How to Fill Out Illinois Form PTAX-340 (w/Examples) + FAQs

Illinois Form PTAX-340 is the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption Application and Affidavit that every qualifying senior homeowner must file each year with their County Chief County Assessment Officer (CCAO) to “freeze” the equalized assessed value (EAV) of their home. Filing it correctly can save a senior hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars a year, while filing it wrong, late, or with the wrong income figure can wipe out the entire benefit for that tax year.

The freeze does not stop your property tax bill from rising; it locks the assessed value used to calculate your bill. According to the Illinois Department of Revenue, more than 230,000 Illinois households claim this exemption every year, and county assessors report rejection rates of 8% to 15% on first-time applications, almost always because of income miscalculations or missing proof of ownership.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

• 📄 What every line and box on PTAX-340 means in plain English, with sample entries you can copy.
• 👥 Three full walkthroughs that follow real seniors filing the form from start to finish.
• 💰 How to count “household income” the way the law actually defines it, including Social Security.
• ⏰ Where, when, and how to file in every Illinois county, including Cook County’s online portal.
• ⚠️ The 12 mistakes that cause assessors to deny the freeze, and how to avoid each one.

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

Form PTAX-340 is the application and sworn affidavit a senior homeowner uses to claim the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (SCAFHE) under 35 ILCS 200/15-172. The form is published by the Illinois Department of Revenue but is filed with your local County Assessment Office, not with the state. Cook County uses its own version called the Senior Freeze Exemption Application, but the eligibility rules and income math are identical.

You must file PTAX-340 if you meet all of these conditions for the assessment year:

• You were age 65 or older at any point during the year.
• You owned the property, or had a legal or equitable interest such as a life estate, leasehold, or beneficial interest in an Illinois land trust.
• You used the property as your principal residence on January 1 of the assessment year and on January 1 of the prior year.
• You were liable for the payment of the property taxes.
• Your total household income was $65,000 or less for the prior calendar year.

The freeze is not automatic and not permanent. Even if you got it last year, you must reapply every year, and many counties require renewal of the General Homestead Exemption separately. Missing the renewal, even by one day in some counties, removes the freeze for that year and resets your base-year EAV to the current higher value.

The law also requires that the applicant sign the form under penalty of perjury. Lying about income or residency is a Class A misdemeanor under Illinois law, and the assessor can claw back up to three prior years of exemption plus interest. The agency that actually decides your application is your County Chief County Assessment Officer, who reports denials and approvals to the Illinois Department of Revenue for statewide oversight.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Open every drawer, file cabinet, and online tax account before you start writing on PTAX-340. The single biggest reason seniors are denied is that they guess at an income number, then the assessor cross-checks it against IRS and Social Security records and finds a mismatch. Pull every income document for every person who lived in the home for any part of the prior year, not only the applicant.

Here is the pre-filing checklist. Each item matters because PTAX-340 asks for it directly or because the assessor will demand it on audit:

• Driver’s license or Illinois state ID showing the property address, because the assessor uses it to confirm residency on January 1.
• Recorded deed, trust agreement, or life estate document, because Line 8 requires you to identify your form of ownership and missing proof triggers an automatic hold.
• Most recent property tax bill, because you must enter the Property Index Number (PIN) exactly as printed, and a mistyped PIN routes the form to the wrong parcel.
• Social Security benefit statement (SSA-1099) for every household member, because Social Security counts toward the $65,000 cap even though it is not taxable on your federal return.
• Form 1040 and all attached schedules for the prior year, because the assessor reconciles your reported income against the AGI line.
• All 1099-R, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, and 1099-MISC forms, because pension, interest, dividend, and miscellaneous income all count toward household income.
• W-2 forms for any household member who worked, because wages of every resident count, not only the applicant’s.
• Records of tax-exempt interest, such as municipal bond statements, because these are added back into household income even though the IRS excludes them.
• Cash assistance, unemployment, and workers’ compensation statements, because all three count under the statute’s definition of income.
• Proof of age, such as a birth certificate or Medicare card, because first-time filers must prove they were 65 or older during the assessment year.

If you are missing any one of these, request a duplicate before you start. The IRS provides free wage and income transcripts online, and the Social Security Administration lets you download a replacement SSA-1099 from your my Social Security account.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

You can download the current statewide PTAX-340 PDF directly from the Illinois Department of Revenue. The revision date is printed in the lower-left corner of page 1 (look for “PTAX-340 (R-12/23)” or the most current revision). Always confirm you have the form labeled for the current assessment year before writing anything, because counties reject prior-year forms outright.

Most counties publish a county-branded version of PTAX-340 that adds a county header and sometimes one or two extra lines. You can find them on the assessor pages for Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, Will County, and Kane County. If your county is not online, call the County Assessment Office and ask them to mail the current form along with a postage-paid return envelope, which most offices provide free for seniors.

Cook County also lets seniors apply through its SmartFile online portal. The portal pre-fills your name, PIN, and prior-year exemption history, which cuts the most common errors in half. If you applied online last year, log in with the same credentials, because creating a duplicate account can create a duplicate application that the system will flag as a possible fraud attempt.

You can also pick the form up in person at any Township Assessor’s office. Township assessors do not approve PTAX-340, but they hand out the correct version, witness signatures for free, and often help seniors translate the income lines if English is a second language.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form PTAX-340 Line by Line

This is the spine of the article. Work through PTAX-340 in the order printed on the form, top to bottom, page by page. Use blue or black ink only, write in block capital letters, and never use correction fluid because the assessor must see any change initialed and dated next to the change.

Part 1, Line 1: Property Index Number (PIN)

The PIN is the unique parcel identifier the county uses to track your property in its tax system. Enter the PIN exactly as printed on your most recent property tax bill, including dashes, in the format 14-21-106-017-0000 for Cook County or 03-04-200-015 for collar counties. Margaret O’Neil writes 14-21-106-017-0000 in the PIN box because that matches her tax bill from the Cook County Treasurer.

If your home sits on more than one PIN, list each PIN on a separate PTAX-340 only if each parcel has its own home; otherwise list the primary residential PIN and write “see attached” with the additional PINs on a sheet stapled behind the form. Filers often confuse the PIN with the property’s street address or the township parcel number, but the assessor’s database is keyed only on PIN, so a transposed digit routes your application to a stranger’s parcel and the freeze never attaches to your home. The most common misconception is that a “close enough” PIN will be corrected by staff; assessors are required to process forms exactly as written, so a wrong PIN means denial.

Part 1, Line 2: Property Address

Enter the full street address of the home you live in, including unit number, city, and ZIP code. Do not use a P.O. Box on this line, because the freeze attaches to a physical residence and a P.O. Box is not a residence. Margaret writes 4218 N. Sheridan Rd., Apt. 3B, Chicago, IL 60613.

If you receive your mail at a P.O. Box, enter the P.O. Box only on the mailing-address line in Part 2, never here. Snowbirds who spend winters in Florida or Arizona must still enter the Illinois property address as their principal residence if they intend to return, because under 35 ILCS 200/15-172 you may have only one principal residence at a time. Writing two addresses, or the address of a child who helps you, is the field-level mistake that voids the residency requirement and triggers automatic denial.

Part 1, Line 3: Applicant’s Name

Write your full legal name as it appears on your Social Security card. The assessor cross-checks this name against SSA records, and a mismatch (for example, a married name on the form but maiden name on file) freezes processing until you supply a marriage certificate or court order. Margaret O’Neil writes MARGARET ANN O’NEIL.

If two spouses both meet the age and ownership tests, only one spouse signs as the applicant, but the other spouse’s income is still counted in household income on Line 12. A common misconception is that listing a child as a co-applicant strengthens the application; in fact, naming a non-owner co-applicant disqualifies the form, because the applicant must hold a legal or equitable interest in the property.

Part 1, Line 4: Date of Birth

Enter your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format. The assessor uses this date to confirm you were 65 or older at any point during the assessment year, so a senior who turned 65 on December 31 of the assessment year still qualifies. Margaret writes 06/12/1958 because she turned 67 in 2025.

If you cannot recall the exact date, do not guess; pull your Medicare card, passport, or birth certificate. Filers sometimes write the current date here by mistake, which makes them look one year old and triggers an automatic kick-out from the system. The most common misconception is that you must have been 65 on January 1; the statute only requires that you reach 65 at any time during the assessment year.

Part 1, Line 5: Telephone Number

Enter a daytime phone number where the assessor can reach you. This is the number county staff dial first if anything on the form is unclear, so use a number you actually answer. Margaret writes (312) 555-0142.

If you do not have a phone, enter the phone of a trusted family member with their permission, and write “c/o daughter” in the margin. The consequence of leaving this blank is that the assessor mails a written request for clarification, which adds 30 to 60 days to processing and may push the decision past the tax bill date. The misconception that this line is optional has caused real denials when staff cannot verify a question and the applicant never sees the mailed letter.

Part 1, Line 6: Email Address

Enter an email you check at least weekly. Counties increasingly send approval and denial notices by email, especially Cook, DuPage, and Lake. Margaret writes margaret.oneil1958@gmail.com.

If you do not use email, write “none” on the line; do not leave it blank, because blank lines on the form are read by some scanning systems as missing data. A widespread misconception is that giving an email opens you to scams from the assessor’s office; in reality, county emails always come from a .gov domain and are a faster route to fix small errors.

Part 2, Line 7: Mailing Address (if different from property address)

Use this line only if your mail goes somewhere other than the property in Line 2. A P.O. Box is fine here. Margaret leaves Line 7 blank because she gets mail at 4218 N. Sheridan Rd.

If you winter elsewhere, you may list a seasonal mailing address but must include both the start and end dates of the season in the margin (for example, “Nov 1 – Apr 1”). The consequence of using a non-Illinois mailing address without dates is that the assessor may flag the file for a residency audit, which delays the freeze. The misconception that the mailing address is the same as the residency address is the single most common cause of delayed approvals.

Part 3, Line 8: Type of Ownership

Check the one box that describes how you hold title: sole owner, joint tenant, tenant in common, life estate, leasehold, or beneficial interest in a trust. Each box has different proof requirements: a deed for fee simple, a trust agreement for trust ownership, a recorded life estate document, or a written lease for leasehold. Margaret checks “Joint Tenant” because she co-owns with her late husband’s estate, and attaches the recorded deed.

If your name is not on the deed but you have a court order, divorce decree, or probate order giving you possession, check “Other” and attach the order. The consequence of checking the wrong box is denial under the legal or equitable interest test in 35 ILCS 200/15-172. The most common misconception is that paying the mortgage or living in the home for years is enough; without recorded title or a recorded equivalent, you do not qualify.

Part 3, Line 9: Date You First Occupied the Property as Your Principal Residence

Enter the month, day, and year you moved in. The freeze requires that the home was your principal residence on January 1 of the assessment year and the prior year. Margaret writes 04/15/2009.

If you moved in mid-year, you do not qualify for the freeze for that year because you fail the prior-January-1 test, but you will qualify the following year. The consequence of fudging this date to make a recent move look earlier is perjury exposure, because the assessor can compare your date here against utility bills and voter rolls. A frequent misconception is that owning the home is enough; the statute requires both ownership and occupancy as principal residence on both January 1 dates.

Part 4, Line 10: Number of People Living in the Household

Count every person who lived in the home for any part of the prior calendar year, including children, grandchildren, roommates, and live-in caregivers. Margaret writes 2 because her adult son Patrick lived with her all year.

Temporary guests staying less than 30 days do not count, but a college-aged grandchild who spent summer break in the home does. The consequence of undercounting is severe: the assessor will discover the missing person on audit and disallow the entire freeze. The misconception that only owners are counted is the single most damaging error on PTAX-340, because every resident’s income flows into Line 12.

Part 4, Line 11: Names of All Household Members

List the full legal name of every person counted on Line 10. Use a separate sheet if the form runs out of space, and write “see attached” with your initials. Margaret lists MARGARET ANN O’NEIL and PATRICK J. O’NEIL.

If a household member moved in or out during the year, note the dates next to the name. The consequence of omitting a household member who had income is automatic denial when the assessor cross-references state tax filings to your address. The misconception that adult children’s names should be left off “to keep the application simple” causes the bulk of audit-driven clawbacks.

Part 5, Line 12: Total Household Income

This is the most important and most miscalculated line on the form. Enter the combined income, from all sources, of every person listed on Line 11 for the prior calendar year. Margaret writes $58,420.

The income definition under 35 ILCS 200/15-172 is broader than federal AGI. Add: wages, Social Security (gross, not taxable portion), SSI, railroad retirement, pension and IRA distributions, interest (including tax-exempt), dividends, capital gains, rental income, alimony, unemployment, workers’ comp, cash gifts over $500, business income, and lottery winnings. Then subtract: medical/dental expenses you itemized on Schedule A, and any income tax refunds. The consequence of forgetting Social Security is the most common reason for denial, because Social Security is excluded from your federal AGI but included in PTAX-340 income. The misconception that “I don’t pay tax on it, so it doesn’t count here” is wrong and costly.

Part 5, Lines 13–24: Income Worksheet

Lines 13 through 24 break down the components of household income by category. Fill in each subline that applies, even if it is zero, because blank sublines slow processing. Margaret writes $24,600 on the Social Security line, $31,200 on the pension line, $2,420 on the interest line, and $200 on the dividend line, totaling $58,420.

Counties expect the sum of the sublines to equal Line 12 to the dollar. The consequence of math that does not tie out is a written request for clarification and a delay of weeks. The misconception that you can “round up” or “estimate” the worksheet violates the under penalty of perjury clause; always copy the exact numbers from your 1099s and W-2s.

Part 6, Line 25: Applicant’s Signature and Date

Sign in ink and date the day you sign. By signing, you swear under penalty of perjury that everything on the form is true. Margaret signs Margaret A. O’Neil and dates 03/14/2026.

If your spouse co-owns, your spouse may also need to sign depending on county practice; check the instructions on page 2. The consequence of an unsigned form is automatic rejection without review, no matter how perfect the rest of the form is. The misconception that a digital signature image is acceptable for paper filings is wrong; paper forms require a wet-ink signature.

Part 6, Line 26: Notary or Witness (county-dependent)

Some counties require notarization, while others accept the applicant’s own sworn signature. Check your county’s instructions or call the County Assessment Office before signing. Margaret has her form notarized at her bank, which notarizes for free for account holders.

If your county requires notarization and you sign at home, the form is invalid. The consequence is a complete refile, often past the deadline. The misconception that notarization is “optional everywhere” causes hundreds of denials each year in counties that require it.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

These three named seniors show how PTAX-340 looks for three of the most common Illinois fact patterns: a widowed renter-turned-owner, a married couple near the income cap, and a senior holding the home in a living trust.

Scenario 1: Margaret O’Neil, 67, Widow in Cook County

Margaret has lived in her Uptown Chicago condo since 2009. Her husband died in 2022; she now owns the unit jointly with his estate. She lives with her adult son Patrick, who works part-time. Her income is mostly Social Security and a teacher’s pension.

Form Section	What Margaret Enters
Line 1 PIN	14-21-106-017-0000
Line 2 Property address	4218 N. Sheridan Rd., Apt. 3B, Chicago, IL 60613
Line 3 Applicant name	MARGARET ANN O’NEIL
Line 4 Date of birth	06/12/1958
Line 8 Type of ownership	Joint Tenant (deed attached)
Line 9 First occupied	04/15/2009
Line 10 Household members	2
Line 11 Names	MARGARET A. O’NEIL; PATRICK J. O’NEIL
Line 12 Total household income	$58,420
Line 25 Signature/date	Margaret A. O’Neil, 03/14/2026

Scenario 2: Carlos and Elena Rivera, Married Couple in DuPage County

Carlos (age 71) and Elena (age 68) co-own their Naperville home as tenants by the entirety. Carlos receives Social Security and a small Boeing pension; Elena still works two days a week as a school nurse. Their combined income runs near the $65,000 cap, so every dollar matters.

Form Section	What Carlos Enters
Line 1 PIN	07-09-301-022
Line 2 Property address	1432 Maplewood Ln., Naperville, IL 60540
Line 3 Applicant name	CARLOS MIGUEL RIVERA
Line 4 Date of birth	02/03/1955
Line 8 Type of ownership	Tenants by the Entirety (deed attached)
Line 10 Household members	2
Line 11 Names	CARLOS M. RIVERA; ELENA S. RIVERA
Line 12 Total household income	$63,980
Line 13 Social Security (Carlos + Elena)	$34,200
Line 25 Signature/date	Carlos M. Rivera, 04/02/2026

Because the Riveras are within $1,020 of the cap, Carlos itemized $4,800 in unreimbursed medical premiums on the worksheet to confirm the net household income figure, which the DuPage Supervisor of Assessments accepts as a permitted reduction.

Scenario 3: James Whitfield, 74, Living Trust Owner in Lake County

James placed his Lake Forest home into the James Whitfield Revocable Living Trust in 2018 for estate-planning purposes. He is the trustee and the sole beneficiary, so under Illinois law he holds beneficial interest and qualifies for the freeze.

Form Section	What James Enters
Line 1 PIN	12-15-208-009
Line 2 Property address	225 Deerpath Rd., Lake Forest, IL 60045
Line 3 Applicant name	JAMES ROBERT WHITFIELD, TRUSTEE
Line 4 Date of birth	11/22/1951
Line 8 Type of ownership	Beneficial Interest in Trust (trust agreement attached)
Line 10 Household members	1
Line 11 Names	JAMES R. WHITFIELD
Line 12 Total household income	$41,750
Line 13 Social Security	$28,800
Line 25 Signature/date	James R. Whitfield, Trustee, 03/30/2026

James attached the first and signature pages of his trust to prove beneficial interest, because the Lake County Chief County Assessment Office does not require the full trust document, only proof that the applicant is the lifetime beneficiary.

How to File the Completed Form

PTAX-340 is filed with your County Chief County Assessment Officer, not with the Illinois Department of Revenue. Each county sets its own filing channels, deadlines, and proof-of-filing rules, so always check your county’s page before mailing.

By mail. Send the original signed form and copies of all attachments to the County Assessment Office at the address printed on the form’s page 2. The fee is $0. Use USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt, which costs about $4.85 and gives you a green card stamped by the county as proof of filing. Processing takes 6 to 12 weeks in most counties.

In person. Bring the original form and originals of every attachment to the County Assessment Office counter. Staff stamp your copy “Received” with the date, and that stamped copy is your proof of filing. The fee is $0, and walk-in processing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks.

Online. Cook County accepts PTAX-340 through the SmartFile portal; DuPage and Lake offer online uploads through their assessor sites; most rural counties remain paper-only. Online filings produce an immediate confirmation number and a downloadable receipt. The fee is $0, processing runs 4 to 6 weeks, and the confirmation email is your proof of filing.

By fax. A small number of downstate counties accept faxed PTAX-340 forms; call first. The fax confirmation page is your proof of filing, and processing matches mail timelines.

The statewide statutory deadline anchor is July 1 of the assessment year, but each county may set its own earlier or later date under 35 ILCS 200/15-172. Cook County typically closes filing in early spring; DuPage closes in late summer; Lake and Will run on a March 1 to July 1 window. Late forms are not accepted, period; the freeze is lost for that year and you must reapply the following year with the higher base EAV.

What Happens After You File

Within two to twelve weeks of filing, the county sends a written or emailed notice. Approval notices state the base year EAV, which becomes the locked value for the freeze, and the assessment year covered. Denial notices state the reason and the deadline to appeal, usually 30 days.

If you are approved, the freeze appears on your second-installment property tax bill, which arrives in late summer or fall. The bill shows the frozen EAV next to the current EAV, and your tax is calculated against the lower frozen number. If the frozen amount does not appear, call the County Treasurer immediately because billing errors are common in the first year.

If you are denied, you have the right to appeal to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) or to the County Board of Review. PTAB appeals are free, can be filed online, and decisions usually arrive within 12 to 18 months. While the appeal is pending, you must still pay the unreduced bill on time to avoid penalty interest, and any refund is issued after the appeal is won.

Approval is not permanent. You must refile PTAX-340 every year the freeze is in effect, and any change in ownership, residency, or income above $65,000 ends the freeze. The base-year EAV stays locked only as long as you keep qualifying and keep refiling.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Avoid these field-level mistakes; each one has caused real denials at Illinois county assessment offices.

• Forgetting Social Security on Line 12. Social Security is included in PTAX-340 income; leaving it off triggers an immediate audit and denial.
• Using a P.O. Box on Line 2. The freeze attaches only to a physical residence; a P.O. Box voids the residency element.
• Mistyping the PIN. A wrong digit routes the form to a stranger’s parcel, and the freeze never attaches to your home.
• Skipping household members. Failing to list an adult child or roommate is the most common reason for clawback after the fact.
• Estimating income. Round numbers like $50,000 flag the form for review; copy exact figures from 1099s.
• Filing without attaching proof of ownership. Trust and life estate filers especially must attach the underlying document.
• Filing the wrong year’s form. Always download the current revision from the Illinois Department of Revenue.
• Missing the county deadline. Late equals denied; there is no late-filing extension under 35 ILCS 200/15-172.
• Skipping notarization in counties that require it. An unsworn form in a notary county is invalid.
• Forgetting to sign Line 25. An unsigned form is rejected without review.
• Using correction fluid. Cross out neatly and initial; whiteout makes the form unreadable to scanners.
• Failing to keep a copy. Without your stamped or scanned copy, you cannot prove timely filing if the county loses the form.

Dos and Don’ts

Do:

• Do download the current PTAX-340 form, because old revisions are rejected.
• Do file early in the county window, because last-day filings risk postal delays.
• Do attach proof of every ownership type, because the assessor cannot infer ownership from the form alone.
• Do count gross Social Security, because the statute requires gross, not taxable.
• Do keep a stamped or digital copy, because lost forms happen and proof-of-filing wins disputes.
• Do refile every year, because the freeze is annual, not permanent.
• Do call your township assessor with questions, because they help for free.

Don’t:

• Don’t guess at income, because cross-checks against IRS and SSA records will catch you.
• Don’t list a non-owner as the applicant, because only owners or beneficial interest holders qualify.
• Don’t write in pencil, because the form must be in permanent ink.
• Don’t claim the freeze on a vacation home, because only a principal residence qualifies.
• Don’t ignore a county request for clarification, because non-response equals denial.
• Don’t forget to also renew the General Homestead Exemption, because the two are separate.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Many seniors handle PTAX-340 themselves; others use a tax preparer, attorney, or a free volunteer service like AARP Foundation Tax-Aide.

Pros of filing on your own:

• The form is short, only two pages, and the math is straightforward addition.
• There is no filing fee at any county.
• You learn the system and can refile next year faster.
• Township assessors offer free help, including notarization in many counties.
• You control the timing and avoid waiting for an appointment.

Cons of filing on your own:

• Income definitions are tricky, especially Social Security and tax-exempt interest.
• Trust and life estate ownership require legal documents that confuse most filers.
• A single mistake costs an entire year of freeze, often hundreds of dollars.
• Counties will not call to “fix” small errors; they deny and let you appeal.
• Appeals take 12 to 18 months and require evidence you may not have kept.

Pros of filing with help:

• Tax preparers and Tax-Aide volunteers know exactly which 1099 lines feed which PTAX-340 line.
• Attorneys can resolve trust, life estate, and probate ownership questions on the spot.
• Help is often free for seniors through AARP and local senior centers.
• A second set of eyes catches the household-member and Social Security errors before filing.
• Helpers usually prepare the General Homestead and senior exemptions at the same visit.

Cons of filing with help:

• Paid preparers may charge $50 to $200, eating into the savings.
• Appointments fill up fast in March and April.
• The applicant still must sign personally; helpers cannot sign for you.
• Some helpers are unfamiliar with PTAX-340 specifically; ask first.
• You must give the helper sensitive financial documents.

Comparing PTAX-340 to Related Illinois Property Tax Forms

Form	What It Does
PTAX-340	Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption application; freezes EAV for seniors with household income at or below $65,000
PTAX-324	Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption application; reduces EAV by $8,000 (Cook) or $5,000 (other counties) for seniors regardless of income
PTAX-343	Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities
PTAX-342	Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities
PTAX-203	Real Estate Transfer Declaration filed at sale, used by assessors to update parcel ownership

Key Agencies, Statutes, and Programs

The Illinois Department of Revenue publishes the form and oversees uniform application of the exemption. Each County Chief County Assessment Officer approves or denies individual applications. The Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) hears appeals from denials and from over-assessment claims. The governing statute is 35 ILCS 200/15-172, which sets the income cap, age threshold, and the freeze mechanism. The Illinois General Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-175) interacts with PTAX-340 and is reviewed at the same time by most counties.

Recent Rulings and Agency Guidance

The Illinois General Assembly raised the household income cap from $55,000 to $65,000 effective for the 2017 assessment year, and that cap remains in effect for the current year per 35 ILCS 200/15-172. The Cook County Assessor has issued guidance allowing seniors who received the freeze in the immediately prior year to renew with a streamlined “auto-renewal” form in some years, but the full PTAX-340 is still required at least every other year. PTAB has consistently ruled that beneficial interest in a revocable living trust qualifies as a legal or equitable interest under the statute, which protects trust-owning seniors who hold the home solely for their own benefit.

FAQs

Does Social Security count toward the $65,000 income cap?

Yes. Gross Social Security benefits, including the portion that is not taxed federally, are included in PTAX-340 household income, even though they are excluded from federal AGI.

Do I have to refile PTAX-340 every year?

Yes. The freeze is annual; you must refile every year you want it, and missing a year resets your base-year EAV to the current higher value.

Can my spouse be the applicant if only I am over 65?

No. The applicant must be 65 or older during the assessment year and must hold a legal or equitable interest in the property; a younger spouse does not qualify.

Do I count my adult son’s wages on Line 12?

Yes. Every household member’s income counts, including adult children, roommates, and live-in caregivers, regardless of whether they are on the deed.

Is a P.O. Box acceptable as my property address on Line 2?

No. The freeze applies only to a physical principal residence, so the property address line must show a street address.

Can I file PTAX-340 online?

Yes. Cook, DuPage, Lake, and several other counties accept online filings; check your County Assessment Office page for the portal link.

Is there a fee to file PTAX-340?

No. PTAX-340 is free in every Illinois county, whether filed online, in person, by mail, or by fax.

If I miss the county deadline, can I get an extension?

No. Illinois law does not allow late filings of PTAX-340; you lose the freeze for that year and must reapply next year.

Do I write my maiden name or married name on Line 3?

No to whichever does not match your Social Security record; use the exact name on your SSA card to avoid a name-mismatch hold.

Does the freeze stop my property tax bill from going up?

No. The freeze locks the assessed value, but tax rates set by local governments can still rise, so your bill may grow even with the freeze.

Can I claim the freeze on my vacation home?

No. Only your principal residence qualifies, and you may have only one principal residence at a time under Illinois law.

Do I need a notary?

No in most counties, but yes in some; check your county’s instructions, because an unnotarized form in a notary county is invalid.

What if my income is exactly $65,000?

Yes, you still qualify; the cap is at or below $65,000, so $65,000 itself is within the limit.

Can I get the freeze if my home is in a living trust?

Yes. A revocable living trust where you are the lifetime beneficiary counts as beneficial interest; attach the trust’s first and signature pages.

What happens if I lie on PTAX-340?

No good outcome; perjury exposure, clawback of up to three prior years of exemption, interest, and a Class A misdemeanor referral are possible under 35 ILCS 200/15-172.