Senior Homestead Exemption

Senior Homestead Exemption (SHE)

Benefit:

This exemption lowers the equalized assessed value of your property by $5,000 and may be claimed in addition to the General Homestead Exemption.

To Qualify:

To qualify, applicants must:

• Own and live in the property as their principal residence
• Have reached age 65 during the tax year.

To Apply:

Applications are initiated at the local township office or online at Lake County’s SmartFile Portal. Applicant is required to provide proof of age (Driver’s License, State-issued ID). Applicant need only file once for this exemption.

35 ILCS 200/15-170

Properties Held in Trust

If your property is held in a trust, we must verify you are a beneficiary of the trust. The exemptions cannot be applied without this verification. Please include a copy of the pages of the actual trust agreement that state the applicant is a beneficiary. This can usually be found on the first few pages of the trust document. If you have questions, call us directly at 847-381-1120.