By: Maria Pappas

Word of mouth helped Chef Gabriel Miranda of Hickory Hills obtain a $6,805 refund for missed homeowner exemptions. Miranda said he and his wife deposited the money into their savings account. Their monthly bills include private high school tuition for the youngest of their three children. “It came at a perfect time,” Miranda told me recently during my weekly “Black Houses Matter” radio show on WVON-AM 1690. Miranda lacked income for several months while he was between jobs. He helped out with his wife’s meal-prep and catering business.

He was working at an event when he met Cynthia Price, a banker who previously appeared as a guest on “Black Houses Matter” to share the story of her refund. Price told Miranda about exemptions and how he could be eligible for one. “I thought it was kind of a gimmick,” Miranda told me. “The government never owes you any money.” But it was no gimmick. Miranda got his share of $57 million in refunds potentially available to Cook County property owners for missed exemptions going back four years. Another $93 million in refunds may be available because of overpayments made during the past 20 years.

Miranda was among thousands of Cook County residents who overpaid their property taxes. He paid too much because he didn’t know about exemptions. Miranda’s experience shows why it’s important to talk with family members, friends, neighbors and others about how exemptions lower their tax bills. People who occupy a property for at least a year as their primary residence are eligible for the Homeowner Exemption. People age 65 and older qualify for the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption. Seniors whose household income is $65,000 a year or less are eligible for the Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Exemption. Each of these exemptions can significantly lower property taxes. The challenge is educating people who are unaware that they’re missing out on potential savings.

You can help spread the word by encouraging others to visit cookcountytreasurer.com. The website offers many services, including the ability to securely pay your tax bill online by electronically transferring funds at no cost. When you click on the purple box that says Your Property Tax Overview, search using your address or Property Index Number. You’ll discover what exemptions you are receiving and whether you’re owed a refund for overpayments. The website also provides information about where your tax dollars go and which units of government receive funding from your payments. You can research a 20-year history of taxes on your property and find out how much debt is owed by each taxing district that gets money from you. When Miranda learned he was missing exemptions he contacted my office. An employee explained what he needed to do to apply for a refund. “She made it so easy,” Miranda said. “She got the ball rolling.”