Property Tax Process

  1. Every effort is made by the County Offices to insure the accuracy of information that is made available to our systems. As addresses change, ownership or status of exemptions, the county offices need to be notified so the records can be updated. Please help us keep information up to date by contacting the Assessment Office whenever you have a change to your property.
  2. Each office has its own responsibility. The Assessor's office sets the assessments and exemptions. As of January 1 of each year, the Township Assessor values property within Henry County. They make market adjustments, add new construction and remove demolished buildings. The County assessment appeal. If you have filed an appeal; the local Board of Review hears the complaints and can apply equalization factors. The Board of Review then publishes assessment changes in local newspapers. Then the Illinois Department of Review reviews the equalization and applies the state multiplier. The Assessor's office is also responsible for all exemptions, which includes the owner occupied, homestead, senior assessment freeze, disabled persons, disabled veterans, returning veterans, and the homestead improvement.
  3. The assessed value is one third of the market value. This value, along with the levy or budget of each taxing district, is how property taxes are determined. If you have a specific questions pertaining to your tax bill, please reference which office is responsible for that information.
  4.  In December of each year, every taxing district in Henry County, which is now up to a total of 125 districts, 24 drainage districts and 16 TIF districts, turns in to the County Clerk's office their individual tax levies. The County Clerk enters the levy amounts and then calculates the rates based on the taxing districts total equalized assessed value. Once all of that is complete, the Treasurer's office generates the tax bills, verifies the amounts and then prints the tax bills. The Treasurer's office collects the money and distributes the taxes to the various taxing districts.
  5. Property taxes play a huge role in how the county survives. Property taxes pay for our schools, parks, roads, fire and police protection and more. Where your tax dollars are distributed is listed on the front of the tax bill along with the figures from last year for comparison.
  6. Tax bills are mailed to every property owner in the County so they can review the accuracy of the information and if someone else is to pay the taxes, like a mortgage company or previous owner. It is the responsibility of the current property owner to copy or forward it on to the right people.
  7. This year's tax collection will approach $67,000,000 dollars and every dollar plus interest will be distributed to the taxing districts with Henry County.
  8. The public is always welcome to ask their questions during regular business hours, which is Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm.