2021 | Gary H. Smith

The Illusion of Property Tax Relief: Here’s What to Look for in 2021

Although Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi sent COVID-19 adjustment letters to many Cook County property owners in late 2020, those might not have the impact property owners expect on their overall tax bill. COVID-19 Adjustments Might Not Equal Lower Tax […]

Recent Study Reveals Cook County Properties with the Largest Tax Increases

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recently released a study that looked at 20 years of property tax history in Cook County and found that there has been a drastic increase over the last two decades. What the Study Shows Overall, […]

Fundamental Misunderstandings of the Compound Nature of the Cook County Property Tax System May Cause Fundamental Property Tax Reform Miscalculations

Originally published in Tax Trends (September 2020, Vol. 64 No. 3) Summary Conclusion The impact upon the individual residential property owner’s tax bill of a non-Chicago property after a 100 percent increase to the taxes of all downtown Chicago commercial […]

Construction Defects May Impact Your Property Taxes

Construction defects not only impact a property owner because of the cost to repair the defect but also could have an impact on that property’s taxes. How a Construction Defect Could Impact Property Taxes A construction defect is a condition […]

We’ve Joined KSN to Serve You Better!

I am pleased to announce that the Law Offices of Gary H. Smith, P.C. has joined Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit (KSN) effective January 1st, 2021. For over thirty years, our team has represented business owners, commercial property managers, industrial property owners, […]

Commercial Property Owners Struggling to Pay Taxes

The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t only impacted the ability of homeowners to pay property taxes. It has also trickled down to commercial real estate property owners’ ability to pay their property taxes. Commercial Property Owners Struggle to Pay Taxes Commercial properties, including […]

What Illinois Counties Are Doing to Help with Property Taxes During the Pandemic?

As Illinois continues to grapple with restrictions put in place to lower COVID-19 cases, property owners are preparing to receive their first tax bill for the new year. Several counties are taking different strategic approaches in 2021 to ease the economic strain […]

COVID-Related Property Tax Relief: Here’s What You Need to Know

Cook County property owners received notice that they were receiving a pandemic-related tax break, but that might not translate into much savings on the property tax bill. Why Tax Break Might Not Impact Tax Bills In April 2020, Cook County […]