Washington County Assessor Announces Change in Senior Citizen Exemption Form

Washington County Supervisor of Assessments Sharon Mewes announced a change in the “Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze” that will make it easier for homeowners to submit the required forms to claim their exemption on their property assessment.

Mewes announced the Illinois Department of Revenue has given notice that the notarized signature is no longer required on the form for the Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Exemption in Illinois.

“This exemption applies to those homeowners at least 65 years of age who are receiving the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption with a household income of $65,000 or less.” Mewes explained.

The change is effective immediately and is also permanent, according to Mewes, so senior citizens who still need to submit their assessment freeze form for 2020, or any subsequent year, can simply sign the completed form and return it to the Supervisor of Assessments Office at the Washington County Courthouse in Nashville.

Mewes added that with the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, her office understands some local seniors have had difficulty getting their homestead exemption and assessment freeze forms for 2020 returned to the office. However, she stressed that it is important to get these forms to her office as soon as possible.

Mewes also wants to remind any homeowner in the county who is currently receiving an owner-occupied exemption on their home and is turning 65 sometime in 2020 to sign up at the Washington County Assessor’s office for the Senior Homestead Exemption.

If you have any questions, please call the Washington County Assessor’s Office at 618-327-4800 EXT. 325