The Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) – Refund Application is the Cook County Treasurer's form for claiming a refund when a PTAB decision has reduced the final tax amount on a Property Index Number (PIN). It is one of the Cook County property tax forms handled by the Treasurer's Refund Department, and it must travel with proof that the appealed tax year was paid. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the Treasurer's Office publishes the original PDF and receives the application by mail or hand delivery.
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What is Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) – Refund Application – Cook County, IL?
The Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) – Refund Application is the form issued by the Cook County Treasurer's Office to apply for a refund of property taxes after a PTAB decision has reduced the final tax amount on a Property Index Number (PIN).
The Treasurer's page describes it as the form to use once a PTAB decision exists. The application is tied to that decision: it asks for the PIN, the volume, the tax year and the PTAB docket number. It also carries the applicant's sworn statements. The taxpayer certifies, under penalty of law, that they are legally and equitably entitled to the refund under the referenced docket and have not already received any part of it. They also certify that no appeal has been taken from the proceeding, or is intended, by them or on their behalf.
The form has room for a taxpayer and, separately, for an attorney and law firm. When the refund is mailed to an attorney, the signature must be notarized.
A second page lists what must accompany every application: proof of payment of both installments of the appealed tax year, in a form that depends on how the taxes were paid. The Treasurer's Office, led by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, prints on the form that it was last revised 7/2023. The form carries no form number.
Who needs to file Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) – Refund Application – Cook County, IL?
Taxpayers who own a PIN in Cook County for which a Property Tax Appeal Board decision reduced the final tax amount use this form to ask the Treasurer for the resulting refund. The form also has a separate block for an attorney, so a lawyer acting for the taxpayer can be named, with the firm, address, phone and e-mail.
Conditions printed on the form and on the Treasurer's page:
- The applicant must be legally and equitably entitled to the refund under the PTAB docket number entered on the form.
- The applicant must not have received all or part of a refund for the same year, parcel and reason from the Treasurer or anyone else.
- No appeal may have been taken from the proceeding, or be intended, by the applicant or anyone on their behalf.
- If the refund is mailed to an attorney, the form must be notarized.
Refund checks are payable to the person or entity that Treasurer's records show paid the taxes for the appealed year. If someone else should receive the refund, the Treasurer accepts that only with a notarized letter from the payer of record directing the Office to refund that person instead.
When to file Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) – Refund Application – Cook County, IL
File the application after a PTAB decision has been issued that reduced the final tax amount on your PIN; the form asks for the docket number of that decision. The Treasurer's materials print no separate deadline for submitting it.
Both installments of the appealed tax year must already be paid, because proof of payment of both installments has to accompany the application.
The certification also looks ahead: if an appeal is taken and you have received a refund, or part of one, in error, you agree to return the money to the Cook County Treasurer's Office within 30 days of the order finding the refund in error, or to let the Treasurer debit your PIN(s) if you own them when the money is due.
Documents you need
- Proof of payment for both installments of the appealed tax year: this must accompany every PTAB Refund Application.
- Paid in cash: a photocopy of your teller receipt for the appropriate tax year.
- Paid by personal or business check: a photocopy of the front and back of both canceled checks; if you cannot find them, a copy of the monthly bank statement showing the check number, amount and account holder's name.
- Paid by cashier's check or money order: a photocopy of the customer receipt, or the front of the cashier's checks or money orders for the tax year.
- Paid online at www.cookcountytreasurer.com: your bank statement showing the successful transfer of funds to the Treasurer's Office for the tax year and installment(s).
- Paid through a mortgage company, bank or title company: a statement or letter from it showing the PIN, taxpayer's name, taxpayer's address, amounts paid and dates of payments.
- Optional for mortgage payments: a copy of the correct calendar-year IRS Form 1098, which the Treasurer says is a shortcut proof of payment.
- Paid several parcels with one check: for each refund requested, a list of the PINs paid with that check plus a copy of the front of the checks.
- A notarized letter from the payer of record directing the Treasurer to refund you instead, only if you did not pay the taxes and the refund should not go to the payer of record.
How to fill out Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) – Refund Application – Cook County, IL
Enter the Property Index Number
In Step 1, enter the Property Index Number (PIN) and the Volume for the property the PTAB decision covers.
Enter tax year and docket number
Still in Step 1, fill in the Tax Year being refunded and the PTAB Docket Number. Print clearly, as the form instructs.
Enter the taxpayer's details
In Step 2, Required Information, complete the Taxpayer Name, Address, City/State/Zip, Daytime Phone and E-mail.
Add the attorney's details
If an attorney acts for you, enter the Attorney Name, Law Firm, Address, City/State/Zip, Daytime Phone and E-mail in the matching column.
Read the two certifications
Review the statements about entitlement to the refund, no prior refund, no appeal taken or intended, and the duty to return money within 30 days if a refund was received in error. Reference the same docket number in the blank within the first paragraph.
Sign and date the application
The taxpayer signs on the Taxpayer Signature line and enters the Date.
Notarize if refund goes to attorney
Notarize only when the refund is mailed to the attorney. The notary completes the "Subscribed and sworn before me" line and imprints the stamp.
Gather your proof of payment
Collect proof of payment for both installments in the form that matches how you paid: cash, check, cashier's check or money order, online payment, mortgage company, or multiple parcels on one check.
Review, download and print the PDF
Check the PIN, tax year and docket number against the PTAB decision, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) – Refund Application – Cook County, IL
You can deliver the application by hand or send it by mail to the Cook County Treasurer's Refund Department. The Treasurer's page tells you to print the form, sign it and mail it to the address on the application.
- By mail or hand delivery: Cook County Treasurer, Refund Department, 118 N. Clark Street – Room 112, Chicago, IL 60602.
Enclose proof of payment for both installments of the appealed tax year; the form says this must accompany every application. Make sure the form is signed and dated. If the refund is to be mailed to an attorney, have the signature notarized before sending it. The form names no online filing channel. For questions, the form points to cookcountytreasurer.com, and the Treasurer's page lists (312) 443-5100 for the office.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending the application without proof of payment for both installments of the appealed tax year.
- Mailing the refund to an attorney without notarizing the form; the notary block is required when the refund goes to an attorney.
- Expecting the refund check to be made out to you when Treasurer's records show someone else paid the taxes, and not providing a notarized letter from the payer of record.
- Using the wrong year's IRS Form 1098 as proof; 2020 taxes were due in calendar year 2021, so the 2021 Form 1098 is the usual proof.
- Copying only the front of canceled checks; the Treasurer asks for the front and back of both checks.
- Paying several parcels with one check and not listing the PINs covered by that check.
- Signing the certification when an appeal has been taken from the proceeding or is intended, or when part of the refund was already received.
- Sending the application to a different office instead of the Refund Department, 118 N. Clark Street – Room 112.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PTAB refund application in Cook County?
It is the Cook County Treasurer's form for applying for a refund after a Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) decision reduced the final tax amount on a Property Index Number. It asks for the PIN, volume, tax year and PTAB docket number, and includes sworn certifications.
Does the PTAB refund application have to be notarized?
Only when the refund is mailed to an attorney. The form says to notarize only in that case, and the Treasurer's page repeats that the form must be notarized when the refund is mailed to an attorney.
What proof of payment do I need with the PTAB refund application?
Proof of payment for both installments of the appealed tax year. The accepted proof depends on how you paid: a teller receipt for cash, canceled checks, receipts for cashier's checks or money orders, a bank statement for online payment, or a letter from your mortgage company.
Who will the refund check be made out to?
The person or entity that Treasurer's Office records show paid the taxes for the appealed year. The only exception is a notarized letter from the payer of record directing the Treasurer's Office to refund you instead.
Can I use IRS Form 1098 as proof of mortgage payment?
Yes. The Treasurer calls a copy of IRS Form 1098 a shortcut for proof of mortgage company payment. Use the correct calendar year copy: 2020 property taxes were due in calendar year 2021, so the 2021 Form 1098 is usually the proof.
Where do I mail the PTAB refund application?
Deliver or mail it to Cook County Treasurer, Refund Department, 118 N. Clark Street – Room 112, Chicago, IL 60602. The Treasurer's page says to print, sign and mail the form to the address on the application.
What if I paid several parcels with one check?
For each refund you request, include a list of the PINs paid with that check, along with a copy of the front of the checks. This is in addition to the other proof of payment for both installments.
Can I fill out the PTAB refund application online?
You can complete the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF does not send the application to the Treasurer and is not connected to the office; you still sign it and deliver or mail it to the Refund Department.
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