, administration, preservation, security, repair, or maintenance of the cemetery.
(Source: P.A. 92‑733, eff. 7‑25‑02.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑50)
    Sec. 15‑50. United States property. All property of the United States is exempt, except such property as the United States has permitted or may permit to be taxed.
(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1549, 1554, 2219, and 2224; P.A. 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑55)
    (Text of Section from P.A. 93‑19)
    Sec. 15‑55. State property.
    (a) All property belonging to the State of Illinois is exempt. However, the State agency holding title shall file the certificate of ownership and use required by Section 15‑10, together with a copy of any written lease or agreement, in effect on March 30 of the assessment year, concerning parcels of 1 acre or more, or an explanation of the terms of any oral agreement under which the property is leased, subleased or rented.
    The leased property shall be assessed to the lessee and the taxes thereon extended and billed to the lessee, and collected in the same manner as for property which is not exempt. The lessee shall be liable for the taxes and no lien shall attach to the property of the State.
    For the purposes of this Section, the word "leases" includes licenses, franchises, operating agreements and other arrangements under which private individuals, associations or corporations are granted the right to use property of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and includes all property of the Authority used by others without regard to the size of the leased parcel.
    (b) However, all property of every kind belonging to the State of Illinois, which is or may hereafter be leased to the Illinois Prairie Path Corporation, shall be exempt from all assessments, taxation or collection, despite the making of any such lease, if it is used for:
        (1) conservation, nature trail or any other
    
charitable, scientific, educational or recreational purposes with public benefit, including the preserving and aiding in the preservation of natural areas, objects, flora, fauna or biotic communities;
        (2) the establishment of footpaths, trails and other
    
protected areas;
        (3) the conservation of the proper use of natural
    
resources or the promotion of the study of plant and animal communities and of other phases of ecology, natural history and conservation;
        (4) the promotion of education in the fields of
    
nature, preservation and conservation; or
        (5) similar public recreational activities conducted
    
by the Illinois Prairie Path Corporation.
    No lien shall attach to the property of the State. No tax liability shall become the obligation of or be enforceable against Illinois Prairie Path Corporation.
    (c) If the State sells the James R. Thompson Center or the Elgin Mental Health Center and surrounding land located at 750 S. State Street, Elgin, Illinois, as provided in subdivision (a)(2) of Section 7.4 of the State Property Control Act, to another entity whose property is not exempt and immediately thereafter enters into a leaseback or other agreement that directly or indirectly gives the State a right to use, control, and possess the property, that portion of the property leased and occupied exclusively by the State shall remain exempt under this Section. For the property to remain exempt under this subsection (c), the State must retain an option to purchase the property at a future date or, within the limitations period for reverters, the property must revert back to the State.
    If the property has been conveyed as described in this subsection (c), the property is no longer exempt pursuant to this Section as of the date when:
        (1) the right of the State to use, control, and
    
possess the property has been terminated; or
        (2) the State no longer has an option to purchase or
    
otherwise acquire the property and there is no provision for a reverter of the property to the State within the limitations period for reverters.
    Pursuant to Sections 15‑15 and 15‑20 of this Code, the State shall notify the chief county assessment officer of any transaction under this subsection (c). The chief county assessment officer shall determine initial and continuing compliance with the requirements of this Section for tax exemption. Failure to notify the chief county assessment officer of a transaction under this subsection (c) or to otherwise comply with the requirements of Sections 15‑15 and 15‑20 of this Code shall, in the discretion of the chief county assessment officer, constitute cause to terminate the exemption, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code.
    (c‑1) If the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority sells the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority headquarters building and surrounding land, located at 2700 Ogden Avenue, Downers Grove, Illinois as provided in subdivision (a)(2) of Section 7.5 of the State Property Control Act, to another entity whose property is not exempt and immediately thereafter enters into a leaseback or other agreement that directly or indirectly gives the State or the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority a right to use, control, and possess the property, that portion of the property leased and occupied exclusively by the State or the Authority shall remain exempt under this Section. For the property to remain exempt under this subsection (c), the Authority must retain an option to purchase the property at a future date or, within the limitations period for reverters, the property must revert back to the Authority.
    If the property has been conveyed as described in this subsection (c), the property is no longer exempt pursuant to this Section as of the date when:
        (1) the right of the State or the Authority to use,
    
control, and possess the property has been terminated; or
        (2) the Authority no longer has an option to
    
purchase or otherwise acquire the property and there is no provision for a reverter of the property to the Authority within the limitations period for reverters.
    Pursuant to Sections 15‑15 and 15‑20 of this Code, the Authority shall notify the chief county assessment officer of any transaction under this subsection (c). The chief county assessment officer shall determine initial and continuing compliance with the requirements of this Section for tax exemption. Failure to notify the chief county assessment officer of a transaction under this subsection (c) or to otherwise comply with the requirements of Sections 15‑15 and 15‑20 of this Code shall, in the discretion of the chief county assessment officer, constitute cause to terminate the exemption, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code.
    (d) Public Act 81‑1026 applies to all leases or agreements entered into or renewed on or after September 24, 1979.
(Source: P.A. 93‑19, eff. 6‑20‑03.)
 
    (Text of Section from P.A. 93‑658)
    Sec. 15‑55. State property. All property belonging to the State of Illinois is exempt. However, the State agency holding title shall file the certificate of ownership and use required by Section 15‑10, together with a copy of any written lease or agreement, in effect on March 30 of the assessment year, concerning parcels of 1 acre or more, or an explanation of the terms of any oral agreement under which the property is leased, subleased or rented.
    The leased property shall be assessed to the lessee and the taxes thereon extended and billed to the lessee, and collected in the same manner as for property which is not exempt. The lessee shall be liable for the taxes and no lien shall attach to the property of the State.
    For the purposes of this Section, the word "leases" includes licenses, franchises, operating agreements and other arrangements under which private individuals, associations or corporations are granted the right to use property of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and includes all property of the Authority used by others without regard to the size of the leased parcel.
    However, all property of every kind belonging to the State of Illinois, which is or may hereafter be leased to the Illinois Prairie Path Corporation, shall be exempt from all assessments, taxation or collection, despite the making of any such lease, if it is used for:
        (a) conservation, nature trail or any other
    
charitable, scientific, educational or recreational purposes with public benefit, including the preserving and aiding in the preservation of natural areas, objects, flora, fauna or biotic communities;
        (b) the establishment of footpaths, trails and other
    
protected areas;
        (c) the conservation of the proper use of natural
    
resources or the promotion of the study of plant and animal communities and of other phases of ecology, natural history and conservation;
        (d) the promotion of education in the fields of
    
nature, preservation and conservation; or
        (e) similar public recreational activities conducted
    
by the Illinois Prairie Path Corporation.
    No lien shall attach to the property of the State. No tax liability shall become the obligation of or be enforceable against Illinois Prairie Path Corporation.
    However, the fair market rent of each parcel of real property in Will County owned by the State of Illinois for the purpose of developing an airport by the Department of Transportation shall include the assessed value of leasehold tax. The lessee of each parcel of real property in Will County owned by the State of Illinois for the purpose of developing an airport by the Department of Transportation shall not be liable for the taxes thereon. In order for the State to compensate taxing districts for the leasehold tax under this paragraph the Will County Supervisor of Assessments shall certify, in writing, to the Department of Transportation, the amount of leasehold taxes extended for the 2002 property tax year for each such exempt parcel. The Department of Transportation shall pay to the Will County Treasurer, from the Tax Recovery Fund, on or before July 1 of each year, the amount of leasehold taxes for each such exempt parcel as certified by the Will County Supervisor of Assessments. The tax compensation shall terminate on December 31, 2010. It is the duty of the Department of Transportation to file with the Office of the Will County Supervisor of Assessments an affidavit stating the termination date for rental of each such parcel due to airport construction. The affidavit shall include the property identification number for each such parcel. In no instance shall tax compensation for property owned by the State be deemed delinquent or bear interest. In no instance shall a lien attach to the property of the State. In no instance shall the State be required to pay leasehold tax compensation in excess of the Tax Recovery Fund's balance.
    Public Act 81‑1026 applies to all leases or agreements entered into or renewed on or after September 24, 1979.
(Source: P.A. 93‑658, eff. 1‑22‑04.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑60)
    Sec. 15‑60. Taxing district property. All property belonging to any county or municipality used exclusively for the maintenance of the poor is exempt, as is all property owned by a taxing district that is being held for future expansion or development, except if leased by the taxing district to lessees for use for other than public purposes.
    Also exempt are:
        (a) all swamp or overflowed lands belonging to any
    
county;
        (b) all public buildings belonging to any county,
    
township, or municipality, with the ground on which the buildings are erected;
        (c) all property owned by any municipality located
    
within its incorporated limits. Any such property leased by a municipality shall remain exempt, and the leasehold interest of the lessee shall be assessed under Section 9‑195 of this Act, (i) for a lease entered into on or after January 1, 1994, unless the lease expressly provides that this exemption shall not apply; (ii) for a lease entered into on or after the effective date of Public Act 87‑1280 and before January 1, 1994, unless the lease expressly provides that this exemption shall not apply or unless evidence other than the lease itself substantiates the intent of the parties to the lease that this exemption shall not apply; and (iii) for a lease entered into before the effective date of Public Act 87‑1280, if the terms of the lease do not bind the lessee to pay the taxes on the leased property or if, notwithstanding the terms of the lease, the municipality has filed or hereafter files a timely exemption petition or complaint with respect to property consisting of or including the leased property for an assessment year which includes part or all of the first 12 months of the lease period. The foregoing clause (iii) added by Public Act 87‑1280 shall not operate to exempt property for any assessment year as to which no timely exemption petition or complaint has been filed by the municipality or as to which an administrative or court decision denying exemption has become final and nonappealable. For each assessment year or portion thereof that property is made exempt by operation of the foregoing clause (iii), whether such year or portion is before or after the effective date of Public Act 87‑1280, the leasehold interest of the lessee shall, if necessary, be considered omitted property for purposes of this Act;
        (c‑5) Notwithstanding clause (i) of subsection (c),
    
all property owned by a municipality with a population of over 500,000 that is used for toll road or toll bridge purposes and that is leased for those purposes to another entity whose property is not exempt shall remain exempt, and any leasehold interest in the property shall not be subject to taxation under Section 9‑195 of this Act;
        (d) all property owned by any municipality located
    
outside its incorporated limits but within the same county when used as a tuberculosis sanitarium, farm colony in connection with a house of correction, or nursery, garden, or farm, or for the growing of shrubs, trees, flowers, vegetables, and plants for use in beautifying, maintaining, and operating playgrounds, parks, parkways, public grounds, buildings, and institutions owned or controlled by the municipality; and
        (e) all property owned by a township and operated as
    
senior citizen housing under Sections 35‑50 through 35‑50.6 of the Township Code.
    All property owned by any municipality outside of its corporate limits is exempt if used exclusively for municipal or public purposes.
    For purposes of this Section, "municipality" means a municipality, as defined in Section 1‑1‑2 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
(Source: P.A. 92‑844, eff. 8‑23‑02; 92‑846, eff. 8‑23‑02.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑65)
    Sec. 15‑65. Charitable purposes. All property of the following is exempt when actually and exclusively used for charitable or beneficent purposes, and not leased or otherwise used with a view to profit:
        (a) Institutions of public charity.
        (b) Beneficent and charitable organizations
    
incorporated in any state of the United States, including organizations whose owner, and no other person, uses the property exclusively for the distribution, sale, or resale of donated goods and related activities and uses all the income from those activities to support the charitable, religious or beneficent activities of the owner, whether or not such activities occur on the property.
        (c) Old people's homes, facilities for persons with
    
a developmental disability, and not‑for‑profit organizations providing services or facilities related to the goals of educational, social and physical development, if, upon making application for the exemption, the applicant provides affirmative evidence that the home or facility or organization is an exempt organization under paragraph (3) of Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or its successor, and either: (i) the bylaws of the home or facility or not‑for‑profit organization provide for a waiver or reduction, based on an individual's ability to pay, of any entrance fee, assignment of assets, or fee for services, or (ii) the home or facility is qualified, built or financed under Section 202 of the National Housing Act of 1959, as amended.
        An applicant that has been granted an exemption
    
under this subsection on the basis that its bylaws provide for a waiver or reduction, based on an individual's ability to pay, of any entrance fee, assignment of assets, or fee for services may be periodically reviewed by the Department to determine if the waiver or reduction was a past policy or is a current policy. The Department may revoke the exemption if it finds that the policy for waiver or reduction is no longer current.
        If a not‑for‑profit organization leases property
    
that is otherwise exempt under this subsection to an organization that conducts an activity on the leased premises that would entitle the lessee to an exemption from real estate taxes if the lessee were the owner of the property, then the leased property is exempt.
        (d) Not‑for‑profit health maintenance organizations
    
certified by the Director of the Illinois Department of Insurance under the Health Maintenance Organization Act, including any health maintenance organization that provides services to members at prepaid rates approved by the Illinois Department of Insurance if the membership of the organization is sufficiently large or of indefinite classes so that the community is benefited by its operation. No exemption shall apply to any hospital or health maintenance organization which has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction to have denied admission to any person because of race, color, creed, sex or national origin.
        (e) All free public libraries.
        (f) Historical societies.
    Property otherwise qualifying for an exemption under this Section shall not lose its exemption because the legal title is held (i) by an entity that is organized solely to hold that title and that qualifies under paragraph (2) of Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code or its successor, whether or not that entity receives rent from the charitable organization for the repair and maintenance of the property, (ii) by an entity that is organized as a partnership, in which the charitable organization, or an affiliate or subsidiary of the charitable organization, is a general partner, for the purposes of owning and operating a residential rental property that has received an allocation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits for 100% of the dwelling units under Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or (iii) for any assessment year including and subsequent to January 1, 1996 for which an application for exemption has been filed and a decision on which has not become final and nonappealable, by a limited liability company organized under the Limited Liability Company Act provided that (A) the limited liability company receives a notification from the Internal Revenue Service that it qualifies under paragraph (2) or (3) of Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code; (B) the limited liability company's sole members, as that term is used in Section 1‑5 of the Limited Liability Company Act, are the institutions of public charity that actually and exclusively use the property for charitable and beneficent purposes; and (C) the limited liability company does not lease the property or otherwise use it with a view to profit.
(Source: P.A. 91‑416, eff. 8‑6‑99; 92‑382, eff. 8‑16‑01.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑66)
    Sec. 15‑66. Library systems and public library districts. All property used exclusively for public purposes belonging to a library system established under the Illinois Library System Act or belonging to a public library district established under the Public Library District Act of 1991 is exempt.
(Source: P.A. 91‑897, eff. 7‑6‑00.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑70)
    Sec. 15‑70. Fire protection purposes. All property used exclusively for fire protection purposes and belonging to any city, village, or incorporated town is exempt.
    All property of a corporation or an association which maintains a fire patrol and salvage corps for the public benefit is exempt if the property is:
        (a) used exclusively for providing suitable rooms,
    
housing and storage facilities for fire and rescue equipment, and
        (b) necessary for the accommodation of a fire patrol
    
and salvage corps, or otherwise used exclusively for the purpose of the fire patrol and salvage corps, and
        (c) used to provide a service that is rendered
    
indiscriminately and without charge to the public, except reasonable charges for the use of fire covers after the lapse of 10 days following the occurrence of loss or damage.
    If a portion of the property of the corporation or association is used exclusively for fire protection purposes, the property shall be exempt only to the extent of the value of that portion, and the remaining portion shall be subject to taxation.
(Source: P.A. 83‑121; 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑75)
    Sec. 15‑75. Municipal corporations. All market houses, public squares and other public grounds owned by a municipal corporation and used exclusively for public purposes are exempt.
(Source: Laws 1963, p. 1725; P.A. 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑80)
    Sec. 15‑80. Installment purchase of property by a governmental body. All property that is being purchased by a governmental body under an installment contract pursuant to statutory authority and used exclusively for the public purposes of the governmental body is exempt, except such property as the governmental body has permitted or may permit to be taxed.
(Source: P.A. 83‑1371; 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑85)
    Sec. 15‑85. Agricultural or horticultural societies. All property used exclusively by societies for agricultural or horticultural purposes, and not used with a view to profit, is exempt.
(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1549, 1554, 2219, and 2224; P.A. 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑90)
    Sec. 15‑90. Military schools and academies. All property of military schools and academies is exempt, including buildings, equipment and lands, not exceeding 10 acres, if used exclusively for school purposes and wherein military science and instruction are part of the course of study and are regularly taught, and where there is detailed by the Department of the Army at Washington, D. C., an officer from the United States Army, as Professor of Military Science and Tactics, and the graduates of which are eligible to appointment as Brevet Second Lieutenants in the Illinois National Guard, or are eligible to appointment as Second Lieutenants in the Officers' Reserve Corps of the United States Army.
(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1549, 1554, 2219, and 2224; P.A. 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑95)
    Sec. 15‑95. Housing authorities. All property of housing authorities created under the Housing Authorities Act is exempt, if the property and improvements are used for low rent housing and related uses. However, property or portions thereof intended or used for stores or other commercial purposes are not exempt. Nothing herein shall exempt property of housing authorities or any part thereof from special assessments or special taxation for local improvements. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed as limiting the power of any political subdivision of this State to sell or furnish a housing authority with water, electricity, gas, or other services and facilities under the same basis that those services and facilities are rendered to others under similar circumstances.
(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1549, 1554, 2219, and 2224; P.A. 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑100)
    Sec. 15‑100. Public transportation systems.
    (a) All property belonging to any municipal corporation created for the sole purpose of owning and operating a transportation system for public service is exempt.
    (b) Property owned by (i) a municipal corporation of 500,000 or more inhabitants, used for public transportation purposes, and operated by the Chicago Transit Authority; (ii) the Regional Transportation Authority; (iii) any service board or division of the Regional Transportation Authority; (iv) the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation; or (v) the Chicago Transit Authority shall be exempt. For purposes of this Section alone, the Regional Transportation Authority, any service board or division of the Regional Transportation Authority, the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad Corporation, the Chicago Transit Authority, or a municipal corporation, as defined in item (i), shall be deemed an "eligible transportation authority". The exemption provided in this subsection shall not be affected by any transaction in which, for the purpose of obtaining financing, the eligible transportation authority, directly or indirectly, leases or otherwise transfers such property to another whose property is not exempt and immediately thereafter enters into a leaseback or other agreement that directly or indirectly gives the eligible transportation authority a right to use, control, and possess the property. In the case of a conveyance of such property, the eligible transportation authority must retain an option to purchase the property at a future date or, within the limitations period for reverters, the property must revert back to the eligible transportation authority.
    (c) If such property has been conveyed as described in subsection (b), the property will no longer be exempt pursuant to this Section as of the date when:
        (1) the right of the eligible transportation
    
authority to use, control, and possess the property has been terminated;
        (2) the eligible transportation authority no longer
    
has an option to purchase or otherwise acquire the property; and
        (3) there is no provision for a reverter of the
    
property to the eligible transportation authority within the limitations period for reverters.
    (d) Pursuant to Sections 15‑15 and 15‑20 of this Code, the eligible transportation authority shall notify the chief county assessment officer of any transaction under subsection (b) of this Section. The chief county assessment officer shall determine initial and continuing compliance with the requirements of this Section for tax exemption. Failure to notify the chief county assessment officer of a transaction under this Section or to otherwise comply with the requirements of Sections 15‑15 and 15‑20 of this Code shall, in the discretion of the chief county assessment officer, constitute cause to terminate the exemption, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code.
    (e) No provision of this Section shall be construed to affect the obligation of the eligible transportation authority to which an exemption certificate has been issued under this Section from its obligation under Section 15‑10 of this Code to file an annual certificate of status or to notify the chief county assessment officer of transfers of interest or other changes in the status of the property as required by this Code.
    (f) The changes made by this amendatory Act of 1997 are declarative of existing law and shall not be construed as a new enactment.
(Source: P.A. 90‑562, eff. 12‑16‑97.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑103)
    Sec. 15‑103. Bi‑State Development Agency.
    (a) Property owned by the Bi‑State Development Agency of the Missouri‑Illinois Metropolitan District is exempt.
    (b) The exemption under this Section is not affected by any transaction in which, for the purpose of obtaining financing, the Agency, directly or indirectly, leases or otherwise transfers the property to another for which or whom property is not exempt and immediately after the lease or transfer enters into a leaseback or other agreement that directly or indirectly gives the Agency a right to use, control, and possess the property. In the case of a conveyance of the property, the Agency must retain an option to purchase the property at a future date or, within the limitations period for reverters, the property must revert back to the Agency.
    (c) If the property has been conveyed as described in subsection (b), the property is no longer exempt under this Section as of the date when:
        (1) the right of the Agency to use, control, and
    
possess the property is terminated;
        (2) the Agency no longer has an option to purchase
    
or otherwise acquire the property; and
        (3) there is no provision for a reverter of the
    
property to the Agency within the limitations period for reverters.
    (d) Pursuant to Sections 15‑15 and 15‑20 of this Code, the Agency shall notify the chief county assessment officer of any transaction under subsection (b). The chief county assessment officer shall determine initial and continuing compliance with the requirements of this Section for tax exemption. Failure to notify the chief county assessment officer of a transaction under this Section or to otherwise comply with the requirements of Sections 15‑15 and 15‑20 of this Code shall, in the discretion of the chief county assessment officer, constitute cause to terminate the exemption, notwithstanding any other provision of this Code.
    (e) No provision of this Section shall be construed to affect the obligation of the Agency under Section 15‑10 of this Code to file an annual certificate of status or to notify the chief county assessment officer of transfers of interest or other changes in the status of the property as required by this Code.
(Source: P.A. 91‑513, eff. 8‑13‑99.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑105)
    Sec. 15‑105. Park and conservation districts.
    (a) All property within a park or conservation district with 2,000,000 or more inhabitants and owned by that district is exempt, as is all property located outside the district but owned by it and used as a nursery, garden, or farm for the growing of shrubs, trees, flowers and plants for use in beautifying, maintaining and operating playgrounds, parks, parkways, public grounds, and buildings owned or controlled by the district.
    (b) All property belonging to any park or conservation district with less than 2,000,000 inhabitants is exempt. All property leased to such park district for $1 or less per year and used exclusively as open space for recreational purposes not exceeding 50 acres in the aggregate for each district is exempt.
    (c) All property belonging to a park district organized pursuant to the Metro‑East Park and Recreation District Act is exempt.
(Source: P.A. 91‑103, eff. 7‑13‑99; 91‑490, eff. 8‑13‑99; 92‑16, eff. 6‑28‑01.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑110)
    Sec. 15‑110. Municipal building corporations. All property of any municipal corporation created for the purpose of providing buildings, or space therein, and other facilities to or for the use of municipal corporations and other governmental agencies, including, but not limited to, any Public Building Commission created under the Public Building Commission Act, is exempt.
(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1549, 1554, 2219, and 2224; P.A. 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑115)
    Sec. 15‑115. Municipal power agencies. Property that is part of a project owned by a municipal power agency organized under Division 119.1 of Article 11 of the Illinois Municipal Code is exempt.
(Source: P.A. 83‑997; 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑120)
    Sec. 15‑120. Municipal natural gas agencies. Property that is part of a project owned by a municipal natural gas agency organized under Division 119.2 of Article 11 of the Illinois Municipal Code is exempt.
(Source: P.A. 84‑1221; 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑125)
    Sec. 15‑125. Parking areas.
    (a) Parking areas, not leased or used for profit other than those lease or rental agreements subject to subsection (b) of this Section, when used as a part of a use for which an exemption is provided by this Code and owned by any school district, non‑profit hospital, school, or religious or charitable institution which meets the qualifications for exemption, are exempt.
    (b) Parking areas owned by any religious institution that meets the qualifications for exemption, when leased or rented to a mass transportation entity for the limited free parking of the commuters of the mass transportation entity, are exempt.
(Source: P.A. 93‑1038, eff. 6‑1‑05.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑130)
    Sec. 15‑130. Municipal corporations providing railroad terminals. All property of any municipal corporation created for provision of railroad terminals, railroad terminal facilities and the approaches to them, is exempt including, but not limited to, any Railroad Terminal Authority created under the Railroad Terminal Authority Act.
(Source: Laws 1959, p. 1549, 1554, 2219, and 2224; P.A. 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑135)
    Sec. 15‑135. School districts and community college districts. All property of public school districts or public community college districts not leased by those districts or otherwise used with a view to profit is exempt.
(Source: P.A. 83‑1312; 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑140)
    Sec. 15‑140. Public water districts and water and drainage works. All property belonging to any public water district organized or existing under the Public Water District Act is exempt, as is all property belonging exclusively to any incorporated town, village or city, and used exclusively for conveying water to the incorporated town, village or city, and all property of drainage districts, when used exclusively for pumping water from the ditches and drains of the district for drainage purposes.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 4030; P.A. 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑143)
    Sec. 15‑143. Metropolitan Water Reclamation Districts in counties with a population greater than 3,000,000.    All property that is located in a county with a population greater than 3,000,000 and that is owned by a metropolitan water reclamation district in a county with a population greater than 3,000,000 is exempt. Any such property leased to an entity that is not exempt shall remain exempt, and the leasehold interest of the lessee shall be assessed under Section 9‑195 of this Code. The changes made by this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly are declaratory of existing law.
(Source: P.A. 93‑767, eff. 7‑20‑04.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑145)
    Sec. 15‑145. Property of veterans' organizations. All property of veterans' organizations used exclusively for charitable, patriotic and civic purposes is exempt.
(Source: Laws 1967, p. 4030; P.A. 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑150)
    Sec. 15‑150. Forest preserve districts. All property belonging to any forest preserve district organized or existing under the laws of this State and any property as described in Section 18.6d of the Downstate Forest Preserve District Act is exempt.
(Source: P.A. 87‑1191; 88‑455; incorporates 88‑503; 88‑670, eff. 12‑2‑94.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑151)
    Sec. 15‑151. Joliet Arsenal Development Authority. All property owned by the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority is exempt. Any property owned by the Joliet Arsenal Development Authority and leased to an entity that is not exempt shall remain exempt. The leasehold interest of the lessee shall be assessed under Section 9‑195 of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 93‑421, eff. 8‑5‑03.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑155)
    Sec. 15‑155. Port districts. All property belonging to the Chicago Regional Port District or any other port district created by the legislature of this State is exempt. However, a tax may be levied upon a lessee of such property based on the value of a leasehold estate separate and apart from the fee, or upon improvements constructed and owned by others than the Port District.
(Source: Laws 1961, p. 3370; P.A. 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑160)
    Sec. 15‑160. Airport authorities and airports. All property belonging to any Airport Authority and used for Airport Authority purposes or leased to another entity, which property use would be exempt from taxation under this Code if it were owned by the lessee entity, is exempt. However, the provision added by Public Act 86‑219 shall not apply to any property of any Airport Authority located in a county with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants. Property acquired for airport purposes by an Authority shall remain subject to any tax previously levied to pay bonds issued and outstanding on the date of acquisition.
    Also exempt is any airport or restricted land area or other air navigation facility owned, controlled, operated or leased by another state or a political subdivision of another state under the provisions of Sections 25.01 to 25.04, both inclusive, of the "Illinois Aeronautics Act". However if at the time of the acquisition of property to be used for public airport purposes the city, village, township or school district, in which said property is located is indebted for any amount for payment of which it provided for the collection of taxes, the property acquired for public airport purposes shall be subject to taxation for the payment of said indebtedness in the same proportion as said property bore to the taxable property in said city, village, township or school district immediately before the acquisition thereof, according to the last assessment for taxation.
(Source: Laws 1963, p. 1725; P.A. 86‑219; 88‑455.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑165)
    Sec. 15‑165. Disabled veterans. Property up to an assessed value of $70,000, owned and used exclusively by a disabled veteran, or the spouse or unmarried surviving spouse of the veteran, as a home, is exempt. As used in this Section, a disabled veteran means a person who has served in the Armed Forces of the United States and whose disability is of such a nature that the Federal Government has authorized payment for purchase or construction of Specially Adapted Housing as set forth in the United States Code, Title 38, Chapter 21, Section 2101.
    The exemption applies to housing where Federal funds have been used to purchase or construct special adaptations to suit the veteran's disability.
    The exemption also applies to housing that is specially adapted to suit the veteran's disability, and purchased entirely or in part by the proceeds of a sale, casualty loss reimbursement, or other transfer of a home for which the Federal Government had previously authorized payment for purchase or construction as Specially Adapted Housing.
    However, the entire proceeds of the sale, casualty loss reimbursement, or other transfer of that housing shall be applied to the acquisition of subsequent specially adapted housing to the extent that the proceeds equal the purchase price of the subsequently acquired housing.
    For purposes of this Section, "unmarried surviving spouse" means the surviving spouse of the veteran at any time after the death of the veteran during which such surviving spouse is not married.
    This exemption must be reestablished on an annual basis by certification from the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to the Department, which shall forward a copy of the certification to local assessing officials.
(Source: P.A. 94‑310, eff. 7‑25‑05.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑170)
    Sec. 15‑170. Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption. An annual homestead exemption limited, except as described here with relation to cooperatives or life care facilities, to a maximum reduction set forth below from the property's value, as equalized or assessed by the Department, is granted for property that is occupied as a residence by a person 65 years of age or older who is liable for paying real estate taxes on the property and is an owner of record of the property or has a legal or equitable interest therein as evidenced by a written instrument, except for a leasehold interest, other than a leasehold interest of land on which a single family residence is located, which is occupied as a residence by a person 65 years or older who has an ownership interest therein, legal, equitable or as a lessee, and on which he or she is liable for the payment of property taxes. Before taxable year 2004, the maximum reduction shall be $2,500 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $2,000 in all other counties. For taxable years 2004 through 2005, the maximum reduction shall be $3,000 in all counties. For taxable years 2006 and thereafter, the maximum reduction shall be $3,500 in all counties.
    For land improved with an apartment building owned and operated as a cooperative, the maximum reduction from the value of the property, as equalized by the Department, shall be multiplied by the number of apartments or units occupied by a person 65 years of age or older who is liable, by contract with the owner or owners of record, for paying property taxes on the property and is an owner of record of a legal or equitable interest in the cooperative apartment building, other than a leasehold interest. For land improved with a life care facility, the maximum reduction from the value of the property, as equalized by the Department, shall be multiplied by the number of apartments or units occupied by persons 65 years of age or older, irrespective of any legal, equitable, or leasehold interest in the facility, who are liable, under a contract with the owner or owners of record of the facility, for paying property taxes on the property. In a cooperative or a life care facility where a homestead exemption has been granted, the cooperative association or the management firm of the cooperative or facility shall credit the savings resulting from that exemption only to the apportioned tax liability of the owner or resident who qualified for the exemption. Any person who willfully refuses to so credit the savings shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. Under this Section and Sections 15‑175 and 15‑176, "life care facility" means a facility as defined in Section 2 of the Life Care Facilities Act, with which the applicant for the homestead exemption has a life care contract as defined in that Act.
    When a homestead exemption has been granted under this Section and the person qualifying subsequently becomes a resident of a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, the exemption shall continue so long as the residence continues to be occupied by the qualifying person's spouse if the spouse is 65 years of age or older, or if the residence remains unoccupied but is still owned by the person qualified for the homestead exemption.
    A person who will be 65 years of age during the current assessment year shall be eligible to apply for the homestead exemption during that assessment year. Application shall be made during the application period in effect for the county of his residence.
    Beginning with assessment year 2003, for taxes payable in 2004, property that is first occupied as a residence after January 1 of any assessment year by a person who is eligible for the senior citizens homestead exemption under this Section must be granted a pro‑rata exemption for the assessment year. The amount of the pro‑rata exemption is the exemption allowed in the county under this Section divided by 365 and multiplied by the number of days during the assessment year the property is occupied as a residence by a person eligible for the exemption under this Section. The chief county assessment officer must adopt reasonable procedures to establish eligibility for this pro‑rata exemption.
    The assessor or chief county assessment officer may determine the eligibility of a life care facility to receive the benefits provided by this Section, by affidavit, application, visual inspection, questionnaire or other reasonable methods in order to insure that the tax savings resulting from the exemption are credited by the management firm to the apportioned tax liability of each qualifying resident. The assessor may request reasonable proof that the management firm has so credited the exemption.
    The chief county assessment officer of each county with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants shall provide to each person allowed a homestead exemption under this Section a form to designate any other person to receive a duplicate of any notice of delinquency in the payment of taxes assessed and levied under this Code on the property of the person receiving the exemption. The duplicate notice shall be in addition to the notice required to be provided to the person receiving the exemption, and shall be given in the manner required by this Code. The person filing the request for the duplicate notice shall pay a fee of $5 to cover administrative costs to the supervisor of assessments, who shall then file the executed designation with the county collector. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code to the contrary, the filing of such an executed designation requires the county collector to provide duplicate notices as indicated by the designation. A designation may be rescinded by the person who executed such designation at any time, in the manner and form required by the chief county assessment officer.
    The assessor or chief county assessment officer may determine the eligibility of residential property to receive the homestead exemption provided by this Section by application, visual inspection, questionnaire or other reasonable methods. The determination shall be made in accordance with guidelines established by the Department.
    In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, the county board may by resolution provide that if a person has been granted a homestead exemption under this Section, the person qualifying need not reapply for the exemption.
    In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if the assessor or chief county assessment officer requires annual application for verification of eligibility for an exemption once granted under this Section, the application shall be mailed to the taxpayer.
    The assessor or chief county assessment officer shall notify each person who qualifies for an exemption under this Section that the person may also qualify for deferral of real estate taxes under the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act. The notice shall set forth the qualifications needed for deferral of real estate taxes, the address and telephone number of county collector, and a statement that applications for deferral of real estate taxes may be obtained from the county collector.
    Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of the State Mandates Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this Section.
(Source: P.A. 93‑511, eff. 8‑11‑03; 93‑715, eff. 7‑12‑04; 94‑794, eff. 5‑22‑06.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑172)
    Sec. 15‑172. Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption.
    (a) This Section may be cited as the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption.
    (b) As used in this Section:
    "Applicant" means an individual who has filed an application under this Section.
    "Base amount" means the base year equalized assessed value of the residence plus the first year's equalized assessed value of any added improvements which increased the assessed value of the residence after the base year.
    "Base year" means the taxable year prior to the taxable year for which the applicant first qualifies and applies for the exemption provided that in the prior taxable year the property was improved with a permanent structure that was occupied as a residence by the applicant who was liable for paying real property taxes on the property and who was either (i) an owner of record of the property or had legal or equitable interest in the property as evidenced by a written instrument or (ii) had a legal or equitable interest as a lessee in the parcel of property that was single family residence. If in any subsequent taxable year for which the applicant applies and qualifies for the exemption the equalized assessed value of the residence is less than the equalized assessed value in the existing base year (provided that such equalized assessed value is not based on an assessed value that results from a temporary irregularity in the property that reduces the assessed value for one or more taxable years), then that subsequent taxable year shall become the base year until a new base year is established under the terms of this paragraph. For taxable year 1999 only, the Chief County Assessment Officer shall review (i) all taxable years for which the applicant applied and qualified for the exemption and (ii) the existing base year. The assessment officer shall select as the new base year the year with the lowest equalized assessed value. An equalized assessed value that is based on an assessed value that results from a temporary irregularity in the property that reduces the assessed value for one or more taxable years shall not be considered the lowest equalized assessed value. The selected year shall be the base year for taxable year 1999 and thereafter until a new base year is established under the terms of this paragraph.
    "Chief County Assessment Officer" means the County Assessor or Supervisor of Assessments of the county in which the property is located.
    "Equalized assessed value" means the assessed value as equalized by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
    "Household" means the applicant, the spouse of the applicant, and all persons using the residence of the applicant as their principal place of residence.
    "Household income" means the combined income of the members of a household for the calendar year preceding the taxable year.
    "Income" has the same meaning as provided in Section 3.07 of the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, except that, beginning in assessment year 2001, "income" does not include veteran's benefits.
    "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any successor law or laws relating to federal income taxes in effect for the year preceding the taxable year.
    "Life care facility that qualifies as a cooperative" means a facility as defined in Section 2 of the Life Care Facilities Act.
    "Residence" means the principal dwelling place and appurtenant structures used for residential purposes in this State occupied on January 1 of the taxable year by a household and so much of the surrounding land, constituting the parcel upon which the dwelling place is situated, as is used for residential purposes. If the Chief County Assessment Officer has established a specific legal description for a portion of property constituting the residence, then that portion of property shall be deemed the residence for the purposes of this Section.
    "Taxable year" means the calendar year during which ad valorem property taxes payable in the next succeeding year are levied.
    (c) Beginning in taxable year 1994, a senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption is granted for real property that is improved with a permanent structure that is occupied as a residence by an applicant who (i) is 65 years of age or older during the taxable year, (ii) has a household income of $35,000 or less prior to taxable year 1999, $40,000 or less in taxable years 1999 through 2003, $45,000 or less in taxable year 2004 and 2005, and $50,000 or less in taxable year 2006 and thereafter, (iii) is liable for paying real property taxes on the property, and (iv) is an owner of record of the property or has a legal or equitable interest in the property as evidenced by a written instrument. This homestead exemption shall also apply to a leasehold interest in a parcel of property improved with a permanent structure that is a single family residence that is occupied as a residence by a person who (i) is 65 years of age or older during the taxable year, (ii) has a household income of $35,000 or less prior to taxable year 1999, $40,000 or less in taxable years 1999 through 2003, $45,000 or less in taxable year 2004 and 2005, and $50,000 or less in taxable year 2006 and thereafter, (iii) has a legal or equitable ownership interest in the property as lessee, and (iv) is liable for the payment of real property taxes on that property.
    Through taxable year 2005, the amount of this exemption shall be the equalized assessed value of the residence in the taxable year for which application is made minus the base amount. For taxable year 2006 and thereafter, the amount of the exemption is as follows:
        (1) For an applicant who has a household income of
    
$45,000 or less, the amount of the exemption is the equalized assessed value of the residence in the taxable year for which application is made minus the base amount.
        (2) For an applicant who has a household income
    
exceeding $45,000 but not exceeding $46,250, the amount of the exemption is (i) the equalized assessed value of the residence in the taxable year for which application is made minus the base amount (ii) multiplied by 0.8.
        (3) For an applicant who has a household income
    
exceeding $46,250 but not exceeding $47,500, the amount of the exemption is (i) the equalized assessed value of the residence in the taxable year for which application is made minus the base amount (ii) multiplied by 0.6.
        (4) For an applicant who has a household income
    
exceeding $47,500 but not exceeding $48,750, the amount of the exemption is (i) the equalized assessed value of the residence in the taxable year for which application is made minus the base amount (ii) multiplied by 0.4.
        (5) For an applicant who has a household income
    
exceeding $48,750 but not exceeding $50,000, the amount of the exemption is (i) the equalized assessed value of the residence in the taxable year for which application is made minus the base amount (ii) multiplied by 0.2.
    When the applicant is a surviving spouse of an applicant for a prior year for the same residence for which an exemption under this Section has been granted, the base year and base amount for that residence are the same as for the applicant for the prior year.
    Each year at the time the assessment books are certified to the County Clerk, the Board of Review or Board of Appeals shall give to the County Clerk a list of the assessed values of improvements on each parcel qualifying for this exemption that were added after the base year for this parcel and that increased the assessed value of the property.
    In the case of land improved with an apartment building owned and operated as a cooperative or a building that is a life care facility that qualifies as a cooperative, the maximum reduction from the equalized assessed value of the property is limited to the sum of the reductions calculated for each unit occupied as a residence by a person or persons (i) 65 years of age or older, (ii) with a household income of $35,000 or less prior to taxable year 1999, $40,000 or less in taxable years 1999 through 2003, $45,000 or less in taxable year 2004 and 2005, and $50,000 or less in taxable year 2006 and thereafter, (iii) who is liable, by contract with the owner or owners of record, for paying real property taxes on the property, and (iv) who is an owner of record of a legal or equitable interest in the cooperative apartment building, other than a leasehold interest. In the instance of a cooperative where a homestead exemption has been granted under this Section, the cooperative association or its management firm shall credit the savings resulting from that exemption only to the apportioned tax liability of the owner who qualified for the exemption. Any person who willfully refuses to credit that savings to an owner who qualifies for the exemption is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
    When a homestead exemption has been granted under this Section and an applicant then becomes a resident of a facility licensed under the Nursing Home Care Act, the exemption shall be granted in subsequent years so long as the residence (i) continues to be occupied by the qualified applicant's spouse or (ii) if remaining unoccupied, is still owned by the qualified applicant for the homestead exemption.
    Beginning January 1, 1997, when an individual dies who would have qualified for an exemption under this Section, and the surviving spouse does not independently qualify for this exemption because of age, the exemption under this Section shall be granted to the surviving spouse for the taxable year preceding and the taxable year of the death, provided that, except for age, the surviving spouse meets all other qualifications for the granting of this exemption for those years.
    When married persons maintain separate residences, the exemption provided for in this Section may be claimed by only one of such persons and for only one residence.
    For taxable year 1994 only, in counties having less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, to receive the exemption, a person shall submit an application by February 15, 1995 to the Chief County Assessment Officer of the county in which the property is located. In counties having 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, for taxable year 1994 and all subsequent taxable years, to receive the exemption, a person may submit an application to the Chief County Assessment Officer of the county in which the property is located during such period as may be specified by the Chief County Assessment Officer. The Chief County Assessment Officer in counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants shall annually give notice of the application period by mail or by publication. In counties having less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, beginning with taxable year 1995 and thereafter, to receive the exemption, a person shall submit an application by July 1 of each taxable year to the Chief County Assessment Officer of the county in which the property is located. A county may, by ordinance, establish a date for submission of applications that is different than July 1. The applicant shall submit with the application an affidavit of the applicant's total household income, age, marital status (and if married the name and address of the applicant's spouse, if known), and principal dwelling place of members of the household on January 1 of the taxable year. The Department shall establish, by rule, a method for verifying the accuracy of affidavits filed by applicants under this Section. The applications shall be clearly marked as applications for the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption.
    Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, in counties having fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if an applicant fails to file the application required by this Section in a timely manner and this failure to file is due to a mental or physical condition sufficiently severe so as to render the applicant incapable of filing the application in a timely manner, the Chief County Assessment Officer may extend the filing deadline for a period of 30 days after the applicant regains the capability to file the application, but in no case may the filing deadline be extended beyond 3 months of the original filing deadline. In order to receive the extension provided in this paragraph, the applicant shall provide the Chief County Assessment Officer with a signed statement from the applicant's physician stating the nature and extent of the condition, that, in the physician's opinion, the condition was so severe that it rendered the applicant incapable of filing the application in a timely manner, and the date on which the applicant regained the capability to file the application.
    Beginning January 1, 1998, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, in counties having fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if an applicant fails to file the application required by this Section in a timely manner and this failure to file is due to a mental or physical condition sufficiently severe so as to render the applicant incapable of filing the application in a timely manner, the Chief County Assessment Officer may extend the filing deadline for a period of 3 months. In order to receive the extension provided in this paragraph, the applicant shall provide the Chief County Assessment Officer with a signed statement from the applicant's physician stating the nature and extent of the condition, and that, in the physician's opinion, the condition was so severe that it rendered the applicant incapable of filing the application in a timely manner.
    In counties having less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if an applicant was denied an exemption in taxable year 1994 and the denial occurred due to an error on the part of an assessment official, or his or her agent or employee, then beginning in taxable year 1997 the applicant's base year, for purposes of determining the amount of the exemption, shall be 1993 rather than 1994. In addition, in taxable year 1997, the applicant's exemption shall also include an amount equal to (i) the amount of any exemption denied to the applicant in taxable year 1995 as a result of using 1994, rather than 1993, as the base year, (ii) the amount of any exemption denied to the applicant in taxable year 1996 as a result of using 1994, rather than 1993, as the base year, and (iii) the amount of the exemption erroneously denied for taxable year 1994.
    For purposes of this Section, a person who will be 65 years of age during the current taxable year shall be eligible to apply for the homestead exemption during that taxable year. Application shall be made during the application period in effect for the county of his or her residence.
    The Chief County Assessment Officer may determine the eligibility of a life care facility that qualifies as a cooperative to receive the benefits provided by this Section by use of an affidavit, application, visual inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable method in order to insure that the tax savings resulting from the exemption are credited by the management firm to the apportioned tax liability of each qualifying resident. The Chief County Assessment Officer may request reasonable proof that the management firm has so credited that exemption.
    Except as provided in this Section, all information received by the chief county assessment officer or the Department from applications filed under this Section, or from any investigation conducted under the provisions of this Section, shall be confidential, except for official purposes or pursuant to official procedures for collection of any State or local tax or enforcement of any civil or criminal penalty or sanction imposed by this Act or by any statute or ordinance imposing a State or local tax. Any person who divulges any such information in any manner, except in accordance with a proper judicial order, is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
    Nothing contained in this Section shall prevent the Director or chief county assessment officer from publishing or making available reasonable statistics concerning the operation of the exemption contained in this Section in which the contents of claims are grouped into aggregates in such a way that information contained in any individual claim shall not be disclosed.
    (d) Each Chief County Assessment Officer shall annually publish a notice of availability of the exemption provided under this Section. The notice shall be published at least 60 days but no more than 75 days prior to the date on which the application must be submitted to the Chief County Assessment Officer of the county in which the property is located. The notice shall appear in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.
    Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of the State Mandates Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this Section.
(Source: P.A. 93‑715, eff. 7‑12‑04; 94‑794, eff. 5‑22‑06.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑175)
    Sec. 15‑175. General homestead exemption. Except as provided in Section 15‑176, homestead property is entitled to an annual homestead exemption limited, except as described here with relation to cooperatives, to a reduction in the equalized assessed value of homestead property equal to the increase in equalized assessed value for the current assessment year above the equalized assessed value of the property for 1977, up to the maximum reduction set forth below. If however, the 1977 equalized assessed value upon which taxes were paid is subsequently determined by local assessing officials, the Property Tax Appeal Board, or a court to have been excessive, the equalized assessed value which should have been placed on the property for 1977 shall be used to determine the amount of the exemption.
    Except as provided in Section 15‑176, the maximum reduction before taxable year 2004 shall be $4,500 in counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants and $3,500 in all other counties. Except as provided in Section 15‑176, for taxable years 2004 and thereafter, the maximum reduction shall be $5,000 in all counties. If a county has elected to subject itself to the provisions of Section 15‑176 as provided in subsection (k) of that Section, then, for the first taxable year only after the provisions of Section 15‑176 no longer apply, for owners (i) who have not been granted a senior citizens assessment freeze homestead exemption under Section 15‑172 for the taxable year and (ii) whose qualified property has an assessed valuation that has increased by more than 20% over the previous assessed valuation of the property, there shall be an additional exemption of $5,000 for owners with a household income of $30,000 or less. For purposes of this paragraph, "household income" has the meaning set forth in this Section 15‑175.
    In counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, if, based on the most recent assessment, the equalized assessed value of the homestead property for the current assessment year is greater than the equalized assessed value of the property for 1977, the owner of the property shall automatically receive the exemption granted under this Section in an amount equal to the increase over the 1977 assessment up to the maximum reduction set forth in this Section.
    If in any assessment year beginning with the 2000 assessment year, homestead property has a pro‑rata valuation under Section 9‑180 resulting in an increase in the assessed valuation, a reduction in equalized assessed valuation equal to the increase in equalized assessed value of the property for the year of the pro‑rata valuation above the equalized assessed value of the property for 1977 shall be applied to the property on a proportionate basis for the period the property qualified as homestead property during the assessment year. The maximum proportionate homestead exemption shall not exceed the maximum homestead exemption allowed in the county under this Section divided by 365 and multiplied by the number of days the property qualified as homestead property.
    "Homestead property" under this Section includes residential property that is occupied by its owner or owners as his or their principal dwelling place, or that is a leasehold interest on which a single family residence is situated, which is occupied as a residence by a person who has an ownership interest therein, legal or equitable or as a lessee, and on which the person is liable for the payment of property taxes. For land improved with an apartment building owned and operated as a cooperative or a building which is a life care facility as defined in Section 15‑170 and considered to be a cooperative under Section 15‑170, the maximum reduction from the equalized assessed value shall be limited to the increase in the value above the equalized assessed value of the property for 1977, up to the maximum reduction set forth above, multiplied by the number of apartments or units occupied by a person or persons who is liable, by contract with the owner or owners of record, for paying property taxes on the property and is an owner of record of a legal or equitable interest in the cooperative apartment building, other than a leasehold interest. For purposes of this Section, the term "life care facility" has the meaning stated in Section 15‑170.
    "Household", as used in this Section, means the owner, the spouse of the owner, and all persons using the residence of the owner as their principal place of residence.
    "Household income", as used in this Section, means the combined income of the members of a household for the calendar year preceding the taxable year.
    "Income", as used in this Section, has the same meaning as provided in Section 3.07 of the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act, except that "income" does not include veteran's benefits.
    In a cooperative where a homestead exemption has been granted, the cooperative association or its management firm shall credit the savings resulting from that exemption only to the apportioned tax liability of the owner who qualified for the exemption. Any person who willfully refuses to so credit the savings shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
    Where married persons maintain and reside in separate residences qualifying as homestead property, each residence shall receive 50% of the total reduction in equalized assessed valuation provided by this Section.
    In all counties, the assessor or chief county assessment officer may determine the eligibility of residential property to receive the homestead exemption and the amount of the exemption by application, visual inspection, questionnaire or other reasonable methods. The determination shall be made in accordance with guidelines established by the Department, provided that the taxpayer applying for an additional general exemption under this Section shall submit to the chief county assessment officer an application with an affidavit of the applicant's total household income, age, marital status (and, if married, the name and address of the applicant's spouse, if known), and principal dwelling place of members of the household on January 1 of the taxable year. The Department shall issue guidelines establishing a method for verifying the accuracy of the affidavits filed by applicants under this paragraph. The applications shall be clearly marked as applications for the Additional General Homestead Exemption.
    In counties with fewer than 3,000,000 inhabitants, in the event of a sale of homestead property the homestead exemption shall remain in effect for the remainder of the assessment year of the sale. The assessor or chief county assessment officer may require the new owner of the property to apply for the homestead exemption for the following assessment year.
    Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of the State Mandates Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this Section.
(Source: P.A. 93‑715, eff. 7‑12‑04.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑176)
    Sec. 15‑176. Alternative general homestead exemption.
    (a) For the assessment years as determined under subsection (j), in any county that has elected, by an ordinance in accordance with subsection (k), to be subject to the provisions of this Section in lieu of the provisions of Section 15‑175, homestead property is entitled to an annual homestead exemption equal to a reduction in the property's equalized assessed value calculated as provided in this Section.
    (b) As used in this Section:
        (1) "Assessor" means the supervisor of assessments or
    
the chief county assessment officer of each county.
        (2) "Adjusted homestead value" means the lesser of
    
the following values:
            (A) The property's base homestead value increased
        
by 7% for each tax year after the base year through and including the current tax year, or, if the property is sold or ownership is otherwise transferred, the property's base homestead value increased by 7% for each tax year after the year of the sale or transfer through and including the current tax year. The increase by 7% each year is an increase by 7% over the prior year.
            (B) The property's equalized assessed value for
        
the current tax year minus (i) $4,500 in Cook County or $3,500 in all other counties in tax year 2003 or (ii) $5,000 in all counties in tax year 2004 and thereafter.
        (3) "Base homestead value".
            (A) Except as provided in subdivision (b)(3)(B),
        
"base homestead value" means the equalized assessed value of the property for the base year prior to exemptions, minus (i) $4,500 in Cook County or $3,500 in all other counties in tax year 2003 or (ii) $5,000 in all counties in tax year 2004 and thereafter, provided that it was assessed for that year as residential property qualified for any of the homestead exemptions under Sections 15‑170 through 15‑175 of this Code, then in force, and further provided that the property's assessment was not based on a reduced assessed value resulting from a temporary irregularity in the property for that year. Except as provided in subdivision (b)(3)(B), if the property did not have a residential equalized assessed value for the base year, then "base homestead value" means the base homestead value established by the assessor under subsection (c).
            (B) If the property is sold or ownership is
        
otherwise transferred, other than sales or transfers between spouses or between a parent and a child, "base homestead value" means the equalized assessed value of the property at the time of the sale or transfer prior to exemptions, minus (i) $4,500 in Cook County or $3,500 in all other counties in tax year 2003 or (ii) $5,000 in all counties in tax year 2004 and thereafter, provided that it was assessed as residential property qualified for any of the homestead exemptions under Sections 15‑170 through 15‑175 of this Code, then in force, and further provided that the property's assessment was not based on a reduced assessed value resulting from a temporary irregularity in the property.
        (3.5) "Base year" means (i) tax year 2002 in Cook
    
County or (ii) tax year 2002 or 2003 in all other counties in accordance with the designation made by the county as provided in subsection (k).
        (4) "Current tax year" means the tax year for which
    
the exemption under this Section is being applied.
        (5) "Equalized assessed value" means the property's
    
assessed value as equalized by the Department.
        (6) "Homestead" or "homestead property" means:
            (A) Residential property that as of January 1 of
        
the tax year is occupied by its owner or owners as his, her, or their principal dwelling place, or that is a leasehold interest on which a single family residence is situated, that is occupied as a residence by a person who has a legal or equitable interest therein evidenced by a written instrument, as an owner or as a lessee, and on which the person is liable for the payment of property taxes. Residential units in an apartment building owned and operated as a cooperative, or as a life care facility, which are occupied by persons who hold a legal or equitable interest in the cooperative apartment building or life care facility as owners or lessees, and who are liable by contract for the payment of property taxes, shall be included within this definition of homestead property.
            (B) A homestead includes the dwelling place,
        
appurtenant structures, and so much of the surrounding land constituting the parcel on which the dwelling place is situated as is used for residential purposes. If the assessor has established a specific legal description for a portion of property constituting the homestead, then the homestead shall be limited to the property within that description.
        (7) "Life care facility" means a facility as defined
    
in Section 2 of the Life Care Facilities Act.
    (c) If the property did not have a residential equalized assessed value for the base year as provided in subdivision (b)(3)(A) of this Section, then the assessor shall first determine an initial value for the property by comparison with assessed values for the base year of other properties having physical and economic characteristics similar to those of the subject property, so that the initial value is uniform in relation to assessed values of those other properties for the base year. The product of the initial value multiplied by the equalized factor for the base year for homestead properties in that county, less (i) $4,500 in Cook County or $3,500 in all other counties in tax year 2003 or (ii) $5,000 in all counties in tax year 2004 and thereafter, is the base homestead value.
    For any tax year for which the assessor determines or adjusts an initial value and hence a base homestead value under this subsection (c), the initial value shall be subject to review by the same procedures applicable to assessed values established under this Code for that tax year.
    (d) The base homestead value shall remain constant, except that the assessor may revise it under the following circumstances:
        (1) If the equalized assessed value of a homestead
    
property for the current tax year is less than the previous base homestead value for that property, then the current equalized assessed value (provided it is not based on a reduced assessed value resulting from a temporary irregularity in the property) shall become the base homestead value in subsequent tax years.
        (2) For any year in which new buildings, structures,
    
or other improvements are constructed on the homestead property that would increase its assessed value, the assessor shall adjust the base homestead value as provided in subsection (c) of this Section with due regard to the value added by the new improvements.
        (3) If the property is sold or ownership is otherwise
    
transferred, the base homestead value of the property shall be adjusted as provided in subdivision (b)(3)(B). This item (3) does not apply to sales or transfers between spouses or between a parent and a child.
    (e) The amount of the exemption under this Section is the equalized assessed value of the homestead property for the current tax year, minus the adjusted homestead value, with the following exceptions:
        (1) The exemption under this Section shall not exceed
    
$20,000 for any taxable year.
        (2) In the case of homestead property that also
    
qualifies for the exemption under Section 15‑172, the property is entitled to the exemption under this Section, limited to the amount of (i) $4,500 in Cook County or $3,500 in all other counties in tax year 2003 or (ii) $5,000 in all counties in tax year 2004 and thereafter.
    (f) In the case of an apartment building owned and operated as a cooperative, or as a life care facility, that contains residential units that qualify as homestead property under this Section, the maximum cumulative exemption amount attributed to the entire building or facility shall not exceed the sum of the exemptions calculated for each qualified residential unit. The cooperative association, management firm, or other person or entity that manages or controls the cooperative apartment building or life care facility shall credit the exemption attributable to each residential unit only to the apportioned tax liability of the owner or other person responsible for payment of taxes as to that unit. Any person who willfully refuses to so credit the exemption is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.
    (g) When married persons maintain separate residences, the exemption provided under this Section shall be claimed by only one such person and for only one residence.
    (h) In the event of a sale or other transfer in ownership of the homestead property, the exemption under this Section shall remain in effect for the remainder of the tax year in which the sale or transfer occurs, but (other than for sales or transfers between spouses or between a parent and a child) shall be calculated using the new base homestead value as provided in subdivision (b)(3)(B). The assessor may require the new owner of the property to apply for the exemption in the following year.
    (i) The assessor may determine whether property qualifies as a homestead under this Section by application, visual inspection, questionnaire, or other reasonable methods. Each year, at the time the assessment books are certified to the county clerk by the board of review, the assessor shall furnish to the county clerk a list of the properties qualified for the homestead exemption under this Section. The list shall note the base homestead value of each property to be used in the calculation of the exemption for the current tax year.
    (j) In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, the provisions of this Section apply as follows:
        (1) If the general assessment year for the property
    
is 2003, this Section applies for assessment years 2003, 2004, and 2005. Thereafter, the provisions of Section 15‑175 apply.
        (2) If the general assessment year for the property
    
is 2004, this Section applies for assessment years 2004, 2005, and 2006. Thereafter, the provisions of Section 15‑175 apply.
        (3) If the general assessment year for the property
    
is 2005, this Section applies for assessment years 2005, 2006, and 2007. Thereafter, the provisions of Section 15‑175 apply.
    In counties with less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, this
    
Section applies for assessment years (i) 2003, 2004, and 2005 if 2002 is the designated base year or (ii) 2004, 2005, and 2006 if 2003 is the designated base year. Thereafter, the provisions of Section 15‑175 apply.
    (k) To be subject to the provisions of this Section in lieu of Section 15‑175, a county must adopt an ordinance to subject itself to the provisions of this Section within 6 months after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly. In a county other than Cook County, the ordinance must designate either tax year 2002 or tax year 2003 as the base year.
    (l) Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of the State Mandates Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this Section.
(Source: P.A. 93‑715, eff. 7‑12‑04.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑180)
    Sec. 15‑180. Homestead improvements. Homestead properties that have been improved and residential structures on homestead property that have been rebuilt following a catastrophic event are entitled to a homestead improvement exemption, limited to $30,000 per year through December 31, 1997, $45,000 beginning January 1, 1998 and through December 31, 2003, and $75,000 per year for that homestead property beginning January 1, 2004 and thereafter, in fair cash value, when that property is owned and used exclusively for a residential purpose and upon demonstration that a proposed increase in assessed value is attributable solely to a new improvement of an existing structure or the rebuilding of a residential structure following a catastrophic event. To be eligible for an exemption under this Section after a catastrophic event, the residential structure must be rebuilt within 2 years after the catastrophic event. The exemption for rebuilt structures under this Section applies to the increase in value of the rebuilt structure over the value of the structure before the catastrophic event. The amount of the exemption shall be limited to the fair cash value added by the new improvement or rebuilding and shall continue for 4 years from the date the improvement or rebuilding is completed and occupied, or until the next following general assessment of that property, whichever is later.
    A proclamation of disaster by the President of the United States or Governor of the State of Illinois is not a prerequisite to the classification of an occurrence as a catastrophic event under this Section. A "catastrophic event" may include an occurrence of widespread or severe damage or loss of property resulting from any catastrophic cause including but not limited to fire, including arson (provided the fire was not caused by the willful action of an owner or resident of the property), flood, earthquake, wind, storm, explosion, or extended periods of severe inclement weather. In the case of a residential structure affected by flooding, the structure shall not be eligible for this homestead improvement exemption unless it is located within a local jurisdiction which is participating in the National Flood Insurance Program.
    In counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, in addition to the notice requirement under Section 12‑30, a supervisor of assessments, county assessor, or township or multi‑township assessor responsible for adding an assessable improvement to a residential property's assessment shall either notify a taxpayer whose assessment has been changed since the last preceding assessment that he or she may be eligible for the exemption provided under this Section or shall grant the exemption automatically.
    Beginning January 1, 1999, in counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, an application for a homestead improvement exemption for a residential structure that has been rebuilt following a catastrophic event must be submitted to the Chief County Assessment Officer with a valuation complaint and a copy of the building permit to rebuild the structure. The Chief County Assessment Officer may require additional documentation which must be provided by the applicant.
    Notwithstanding Sections 6 and 8 of the State Mandates Act, no reimbursement by the State is required for the implementation of any mandate created by this Section.
(Source: P.A. 93‑715, eff. 7‑12‑04.)

    (35 ILCS 200/15‑185)
    Sec. 15‑185. Exemption for leaseback property and qualified leased property.
    (a) Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the contrary, all property owned by a municipality with a population of over 500,000 inhabitants, or a unit of local government whose jurisdiction includes territory located in whole or in part within a municipality with a population of over 500,000 inhabitants, shall remain exempt from taxation and any leasehold interest in that property shall not be subject to taxation under Section 9‑195 if the property is directly or indirectly leased, sold, or otherwise transferred to another entity whose property is not exempt and immediately thereafter is the subject of a leaseback or other agreement that directly or indirectly gives the municipality or unit of local government (i) a right to use, control, and possess the property or (ii) a right to require the other entity, or the other entity's designee or assignee, to use the property in the performance of services for the municipality or unit of local government. Property shall no longer be exempt under this subsection as of the date when the right of the municipality or unit of local government to use, control, and possess the property or to require the performance of services is terminated and the municipality or unit of local government no longer has any option to purchase or otherwise reacquire the interest in the property which was transferred by the municipality or unit of local government.
    (b) Notwithstanding anything in this Code to the
    
contrary, all property owned by a municipality with a population of over 500,000 inhabitants, or a unit of local government whose jurisdiction includes territory located in whole or in part within a municipality with a population of over 500,000 inhabitants, shall remain exempt from taxation and any leasehold interest in that property is not subject to taxation under Section 9‑195 if the property, including dedicated public property, is used by a municipality or other unit of local government for the purpose of an airport or parking or for waste disposal or processing and is leased for continued use for the same purpose to another entity whose property is not exempt.
    For the purposes of this subsection (b), "airport" does
    
not include any airport property, as defined under Section 10 of the O'Hare Modernization Act.
    Any transaction described under this subsection must be
    
undertaken in accordance with all appropriate federal laws and regulations.
    (c) For purposes of this Section, "municipality" means a municipality as defined in Section 1‑1‑2 of the Illinois Municipal Code, and "unit of local government" means a unit of local government as defined in Article VII, Section 1 of the Constitution of the State of Illinois. The provisions of this Section supersede and control over any conflicting provisions of this Code.
(Source: P.A. 93‑19, eff. 6‑20‑03; 94‑750, eff. 5‑9‑06.)

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