How Are Property Taxes Calculated?

There are many factors that go into the calculation of the amount of tax for each property. The main factor is your property’s assessed value. The assessed value is 33 1/3% of the property’s fair market value, excluding farmland and farm buildings. Click here to see an overview of how property taxes are calculated in Illinois and information about appeals and exemptions.

What Should I Do If There Is An Error On My Tax Bill?

If you believe your tax bill is missing exemptions, contact the County Assessment Office at 618-842-2582. If you believe your assessment is incorrect, making your bill too high, you will need to make an appointment with the Wayne County Board of Review in order to begin the appeal process.

What If I Object To My Tax Bill?

If you are still dissatisfied with your tax bill after communication with the Assessment Office and the Wayne County Board of Review, you are required to submit payment for the taxes. Simultaneously, you must file a tax objection complaint with the Wayne County Circuit Clerk, commonly referred to as a “payment under protest.” An essential part of this process involves appearing in court to state your objection to the billed amount. It’s important to note that the payment under protest is a legal procedure distinct from the Treasurer’s Office, and the tax bill must still be settled by the designated due dates to avoid late penalties.

What Happens If I Do Not Pay My Property Taxes?

In Illinois, taxpayers are still responsible for the tax even if a bill is not received. In (35ILCS 200/20-15):
“The failure or neglect of the collector to mail the bill, or the failure of the taxpayer to receive the bill, shall not affect the validity of any tax, or the liability for the payment of any tax.”

There are several steps that are taken to collect unpaid property taxes:

1. The taxpayer is mailed a certified letter notifying them of delinquency and the next steps.
2. The unpaid parcel information is published in a local newspaper.
3. If still unpaid after a period of time, taxes are put up for sale at the annual tax sale. This is the annual auction of delinquent taxes to tax buyers. The tax sale does not auction off the actual property. At this auction, tax buyers bid on an interest rate (between 0-9%) and unpaid property taxes. If a buyer wins the auction, they will be responsible for paying the taxes that year. If the property owner redeems the taxes, the buyer will be paid back the amount of the taxes paid, plus the interest bid. If the property owner does not redeem the taxes by the next tax cycle, the tax buyer has the opportunity to buy subsequent year taxes. After 30 months, without the back taxes being redeemed by the property owner, the tax buyer can ask the court for a tax deed to the property, at which point the tax buyer becomes the legal owner.
4. If a tax buyer doesn’t buy the taxes at the annual tax sale, the property goes to the Wayne County Trustee, an agent of Wayne County. After 30 months of being unpaid, the Wayne County Trustee will ask the court for a tax deed to the property. At that time, the property will be entered into a Sealed Bid Auction. Buyers submit a sealed bid and the property is sold at the highest bid. The buyer is not responsible for back taxes on the property. The Sealed Bid Auction is held once per year. Catalogs for the auction are available approximately 30 days prior to the auction and can be viewed online by clicking here to visit the Illinois Tax Deeds/ Illinois Tax Liens website or in the Treasurer’s Office.

Within Wayne County, key individuals play pivotal roles in the realm of property taxes, each specializing in distinct aspects to ensure transparency and ease for residents.

• Yvette Anderson, the Wayne County Treasurer/Collector, can be reached at 618-842-5087. She bears the responsibility of tax collection and is the custodian of funds amassed for the various taxing agencies.
• For comprehensive details on tax rates, taxing district levies, and delinquent taxes, turn to Liz Ann Woodrow, the Wayne County Clerk. You can contact her at 618-842-5182.
• If you need insights into how your assessment was determined, assistance with property descriptions, or need to address changes in name and address for billing, connect with Jodi Poole, the Wayne County Supervisor of Assessments, at 618-842-2582. Additionally, Jodi is your go-to source for information on exemptions such as Owner Occupied, Senior Citizens, Senior Citizens Tax Freeze, Home Improvement, Disabled Persons, Disabled Veterans, Returning Veterans, or any other applicable exemption.