Do I have the Kane County homestead exemption on my home?
If you own and live in your Kane County home as your main residence, start with the county’s General Homestead Exemption. In Kane County, the current General Homestead Exemption reduces the home’s Equalized Assessed Value, or EAV, by $8,000 before taxes are calculated.
This does not mean your tax bill will drop by $8,000. It means $8,000 is removed from the assessed value used in the tax calculation. Your actual tax change depends on your local tax rate, school district, municipality, and other taxing districts.
The safest first step is to check your property record or tax bill, then apply or ask the Kane County Assessment Office if the exemption is missing. Kane County says homeowners can apply through the online exemption portal, or they can call the Assessment Office and ask for a form.
Not a government office. HomesteadExemption.org is an independent information site. We do not file exemption forms, approve applications, set tax rates, or decide eligibility.
What Kane County means by “homestead exemption”
In Illinois, a homestead exemption is a property-tax assessment reduction for a qualifying primary residence. Kane County explains that homestead exemptions reduce the taxable value of a property before taxes are calculated. They are typically for homes occupied by owners, or people with a legal or equitable interest, as of January 1 of the taxable year.
The important words are primary residence, ownership or legal interest, and tax year. A home you rent out, a second home, or a home you used to live in may not qualify the same way.
Illinois uses the phrase “Equalized Assessed Value,” often shortened to EAV. The exemption usually reduces EAV. It does not erase the tax bill. It also does not stop local taxing bodies from changing levies or rates.
Where to start in Kane County
Step 1: Look up your property
Use the Kane County property tax inquiry to search by parcel number, owner name, or address. Look for the exemptions listed on your property record or tax information.
Step 2: Compare the exemption to your situation
If you live in the home as your main residence, look for the General Homestead Exemption. If you are 65 or older, look at the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption. If you are a senior with limited household income, also read the Senior Freeze rules.
Step 3: Use the county application path
Kane County’s forms page says several homestead exemption forms can be completed through the county’s online portal. The same page lists downloadable forms for the Low-Income Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption and certain supporting forms.
Step 4: Ask before guessing
If the home is in a trust, was inherited, is in probate, was transferred after a divorce, or changed title recently, contact the Kane County Assessment Office before assuming the exemption will continue.
Kane County homestead exemptions homeowners most often ask about
The table below stays within homestead exemptions. It is not a general property tax relief list.
| Exemption | What it may do | Basic Kane County starting point |
|---|---|---|
| General Homestead Exemption | Reduces EAV by $8,000 for the current tax assessment year. | The home must be the owner’s principal residence. Apply with the County Assessment Office through the portal or by requesting a mailed form. |
| Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption | Reduces EAV by $8,000 for the current tax assessment year. | The property must be the owner’s principal residence, and the owner must be 65 or older by December 31 of the tax assessment year. |
| Low-Income Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption | Freezes the assessment at a base year if the homeowner qualifies. It does not freeze the tax bill. | The home must be the owner’s principal residence for the beginning of two consecutive years. The owner must be 65 or older by December 31 of the tax assessment year and meet household income rules. |
| Persons with Disabilities Homestead Exemption | Reduces EAV by $2,000 for the current tax year. | The taxpayer must meet the disability standard, occupy the property as a primary residence as of January 1, be liable for property taxes, and have a written ownership interest. |
| Veterans with Disabilities Homestead Exemption | Reduces EAV based on the veteran’s certified service-connected disability percentage. | The veteran must meet the county and state requirements, including at least a 30% service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and must own and occupy the home as of January 1. |
| Returning Veterans’ Homestead Exemption | Provides a one-time $5,000 EAV reduction for a qualifying returning veteran. | The veteran must meet the service, return-from-active-duty, ownership or legal interest, principal residence, and property-tax liability rules. |
| Homestead Improvement Exemption | Reduces the EAV attributable to a qualifying improvement for four years, based on the fair cash value of the improvement, up to the county’s stated limit. | The property must be the owner’s principal residence and have a new improvement that increases value. Kane County says no application is needed; the Township Assessor verifies the amount to the County Assessment Office. |
Use the county’s own exemption pages for the exact current rules: General Homestead, Senior Homestead, Senior Freeze, Persons with Disabilities, Veterans with Disabilities, Returning Veterans, and Homestead Improvement.
The General Homestead Exemption in Kane County
This is the main homeowner exemption. Kane County says the General Homestead Exemption reduces EAV by $8,000 for the current tax assessment year. The property must be the owner’s principal residence.
Do not assume it appears automatically after a purchase. If you bought the home, moved in, refinanced, changed title, or noticed the exemption missing on your bill, check with the Kane County Assessment Office.
Things to have nearby
- Your property address.
- Your parcel number, if you have it.
- Your tax bill or property record.
- Proof that the home is your main residence, if requested.
- Any deed, trust, leasehold, or ownership documents if title is not simple.
Senior Homestead and Senior Freeze are not the same
Kane County has a Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption and a Low-Income Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption. They sound similar, but they are different.
Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption
This exemption reduces EAV by $8,000 for the current tax assessment year. Kane County says the home must be the owner’s principal residence, and the owner must be 65 or older by December 31 of the tax assessment year. After the initial application is approved, Kane County says this exemption automatically renews as long as the senior taxpayer continues to qualify.
Low-Income Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption
This exemption can freeze your assessment at a base year. It does not freeze your taxes. Your bill can still change because tax rates, levies, and other parts of the bill may change.
For 2025 taxes payable in 2026, Kane County lists a maximum household income of $65,000. Kane County also says a new state law increases the maximum household income beginning with the 2026 tax year, payable in 2027.
| Property tax year | Taxes payable in | Household income year used | Maximum household income listed by Kane County |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2026 | 2024 | $65,000 |
| 2026 | 2027 | 2025 | $75,000 |
| 2027 | 2028 | 2026 | $77,000 |
| 2028 | 2029 | 2027 | $79,000 |
Kane County says that after 2028, the maximum income limitation remains $79,000 unless the Illinois General Assembly changes it.
For the 2026 tax year, payable in 2027, Kane County’s published Senior Freeze update says applications are due back to the Kane County Assessment Office no later than July 1, 2026. Confirm the current deadline on the county’s Senior Freeze page before relying on any date.
Whose income counts for the Senior Freeze?
For the Senior Freeze, Kane County says household income includes the applicant, the applicant’s spouse even if the spouse lives elsewhere, and all other people using the residence as their principal place of residence as of January 1 of the year.
The county lists several income categories that may need to be reported, including federal adjusted gross income, interest or dividends, annuities, Social Security benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits, certain public assistance, loss carryovers, and workers’ compensation or occupational disease benefits. Veteran’s benefits are excluded under the county’s explanation of state law.
Do not estimate quickly from memory. If you are applying for the Senior Freeze, gather the documents the application asks for and contact the Assessment Office if a household member’s income is unclear.
If the home is inherited, in a trust, or changed title
Homestead exemptions can be affected by ownership and legal interest. This is where many homeowners get surprised.
If a parent died, a spouse died, a divorce changed title, a deed was recorded, the home was placed into a trust, or a trust changed trustees, do not assume the existing exemption is safe. Ask the Kane County Assessment Office how to show your ownership or legal interest and primary residence status.
If you are a surviving spouse of a veteran with disabilities, ask the county about the correct veterans with disabilities homestead application or renewal path. Do not use a general homeowner form if the county tells you a specific veteran or surviving-spouse form is needed.
If your exemption is missing, late, or denied
First, identify the exact problem. A missing General Homestead Exemption is different from a Senior Freeze renewal problem. A valuation appeal is different from an exemption problem.
Do not wait for the next bill if something looks wrong
Tax bills can arrive after the assessment and exemption year is already well underway. If an exemption is missing, contact the county as soon as you notice it.
- If the exemption is missing: ask whether the county needs an application, proof of residence, ownership documents, or a correction to the property record.
- If you missed a Senior Freeze renewal: ask the Assessment Office what can still be filed for the year involved. Annual filing rules matter for the freeze.
- If you were denied: ask for the reason in writing or keep the written notice. Find out whether the issue was age, income, ownership, primary residence, disability proof, veteran documentation, or timing.
- If the issue is the assessed value itself: that is usually an assessment complaint, not a homestead application. Kane County says assessment complaints for the next taxable year can be filed after the assessment notice is published.
The Kane County Board of Review reviews assessment complaints and exemption requests. If your situation has reached that stage, read the county’s Board of Review and deadline pages carefully before filing anything.
Common Kane County homestead exemption problems
| Problem | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| You bought the home recently. | The previous owner’s exemption may not carry over the way you expect. | Check your property record and ask the Assessment Office how to apply for the correct year. |
| You turned 65 this year. | The Senior Homestead Exemption has an age rule tied to December 31 of the tax assessment year. | Apply through the county portal or ask for a mailed form. |
| You receive the Senior Homestead Exemption but not the Senior Freeze. | The Senior Freeze has separate income and filing rules. | Read the Senior Freeze page and gather household income documents before applying. |
| The home is in a trust. | The county may need to confirm legal or equitable interest and primary residence status. | Call the Assessment Office before filing the wrong form. |
| You made an addition or improvement. | A Homestead Improvement Exemption may apply to part of the new value for a limited period. | Contact your Township Assessor if the improvement exemption is not reflected or you have questions. |
This is not the bankruptcy homestead exemption
Illinois also has a separate homestead protection rule in court and debt situations. That rule appears in the Illinois Code as a homestead estate. It is not the Kane County property-tax homestead exemption discussed on this page.
If your question is about bankruptcy, foreclosure, creditor protection, or protecting home equity from a judgment, read the Illinois homestead estate statute and speak with a qualified legal professional. A property-tax homestead exemption application will not solve a bankruptcy or debt-protection issue.
Official Kane County office for homestead exemption questions
Kane County Assessment Office
719 Batavia Ave, Bldg C
Geneva, IL 60134
Phone: 630-208-3818
Office hours listed by the county: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed holidays.
Start with the official Kane County homestead exemptions page.
Official sources used
Independent editorial note
This guide was last reviewed on May 19, 2026. It uses official Kane County, Illinois Department of Revenue, and Illinois General Assembly sources, with high-trust sources used only where they help explain context. Homestead exemption rules, forms, income limits, deadlines, and office procedures can change. Confirm your situation with the Kane County Assessment Office or another official source before acting.
HomesteadExemption.org is not a government agency, law firm, tax preparer, filing service, county assessor, property appraiser, tax collector, or benefits office. This page is for general information only.