The whole property tax process can be very confusing and frustrating. One of our goals is to make sure we provide the information you need related to this process, so that you feel as comfortable as possible with how your assessment is determined and what your options are for resolving any issues that you may have with your assessment.
An important thing to keep in mind is that the Township Assessor is not a “tax” assessor. The Township Assessor does not estimate, determine, calculate, or bill your property taxes. By law, the Township Assessor cannot make any changes to your tax bill.
The Township Assessor’s role in the property tax cycle is to assess (or determine the value of) real property (real estate). This assessed value of a property, as mandated by the Illinois Property Tax Code, is to be 33 1/3% of the fair market value for that property. A good example would be if the fair market value of a property was $75,000, then the assessed value would be $25,000.
In order to put an appropriate assessment (assessed value) on a property, the Township Assessor keeps a detailed record of each property. This is commonly known as the Property Record Card (PRC). This PRC contains information about the land, buildings, and other substantial improvements on that property. As a property owner, you are always welcome to come in to our office and request a copy of your PRC from our staff. Additionally, there is an on-line property search and PRC function on this website, which will allow you to look up and print your property information 24/7 from any computer connected to the internet.
Once all assessments are completed for a year, they are sent to the Chief County Assessment Officer. The Chief County Assessment Officer has additional statutory responsibilities, including equalization of the county's properties, maintaining exemptions, and clerk of the Board of Review. The Board of Review is a three member panel appointed by the County Board. It is the Board of Review’s responsibility to hear testimony on written appeals on the assessment of any real property in McHenry County, and when deemed justified, to make any adjustments to assessed value of the property. Once the Board of Review process is complete, the assessments will be certified and then will serve as the base number for the tax calculation process.
Property taxes are levied, collected, and spent locally to finance a major portion of the services that units of local government provide to their residents. The amount you pay in taxes is dependent upon two factors: the assessed value of your property and the dollar amount levied by units of government.
The appeal process begins at the local level. When going through the appeal process, you, the property owner, are appealing the assessed value of your property, not the tax bill. The amount of the tax bill is determined by the various tax rates that are applied to the assessment based on the levies of various local government taxing districts which include counties, townships, municipalities, school districts, special districts, etc. If your assessment changes, these changes must be published in a local newspaper, and notices will be mailed to the homeowner.
Note: Tax rates are not an issue in the assessment appeal process, only the amount of the assessment.
If you do not think your assessment is correct, please contact the Richmond Township Assessor’s Office. We are happy to sit down with you and listen to your concerns AFTER you file an appeal with the McHenry County Board of Review. The following information will help you be prepared to file your appeal and to meet with us, and will help us understand the situation better.
Recent purchase contracts, listings, and closing statements of your property
Sales of similar homes in your neighborhood
Assessments of similar homes in your neighborhood
Recent appraisal of your property
Photographs of your home and comparable properties in your neighborhood
You can gather comparable sales and assessment information by researching similar properties via our website at www.RichmondTownshipAssessor.com. If you need assistance, you may call or visit our office and a knowledgeable staff member will be happy to help you through the process.
Incorrect data – Information about your property is incorrectly reported on the Assessor’s property record card. Errors in square footage or numbers of bathrooms in the home are some examples.
Market Value – Based on comparable sales in the area, your house would sell for less than the Assessor’s opinion of value
Inequity – The market value of your property is accurate, but similar properties are assessed for less.
After your meeting with the Richmond Township Assessor’s Office, if you are not satisfied with the Assessor’s decision, you may attend a hearing with the McHenry County Board of Review. At the appeal hearing you will present your information to a three-member panel. For more information about the McHenry County Board of Review, go to www.co.mchenry.il.us. Then go to the Assessment Department and follow the tabs.
You may discuss your assessment with the Richmond Township Assessor’s Office throughout the year. However, appeals to the Board of Review must be filed within 30 days after the publication of the assessment in the Northwest Herald which is usually published mid-June of each year for Richmond Township. After receiving notice of the Board of Review’s decision you have thirty days to appeal to the State Property Tax Appeal Board.