Form PTAX-763, the Application and Affidavit for Veterans Organization Assessment Freeze, is the form a qualified veterans organization files with its chief county assessment officer (CCAO) to freeze the assessed value of the property that holds its post, camp, or chapter building. It is one of the Sangamon County property tax forms published by the Supervisor of Assessments, and the chief presiding officer signs it before a notary. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the official PDF is published by Sangamon County.
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What is PTAX-763?
Form PTAX-763, Application and Affidavit for Veterans Organization Assessment Freeze, is the form a veterans organization chartered under federal law uses to elect the veterans organization assessment freeze (35 ILCS 200/10-300) for the real property it owns and uses for its principal post, camp, or chapter building.
The freeze is applied by the chief county assessment officer (CCAO). According to the form's instructions, the assessed value (AV) is frozen at 15 percent of the 1999 AV for a property that qualified in tax year 2000, or at 15 percent of the AV for the tax year in which the property first qualifies after tax year 2000. Improvements or additions that raise the AV are also frozen, at 15 percent of the AV of the improvement or addition in the year it is first assessed.
The form has two parts. Step 1 identifies the organization, the property index number (PIN) and the assessment year, and says whether the filing is a first application or a renewal. Step 2 is an affidavit about ownership, tax liability, use of the property and its buildings. The same form serves first applications and renewals. The Sangamon County forms page also lists separate applications for other kinds of organizations; this form is for veterans organizations.
Who needs to file PTAX-763?
The chief presiding officer of a veterans organization completes and signs Form PTAX-763 for the organization. To qualify, the organization must be chartered under federal law and must own and use the real property on which the principal building for the post, camp, or chapter is located. The Sangamon County forms page adds that the freeze also covers property used for members' and guests' parking for that principal building.
The form is used in three situations:
- First application: you answer Yes on line 4 and attach the supporting documents.
- Renewal with no changes: you answer Yes on line 5 and complete only Step 1, then sign and have the form notarized.
- Renewal with changes: you answer Yes on line 6, complete Step 1 and any Step 2 lines that changed, and attach documentation explaining the change. Examples the instructions give are additions or improvements, a change in the organization's name, conveyance of the property, destruction or removal of improvements, and leasing of the property.
An organization that is not chartered under federal law, or that does not own and use the property holding its principal building, does not meet the qualification the instructions describe.
When to file PTAX-763
File Form PTAX-763 by December 31 of the assessment year for which you are applying. The instructions set this deadline for all counties except Cook County, and the Sangamon County Supervisor of Assessments repeats it: the application must be filed by December 31 of each assessment year.
In Cook County the form is filed with the Cook County Assessor by January 31 of the assessment year for which you are applying.
Line 3 of the form asks for the assessment year, so complete a form for each year you apply or renew. The instructions set no processing time for the application.
Documents you need
- Copy of your organization's congressional charter, attached to a first application.
- Copy of your organization's articles of incorporation, attached to a first application.
- Proof of ownership or other legal or equitable interest in the property, such as a deed, contract for deed, or trust document, attached to a first application.
- Copy of the lease, required if you answer Yes on line 10 because the organization leases any of the property to a person or entity not qualified for the freeze.
- Documentation explaining the change, required if you are renewing with changes to report (line 6), such as additions, a name change, conveyance, destruction of improvements or leasing.
- Notary's completion of the "Subscribed and sworn to before me" block; the form must be notarized before filing.
How to fill out PTAX-763
Enter the organization's details
On line 1, type the name of the veterans organization, the street address of its property, a mailing address if different, city, state, ZIP, the contact person's name and a phone number.
Enter the property index number
On line 2a, write the PIN of the property, which is listed on your property tax bill or available from the CCAO. Use line 2b for the legal description only if you cannot obtain the PIN.
Write the assessment year
On line 3, enter the four digits of the assessment year for which you are applying.
Say whether this is a first application
On line 4, check Yes or No for whether this is the first time you are applying for this freeze. If Yes, see the instructions for the attachments to send.
Complete the renewal questions
On line 5, check Yes if you are renewing with no changes; then only Step 1, the signature and the notary are needed. On line 6, check Yes if you are renewing with changes; complete Step 1 and any changed Step 2 lines.
Answer the ownership questions
On line 7, say whether the organization owned or had a legal or equitable interest in the property on January 1 of the assessment year; if Yes, complete line 7a (deed or contract for deed, with date) or 7b (other, with date). On line 8, say whether the organization is liable for the property taxes.
Answer the post and lease questions
On line 9, say whether the principal post, camp, or chapter is located on the property. On line 10, say whether any of the property is leased to a person or entity not qualified for the freeze; if Yes, attach a copy of the lease.
Describe the property and activities
On line 11, write the dimensions or acreage of the property. On line 12, describe the organization's activities on the property.
List each building on the property
On line 13, for each building (Bldg. 1, 2, 3) enter the square feet of ground area (SFGA), the number of stories, and Y or N for a basement.
Sign before a notary
The chief presiding officer signs and dates the affidavit under penalties of perjury. Sign in front of a notary public, who completes the "Subscribed and sworn to before me" block.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check each line against your situation, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Assemble the package and submit it through the channels described under How to submit.
How to submit PTAX-763
Form PTAX-763 is mailed to the chief county assessment officer (CCAO) of the county where the property is located.
- By mail: the instructions say to mail the completed, notarized form to the county CCAO. The address block at the end of the instructions is left blank on the form, so get the mailing address and phone number from the Sangamon County Supervisor of Assessments at https://sangamonil.gov/departments/s-z/supervisor-of-assessments/forms.
- Cook County: file with the Cook County Assessor instead, by January 31.
Before mailing, make sure the chief presiding officer has signed the affidavit in front of a notary and that the attachments for your situation are enclosed. The instructions name no other filing channel and no fee. If you need help, they tell you to contact your CCAO. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Filing after December 31 of the assessment year (January 31 in Cook County, where the Cook County Assessor receives the form).
- Sending the form without the notary's block completed; the instructions require the form to be notarized for first applications and renewals.
- Leaving out the congressional charter, articles of incorporation or proof of ownership on a first application.
- Answering Yes on line 10 about leasing but not attaching a copy of the lease.
- Writing a legal description on line 2b when you can obtain your PIN; the legal description is only for those unable to get the PIN.
- Checking line 5 (renewal, no changes) when something has changed, such as an addition, name change, conveyance or lease, instead of line 6 with documentation.
- Having someone other than the organization's chief presiding officer sign the affidavit.
- Mailing the form without confirming the county CCAO address, which is left blank on the printed instructions.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form PTAX-763?
Form PTAX-763 is the Application and Affidavit for Veterans Organization Assessment Freeze. A veterans organization chartered under federal law files it with the CCAO to freeze the assessed value of the real property that holds its principal post, camp, or chapter building.
Who qualifies for the veterans organization assessment freeze?
A veterans organization must be chartered under federal law and must own and use the real property on which its principal post, camp, or chapter building sits. The organization's chief presiding officer completes and signs the form.
When is Form PTAX-763 due in Sangamon County?
By December 31 of the assessment year for which you are applying. The Sangamon County Supervisor of Assessments states that the application must be filed by December 31 of each assessment year. Cook County uses January 31 instead.
Does Form PTAX-763 have to be notarized?
Yes. The instructions say the chief presiding officer must sign the form and have it notarized before filing, for a first application and for a renewal, with or without changes. The notary completes the block at the bottom of the affidavit.
What do I attach to Form PTAX-763 for a first application?
Attach copies of your organization's congressional charter, its articles of incorporation, and proof of ownership or another legal or equitable interest in the property, such as a deed, contract for deed or trust document. Add a copy of any lease if you answer Yes on line 10.
How do I renew the veterans organization assessment freeze?
Use the same form. With no changes, check Yes on line 5, complete Step 1, sign and have it notarized. With changes, check Yes on line 6, complete Step 1 and the changed Step 2 lines, sign, have it notarized and attach documentation of the change.
Where do I mail Form PTAX-763?
Mail it to the CCAO of your county. The mailing address on the printed instructions is blank, so get Sangamon County's address and phone number from the Supervisor of Assessments at sangamonil.gov. In Cook County, file with the Cook County Assessor.
Can I fill out Form PTAX-763 online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the form with Sangamon County; you submit the notarized form through the CCAO's channels.
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