AppealDesk

Champaign County Property Tax Appeal — Illinois

Rob HartleyRob Hartley·Updated March 5, 2026

Champaign County is located in east-central Illinois with Urbana serving as the county seat. Major population centers include the cities of Champaign and Urbana, as well as smaller communities like Rantoul, Savoy, and Mahomet. The county is home to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has a population of approximately 210,000 residents. Property tax appeals matter significantly here because Champaign County has one of the highest median property taxes in Illinois and the nation, with the median annual tax bill of $4,245 substantially exceeding both state and national averages, making it critical for homeowners to ensure their assessments are accurate.

Notable cities: Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul, Savoy, Mahomet

Median Home

$205,100

Tax Rate

2.07%

Annual Tax

$4,245

Population

210,000

2026 Appeal Deadline: July 1 through September 10, 2026

The Champaign County Board of Review accepts assessment complaints from July 1 to September 10 each year. Property owners also have a minimum of 30 days from the date of newspaper publication of assessment changes to file an appeal. Assessment notices are typically mailed in spring (March-April), and assessments are finalized by mid-July.

Property in Champaign County, Illinois — local tax assessment and appeal guide

How Champaign County Assesses Property

33.33%of market value

Assessed by: Champaign County Supervisor of Assessments and Township Assessors

Assessment cycle: annual

Notices typically mailed: Spring (typically mid-March to April)

In Champaign County, property is assessed annually at 33.33% (one-third) of its fair market value, as mandated by Illinois law. For example, if your home has a market value of $205,100 (the county median), at Illinois's 33.33% assessment ratio your assessed value would be approximately $68,367. At the county's effective tax rate of 2.07%, this would result in approximately $4,245 in annual property taxes before exemptions.

The Appeal Process

Appeals are heard by the Board of Review. The three-member Board of Review conducts hearings from July 1 through September 10 each year. Hearings may be virtual or in-person at the Brookens Administrative Center, scheduled in 30-minute intervals with time divided between the property owner and the assessor. After September 10, the Board researches values on each complaint and issues written decisions.

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Step 1: Contact your local Township Assessor first for an informal review. They are most familiar with your property and may make adjustments based on additional information you provide about your property's condition, features, or recent sales of comparable properties.

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Step 2: If the Township Assessor makes no adjustment, obtain the required assessment complaint form from the Champaign County Board of Review office or website. Use the residential property form for single-family homes, with separate forms available for commercial and farm properties.

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Step 3: File your formal written complaint with the Champaign County Board of Review between July 1 and September 10. Include supporting evidence such as recent appraisals, comparable sales data, photographs documenting property conditions, or repair estimates for any defects affecting value.

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Step 4: Attend your scheduled hearing before the Board of Review. Hearings may be conducted virtually or in-person and are scheduled in 30-minute intervals. Present your evidence clearly and be prepared to explain why your property's assessed value is incorrect or unfair compared to similar properties.

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Step 5: Await the Board of Review's written decision, issued after September 10. If denied, you may appeal to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB), a five-member state panel that reviews local decisions.

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Step 6: If the PTAB appeal is unsuccessful, you may file a tax objection complaint in Circuit Court as a final resort. Note that you must pay taxes under protest when pursuing court action, and generally must have first exhausted the Board of Review appeal process.

Required form: Board of Review Assessment Complaint Form (separate forms for residential, commercial, and farm properties)

Filing Methods

mail:Mail to: Champaign County Board of Review, 1776 East Washington Street, Brookens Administrative Center, Urbana, IL 61802
in-person:Deliver to: Brookens Administrative Center, 1776 East Washington Street, Urbana, IL 61802
email:Email: bor@co.champaign.il.us (contact first to confirm submission requirements)

Evidence to Bring

Recent professional appraisalComparable sales data from similar properties in your areaPhotographs showing property condition or defectsRepair estimates for structural issues or needed improvementsProperty record card showing incorrect informationDocumentation of unequal assessment compared to similar properties

Champaign County Assessor Contact

Champaign County Supervisor of Assessments

Phone: 217-384-3760

Address: 1776 East Washington Street, Brookens Administrative Center, Urbana, IL 61802

Website: https://www.co.champaign.il.us/ccao/assessor.php

Online Portal: https://champaignil.devnetwedge.com/

Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday

Tax Exemptions in Champaign County

General Homestead Exemption

$6,000 reduction in EAV

Reduces the equalized assessed value (EAV) of owner-occupied primary residences including houses, duplexes, and condominiums.

Eligibility: Must be the primary residence of the owner on January 1 of the assessment year. Initial application required, then automatically renews annually.Deadline: Contact County Assessment Office for current year deadline

Senior Citizens Homestead Exemption

$5,000 reduction in EAV ($8,000 in Cook County and contiguous counties)

Provides an additional annual reduction in equalized assessed value for senior homeowners beyond the general homestead exemption.

Eligibility: Must be 65 years or older by December 31 of the assessment year, own or have legal interest in the property, and occupy it as principal residence. Must be liable for property taxes.Deadline: Contact County Assessment Office; once approved may require annual Form PTAX-329 verification

Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze Homestead Exemption (SCAFHE)

Freezes EAV at base year value

Freezes the property's equalized assessed value at the base year level, preventing increases due to inflation. Note: This does NOT freeze taxes, only the assessed value.

Eligibility: Must be 65 or older by December 31 of assessment year, occupy property as primary residence on January 1 for two consecutive years, and meet household income requirement of $75,000 or less.Deadline: Contact County Assessment Office at 217-384-3760 or assessor@co.champaign.il.us

Persons with Disabilities Homestead Exemption

$2,000 reduction in EAV

Provides a reduction in equalized assessed value for homeowners with qualifying disabilities.

Eligibility: Must occupy property as primary residence on January 1, be liable for property taxes, and be unable to engage in substantial gainful activity due to medically determinable physical or mental impairment expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Medical documentation required.Deadline: Contact County Assessment Office; persons becoming disabled during assessment year are eligible that same year

Returning Veterans' Homestead Exemption

$5,000 reduction in EAV

One-time exemption for eligible veterans returning from active duty in armed conflicts.

Eligibility: Must be liable for property taxes and may only claim in the year the eligible veteran returns from active duty in an armed conflict. If deployed again and returns in a subsequent year, eligible again if conditions are met.Deadline: Contact County Assessment Office; apply in year of return from active duty

Disabled Veterans' Standard Homestead Exemption

$2,500 reduction in EAV for veterans with at least 30% service-connected disability but less than 50%

Annual exemption for veterans with service-connected disabilities certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Eligibility: Must be a veteran with service-connected disability of at least 30%, own and occupy property as principal residence, and be liable for property taxes.Deadline: Contact County Assessment Office at 217-384-3760

Official Resources

Champaign County Supervisor of Assessments Office →

Official county assessor website with property information, assessment resources, exemption forms, and taxpayer resources.

Champaign County Board of Review →

File assessment appeals, download complaint forms, and learn about the Board of Review hearing process and rules.

Champaign County Property Tax Inquiry Portal →

Search property records, view current assessments, tax bills, legal descriptions, sales history, and payment information by address or parcel number.

Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) →

State-level appeals board for challenging Board of Review decisions, with forms, instructions, and eFiling portal for attorney-represented appeals.

Check Your Champaign County Assessment

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline to appeal my property taxes in Champaign County for 2026?
The Champaign County Board of Review accepts assessment appeals from July 1 through September 10, 2026. You also have a minimum of 30 days from the date your assessment changes are published in the newspaper to file an appeal. Assessment notices are typically mailed in spring (March-April), so it's important to review your notice promptly and contact your Township Assessor first for an informal review before the Board of Review filing period opens on July 1.
How do I file a property tax appeal in Champaign County?
Start by contacting your local Township Assessor for an informal review - they may adjust your assessment based on additional information. If that doesn't resolve the issue, obtain the appropriate assessment complaint form from the Board of Review (separate forms exist for residential, commercial, and farm properties). File the completed form with supporting evidence to the Board of Review at 1776 East Washington Street, Urbana, IL 61802, by mail, in-person, or by emailing bor@co.champaign.il.us between July 1 and September 10. Include evidence such as comparable sales, appraisals, photos, or documentation of property record errors. The Board will schedule a hearing and issue a written decision after reviewing your case.
What is the homestead exemption worth in Champaign County?
The General Homestead Exemption in Champaign County reduces your equalized assessed value by $6,000, which can save you approximately $124 annually in property taxes at the county's average effective rate. Senior citizens age 65 and older qualify for an additional $5,000 exemption ($8,000 in Cook County and contiguous counties), providing further savings. If you're a senior with household income of $75,000 or less, you may also qualify for the Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze, which prevents your assessed value from increasing due to inflation. The General Homestead Exemption requires an initial application and then renews automatically each year.
How is my property assessed in Champaign County?
Champaign County property is assessed annually by individual Township Assessors who evaluate properties as of January 1 each year. Illinois law requires property to be assessed at 33.33% (one-third) of fair market value. For example, a home worth $205,100 would have an assessed value of approximately $68,367. The Township Assessor submits assessments to the County Supervisor of Assessments by June 15, who then reviews them using sales ratio studies comparing assessed values to recent sales prices. If needed, township multipliers are applied to ensure assessments reflect the proper one-third ratio. Assessment change notices are mailed to property owners in spring, typically by mid-March to April.
What evidence do I need for a successful property tax appeal in Champaign County?
Successful appeals in Champaign County typically include at least one of three types of evidence: (1) proof that information on your property record card is incorrect, such as wrong square footage, number of bathrooms, or building features; (2) recent comparable sales data showing similar properties in your area selling for less than your assessed value would indicate, with properties that match your home's style, age, and amenities; or (3) a professional appraisal demonstrating your home's market value is lower than the assessor's determination. Additional supporting evidence can include photographs documenting property condition or defects, repair estimates for structural issues, and charts comparing your assessment per square foot to similar properties in your neighborhood. The Board of Review examines this evidence to determine if your assessment is accurate and fair.
What happens after I file my appeal with the Champaign County Board of Review?
After you file your assessment complaint between July 1 and September 10, the Board of Review will schedule a hearing, typically conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, or in-person at the Brookens Administrative Center in Urbana. Hearings are scheduled in 30-minute intervals with time divided between you and the assessor. You'll present your evidence explaining why your assessment is incorrect or unfair. After September 10, the three-member Board researches values on each complaint filed and issues written decisions. If your appeal is successful, your assessment will be reduced accordingly, lowering your property taxes. If denied, you can appeal the decision to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board or file a tax objection complaint in Circuit Court.
How much can I save by appealing my property taxes in Champaign County?
The potential savings from a successful appeal in Champaign County can be substantial given the county's high property tax rates. With an effective tax rate of 2.07%, every $10,000 reduction in your assessed value saves approximately $207 annually in property taxes. Because Champaign County has one of the highest median property taxes in Illinois at $4,245 per year, and statistics show about 25% of homes are overassessed by an average of $1,346 nationally, homeowners with successful appeals could potentially reduce their annual tax bills by over $1,000. The exact savings depends on your property's overassessment amount and whether you can provide strong evidence of incorrect valuation through comparable sales, appraisals, or property record errors.
Can I appeal my property taxes if I missed the Champaign County Board of Review deadline?
If you miss the July 1 through September 10 Board of Review filing period, your options are limited but not entirely foreclosed. Township Assessors finalize assessments around the end of each year, and once certified to the Illinois Department of Revenue and forwarded to the County Clerk, files are closed and it's too late to change assessments for that year. However, you can appeal the following year when the Board of Review opens again, or if you believe there's an error in your tax bill calculation (such as a missing exemption), contact the County Assessment Office immediately as a Certificate of Error may be issued. As a last resort, you may pay taxes under protest and file a tax objection complaint in Circuit Court, though this generally won't succeed unless you first exhausted the Board of Review appeal process.

For state-wide appeal information including Illinois's assessment ratio and deadlines, see our Illinois Property Tax Appeal Guide →

Considering professional help with your appeal? Compare pricing, coverage, and pros/cons in our Best Property Tax Appeal Services (2026) or browse side-by-side service comparisons →

More Illinois Counties

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← All Illinois property tax appeal info

Sources: https://www.co.champaign.il.us/ccao/assessor.php | https://www.co.champaign.il.us/boardofreview/boardofreview.php | https://taxbycounty.com/illinois/champaign-county | https://www.co.champaign.il.us/ccao/exemptions.php | https://www.co.champaign.il.us/treasurer/TreasurerFAQ.php | https://champaignil.devnetwedge.com/

Last verified: 2026-03-05