St. Clair County Assessor: Veteran Exemptions

The exemptions are the State's; the Illinois entries explain them. In St. Clair County the Supervisor of Assessments administers them (618-825-2704; [email protected]), and the Veterans Assistance Commission offers to fill in PTAX-341, PTAX-342 and the PTAX-342-R renewal with the veteran and file them directly with the Assessor. Where the Assessor's exemption list is behind the statute. - The 70% tier. The list says a rating of 70% to 100% makes the home "Tax Exempt". Since taxable year 2023, 35 ILCS 200/15-169(b-3.1) exempts the first $250,000 of equalized assessed value, which covers almost every home but not one assessed above that. - Who qualifies. The list asks for an honorable discharge. For taxable year 2023 on, section 15-169(f) defines the veteran by a VA-certified service-connected disability with compensation, not by the discharge. - What is missing. The list does not mention the exemption for a World War II veteran regardless of rating (from taxable year 2024), the surviving spouse receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, or that a World War II veteran and a 100% permanent and total veteran need not reapply each year (section 15-169(e)). The Commission's page does say the 100% permanent and total veteran is exempt from renewal. The returning veterans exemption. The list and the Commission both say it is $5,000 off equalized assessed value for the year of return and the year after, as section 15-167 provides. The Commission's page for it opens with a paragraph about the disabled veterans exemption, but its steps are the right ones: a Guard or reserve member brings the DD-214, and an active-duty member the DD-220 or orders and travel voucher showing return from an armed conflict that year. Specially adapted housing. Up to $100,000 off assessed value under section 15-165, verified each year. A disabled veteran can take only one of the disabled persons, standard veterans and specially adapted housing exemptions.