Do You Need to Appeal Every Year? How to Decide When It’s Worth It

Many Cook County homeowners think that once they win a property tax appeal, they’re done for years. Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. Property assessments in Cook County get updated regularly, and market conditions change quickly. Your home’s assessed value can be reduced from year to year, even if nothing about your home has changed, provided that you appeal.

This means your tax bill can rise without warning. The good news? You can appeal your assessment every single year, and in many cases, you should.

At Aaron Fox Law, we help homeowners and commercial property owners understand when and why to appeal annually. Our goal is to make sure you never pay more than your fair share.

How Property Assessments Work in Cook County

The Cook County Assessor’s Office reviews all properties on a regular schedule. Each property gets an assessed value, which represents a percentage of its market value.

Cook County is split into three regions: the City of Chicago, north suburbs, and south suburbs. Each region is reassessed once every three years. However, the Assessor can also review assessments in non-reassessment years to keep things fair and accurate.

Even outside the three-year cycle, you can reduce your assessment because of:

• Neighborhood sales trends
• Market-wide price decreases
• Property inhabitability, or vacancy
• Changes to your property classification or exemptions

Because these factors can change each year, your property’s assessed value may decrease from one year to the next – sometimes by thousands of dollars – provided that you appeal.

Why Annual Appeals Make Sense

Appealing your assessment each year isn’t too much. It’s actually smart. Here’s why:

The market moves every year. Real estate prices go up and down based on demand, development, and neighborhood changes. Your property should be assessed based on fair market conditions for that year, not old data from two or three years ago.

The Assessor’s office uses mass appraisal methods. Cook County values properties in large groups, using formulas based on sales and averages. While this system helps process thousands of properties quickly, it can lead to mistakes for individual homes. Annual appeals help fix those errors before they pile up.

Comparable assessments and sales change. The best evidence in an appeal often comes from recent comparable assessments or sales. Those assessments and sales can be different every year, and new data might better support your case for a lower assessment.

Property conditions can change. Major damage, vacancies, or other issues can affect value. If the Assessor’s records don’t show the current condition of your home, appealing helps correct it.

You have a limited window to act. Each township in Cook County opens for appeals only once per year (at both the Assessor and Board of Review). If you skip your window and values go up, you’ll have to wait another full year to challenge it.

How to Know When It’s Worth Appealing

Even if your taxes didn’t jump dramatically, you might still be overassessed compared to similar homes nearby. The best approach is to review your property’s assessed value every year.

Here’s a quick checklist to help you decide if you should appeal:

• Your assessment increased from last year
• Your home’s value doesn’t match recent sales of similar properties
• You recently bought your home for less than the assessed value
• Your neighbor’s home is assessed lower than yours
• You missed exemptions you may now qualify for (like homeowner, senior, or veteran exemptions)

If any of these apply to you, an appeal could save you hundreds or even thousands in annual property taxes.

What You’ll Need to Appeal

According to the Cook County Assessor’s appeal rules, you must provide clear, documented evidence showing that your property’s assessed value is too high or doesn’t match similar properties. Evidence may include:

• Recent comparable sales data
• Assessment data of similar properties
• Photos showing condition issues
• Appraisals that meet Assessor standards
• Income and expense data for commercial properties

Following the official requirements is important. Appeals that are missing proper documentation are often denied right away.

Why Work with an Experienced Property Tax Attorney

While homeowners can file their own appeals, the process can be time-consuming and complicated. Small details, like filing deadlines or missing documents, can make or break a case.

A knowledgeable Cook County property tax Attorney understands the Assessor’s rules, local township cycles, and what types of evidence work best. At Aaron Fox Law, we file appeals strategically every year for many clients. This helps them maintain fair assessments and consistent savings over time.

Our team reviews property data annually, compares assessments to neighborhood sales, and prepares accurate filings for both residential and commercial owners. Because Cook County allows you to appeal each year, this proactive approach helps you stay ahead of tax increases instead of reacting after your bill arrives.

Take Control of Your Property Taxes

Cook County’s property tax system can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Annual appeals are one of the most effective tools to keep your taxes fair and manageable.

Before your township’s next appeal window closes, contact Aaron Fox Law for a free assessment review. A yearly checkup could be the difference between paying too much and paying your fair share.