Who qualifies: If you own and occupy your home as your principal residence, you qualify for the Residential Exemption.

How to apply: Contact  the Kendall County Supervisor of Assessments Office to make sure you are not already receiving it. If you are not, request a Residential Exemption application form.

What it is: An exemption that deducts $5,000 from your assessment prior to calculation of your tax bill.

Who qualifies: Homeowners 65 years of age and older who own and occupy their homes as their principal residence. It is not necessary for both spouses to be 65 years of age or older in order to qualify.

How to apply: Contact  the  Kendall County Supervisor of Assessments Office. 

What it is: An exemption that freezes the assessment of qualifying seniors. Once frozen, the assessment can only increase by whatever assessment multipliers are placed on the neighborhood or Township as a whole. Keep in mind, however, that you must re-apply for the Freeze each year. If you no longer qualify during a particular year, your property could be subject to reassessment for current market value.

Who qualifies: Seniors 65 years of age and older with an annual household income that meets the State's statutory criteria. You must own and occupy the property in question as your principal residence and be liable for the payment of property taxes. Again, keep in mind that you must re-apply and qualify each year; if your annual household income should exceed the statutory maximum, your assessment will no longer be frozen and your property could be subject to reassessment.

How to apply: Contact the Kendall County Supervisor of Assessments Office and request help with applying for the Senior Citizens' Assessment Freeze.

What it is: A four-year exemption on assessment increases that are due to new construction to your home, up to the statutory maximum of $25,000 in assessed value.

For example: If you add an assessable improvement to your home that increases your assessment by $2,000, you will fall well under the $25,000 maximum; no portion of the $2,000 assessment increase will be taxable for four years. However, if you add an addition that increases your assessment by $30,000, then you will exceed the $25,000 maximum; in this case, the first $25,000 of your $30,000 assessment increase will not be taxable for four years, but the remaining $5,000 will show up on your tax bill immediately.

Who qualifies: Homeowners who own and occupy their home as their principal residence and have made an improvement to their home that increases its market value (thus triggering a corresponding increase in assessment).

How to apply: You automatically receive your Home Improvement Exemption if you meet the above qualifications; no application is necessary.

What it is: An exemption that deducts $2,000 from your assessment prior to the calculation of your tax bill. Applications are available from the County Assessment Office and must be filed by the owner of record (or person holding equitable interest) and made each year the taxpayer remains eligible.

Who qualifies: To qualify for the Disabled Persons' Homestead Exemption the taxpayer must be "unable to engage in substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or medical impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months." Evidence that a taxpayer meets this condition includes:

a. A Class 2 (or 2A) 1llinois Disabled Person ID Card from the Illinois Secretary of State's Office.

b. Proof of Social Security Administration disability benefits.

c. Proof of Veterans Administration disability benefits.

d. Proof of Railroad or Civil Service disability benefits.

e. An examination by a physician (must meet the same standards as used by the Social Security Administration).

f. An eligible taxpayer must occupy the property as their primary residence as of January 1 of the assessment year, must be liable for paying the real estate taxes and must be an owner of record or have a legal or equitable interest in the property as evidenced by a written instrument.

g. A taxpayer may not claim this exemption if they claim the Disabled Veterans Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-165) or the Disabled Veterans Standard Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-169).

How to apply: Contact the Kendall County Supervisor of Assessments Office.

Who qualifies: Disable Veterans' Standard Homestead Exemption 

Disabled Veterans' Standard Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-169) provides a reduction in a property's EAV to qualifying property owned by a veteran with a service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs. A $2,500 homestead exemption is available to a veteran with a service-connected disability of 30% to 49% , 50% to 69%  a $5,000, 70% or more is tax exempt.  A disabled veteran must file an annual application by the county's due date to continue to receive this exemption

How to apply: Contact the Kendall County Supervisor of Assessments Office.

What it is: An exemption that will remove up to $70,000 of equalized assessed value from property owned and occupied by a qualifying disabled veteran.

Who qualifies: Owner and occupant must be a disabled veteran who has served in the Armed Forces of the United States and who has acquired, in connection with that service, a disability of such a nature that the Federal Government has authorized payment for purchase or construction of specially adapted housing as set forth in the U.S. CODE TITLE 38, Chapter 21. An unmarried surviving spouse of a disabled veteran may continue to receive this exemption on his or her spouse's homestead property. A taxpayer may not claim this exemption if they claim the Disabled Veterans Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-165) or the Disabled Persons' Homestead Exemption (35 ILCS 200/15-168).

How to apply: Contact the Kendall County Supervisor of Assessments Office.

What it is: An exemption that makes a one-year only deduction of $5,000 from your assessment prior to the calculation of your tax bill. This exemption may only be claimed in the year in which the eligible veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict.

Who qualifies: Owner and occupant must be an Illinois resident who has served as a member of the U. S. Armed Forces, Illinois National Guard, or U.S. Reserve Forces. Must be returning from active duty in an armed conflict involving the armed forces of the United States during the assessment year. A veteran who dies during his or her active duty service is also eligible to receive this exemption. Must have owned or had a legal or equitable interest in the property used as the principal place of residence on January 1 of the assessment year. Must be liable for the payment of the property taxes.

How to apply: Contact the Kendall County Supervisor of Assessments Office.