Form PTAX-245, Disaster Area Application for Reassessment, is the application a property owner files to request reassessment under Section 13-5 of the Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/13-5) when a disaster has caused substantial damage to the property. It is one of the Sangamon County property tax forms published by the Supervisor of Assessments, and it applies in a county declared a major disaster area by the President of the United States or the Governor of the State of Illinois. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the county publishes the original form and its forms page.
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What is PTAX-245?
PTAX-245, Disaster Area Application for Reassessment, is the form a property owner uses to ask the county assessment office to reassess property that suffered substantial damage from a disaster, under Section 13-5 of the Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/13-5).
The form identifies the owner, the property and the damage. You give the owner's name, mailing address and phone number, the property index number (PIN) of the damaged property, the street address of that property if it differs from the owner's address, and a detailed description of the damage to land, buildings or other structures. You then sign a statement that the information is true, correct and complete to the best of your knowledge.
The form is addressed to the county's chief county assessment officer (CCAO). A block at the bottom, marked "Do not write in this space," is reserved for the county: it records the date received, an application number, whether the application was approved or disapproved and, if disapproved, the reasons.
The printed revision is R-5/02, form code IL-492-3379, and the form says it was approved by the Forms Management Center and is authorized under 35 ILCS 200/1-1 et seq. It also states that disclosure of the information is required.
PTAX-245 is not an alternative-assessment application. The Sangamon County Supervisor of Assessments lists separate forms on the same page for other programs, such as PTAX-330 for the Solar Energy Assessment and PTAX-334 for the Open Space Purposes Assessment.
Who needs to file PTAX-245?
The main group is property owners whose property suffered substantial damage caused by a disaster, in a county that the President of the United States or the Governor of the State of Illinois has declared a major disaster area. If that describes your property and you want it reassessed, you complete this form.
The form is signed by the property owner or an authorized representative, so a representative may sign for the owner. It does not say what authority a representative must show.
Points the form itself makes:
- The form asks for the PIN of the damaged property. The PIN is printed on your property tax bill, or you can get it from the chief county assessment officer (CCAO).
- If you cannot get your PIN, the form lets you write the legal description of the damaged property instead.
- If the damaged property has a different street address than the owner's mailing address, you give it separately.
- If you want mail sent to someone other than the owner, you can name a contact in Item 2.
Do not use PTAX-245 for the other assessment programs the county lists, such as the solar energy, open space or model home assessments; those use their own forms.
When to file PTAX-245
File Form PTAX-245 after a disaster has caused substantial damage to your property in a county that has been declared a major disaster area by the President of the United States or the Governor of the State of Illinois. That declaration and the damage are the two conditions the form and the Sangamon County Supervisor of Assessments describe. No separate due date is printed on the form or given for it on the county's forms page, unlike the annual deadlines the county lists for some of its other applications. Ask the Supervisor of Assessments office about any timing that applies to your case before you submit. The form does not state a processing time.
Documents you need
- Extra pages for the damage description, only if the space under Item 4 is not enough; the form says to use extra pages if necessary.
How to fill out PTAX-245
Confirm the form fits your situation
Use PTAX-245 only to request reassessment under 35 ILCS 200/13-5 for substantial disaster damage in a county declared a major disaster area by the President or the Illinois Governor.
Enter the property owner's details
In Item 1, write the property owner's name, mailing address (street, city, state, ZIP) and phone number.
Add a legal description if needed
In Item 1c, write the legal description of the damaged property only if you are unable to obtain your PIN.
Name a contact for correspondence
In Item 2, enter the name, mailing address and phone number of the person to receive correspondence, if different from the owner in Item 1.
Write the property index number
In Item 3a, enter your PIN in the printed pattern of two, two, three, three and four digits. The PIN is on your property tax bill, or your chief county assessment officer (CCAO) can give it to you.
Give the damaged property's street address
In Item 3b, write the street address, city and ZIP of the damaged property if it differs from the address in Item 1. The state is printed as IL.
Describe the damage in detail
In Item 4, describe the damage to your land, buildings or other structures. Attach extra pages if the lines are not enough.
Sign and date the application
In Step 2, the property owner or an authorized representative signs and enters the date in the month/day/year spaces. The signature states the information is true, correct and complete to the best of your knowledge.
Check the mailing block
At the bottom, confirm the county CCAO name and mailing address for the form. Leave the "Do not write in this space" block empty.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check each item against your tax bill and records, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and mail it as described under How to submit.
How to submit PTAX-245
Form PTAX-245 is submitted by mail to the county's chief county assessment officer (CCAO); the form prints no email address, online portal or in-person rule.
- By mail: the bottom of the form reads "Mail your completed Form PTAX-245 to:" and then has lines for the county CCAO, a mailing address, city, ZIP and a phone number for questions. Use the address shown there. For Sangamon County, the county's forms page says the completed form is submitted to the Supervisor of Assessments office; that page gives no street address or P.O. box for it, so confirm the address with that office if the block on your copy is empty.
- Questions: the phone number in the same block is the one to call about the application. The county page gives none for this form.
Send the signed and dated form with any extra pages you used for the damage description. Do not fill in the block marked "Do not write in this space," which the county completes. The form names no fee. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving Item 3a blank without writing the legal description of the damaged property in Item 1c; the legal description is only for owners who cannot get their PIN.
- Omitting the street address of the damaged property in Item 3b when it differs from the owner's address in Item 1.
- Giving a short or vague answer in Item 4 when the form asks for a detailed description of damage to land, buildings or other structures; use extra pages if needed.
- Submitting the form without the signature and date in Step 2 from the property owner or authorized representative.
- Writing in the block marked "Do not write in this space"; it is for the county's date received, application number and decision.
- Using PTAX-245 for property that has no substantial disaster damage or is not in a county declared a major disaster area by the President or the Illinois Governor.
- Using PTAX-245 to apply for the solar, open space or model home assessments, which have separate forms such as PTAX-330 and PTAX-334.
- Not entering a mailing contact in Item 2 when correspondence should go to someone other than the owner.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form PTAX-245 used for?
Form PTAX-245, Disaster Area Application for Reassessment, requests reassessment of property under Section 13-5 of the Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200/13-5) after substantial disaster damage, in a county declared a major disaster area by the President or the Illinois Governor.
Who should complete the Sangamon County disaster reassessment application?
The owner of property that suffered substantial disaster damage in a county declared a major disaster area. The owner or an authorized representative signs the form. It is submitted to the Sangamon County Supervisor of Assessments office, according to the county's forms page.
What do I do if I don't know my PIN on Form PTAX-245?
Your PIN is on your property tax bill, or you can get it from your chief county assessment officer (CCAO). If you still cannot obtain it, write the legal description of the damaged property in Item 1c instead.
Where do I mail Form PTAX-245?
Mail it to the county CCAO at the address in the "Mail your completed Form PTAX-245 to" block at the bottom of the form. The Sangamon County forms page says to submit it to the Supervisor of Assessments but gives no address, so confirm it with that office.
Is there a deadline to file PTAX-245?
No due date is printed on the form or listed for it on the Sangamon County forms page. The trigger is substantial damage from a disaster in a county declared a major disaster area. Ask the Supervisor of Assessments about any timing that applies to you.
Can someone else sign PTAX-245 for me?
Yes. Step 2 is signed by the property owner or an authorized representative. The form does not say what proof of authority a representative must provide, so ask the county assessment office if you are unsure.
Is PTAX-245 the same as the open space or solar assessment forms?
No. PTAX-245 requests reassessment after disaster damage. The Sangamon County forms page lists separate applications for other programs, including PTAX-330 for the Solar Energy Assessment and PTAX-334 for the Open Space Purposes Assessment.
Can I fill out PTAX-245 online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not affiliated with Sangamon County, and does not file or send the form; you mail it to the county CCAO yourself.
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