The Senior Property Tax Freeze Just Got Easier

Illinois seniors with household incomes up to $75,000 can now freeze their property tax assessments. Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 642 in December, raising the income cap on the Senior Assessment Freeze from $65,000 to $75,000, effective for the 2026 tax year.

The change means homeowners with moderate retirement incomes can lock in their property's assessed value, preventing it from rising with home prices. In Marengo, where home values climbed 6.2% in the past year, that can save hundreds of dollars a year.

For Marengo seniors who were just above the old income line, this opens a program that was previously out of reach.

The law (Public Act 104-0452) phases in three increases over three years. The household income cap rises to $75,000 for the 2026 tax year, $77,000 in 2027, and $79,000 in 2028 and beyond.

The previous cap of $65,000 had not been adjusted in years. The $10,000 first-year jump is the largest single increase the program has seen.

Maximum household income to qualify

Illinois General Assembly, Public Act 104-0452

One important detail: the cap is based on total household income, not individual income. Social Security, pensions, and investment earnings all count.

Marengo's median home value reached $345,000 in April 2026, according to Zillow, up 6.2% from the year before. Home prices in western McHenry County have been climbing steadily.

What that means in dollars: at the county's 33.34% assessment ratio (per the McHenry County Assessor), a $345,000 home has an assessed value of roughly $115,000. A 6.2% increase in market value adds about $7,100 to that assessed value. Depending on the composite tax rate, that can mean $200 to $350 more on an annual bill.

The freeze blocks that increase. Seniors who qualify lock their assessed value at the level from the year they first applied. The longer they stay in the program, the more they save, because the gap between their frozen assessment and the current market value widens each year.

The Senior Assessment Freeze does not freeze the tax bill itself. It freezes the assessed value of the home. If tax rates rise, the bill can still go up. But the assessment portion (the piece driven by home price appreciation) stays locked.

The freeze does not freeze the tax bill. It freezes the assessed value. If tax rates rise, the bill can still go up.

This is different from the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption, which reduces assessed value by a flat $8,000. The freeze is a separate program. Seniors can claim both.

To qualify for the 2026 tax year (bills payable in 2027), a homeowner must be 65 or older, own and occupy the property as a primary residence, and have total household income at or below $75,000.

Applications go through the McHenry County Assessor's Office. The office mailed renewal forms to existing participants on March 6. First-time applicants can download forms from the county website or request them by phone.

The McHenry County Assessor's Office expects application forms to be available in June 2026. The deadline to file is July 1. The program requires annual renewal. Participants must reapply every year, even if nothing has changed.

The cap rises automatically to $77,000 in 2027 and $79,000 in 2028. No additional legislation is needed for those steps. After 2028, the cap stays at $79,000 unless the General Assembly acts again.

Seniors who were just above the old $65,000 line should check their eligibility now. The McHenry County Assessor's Office handles applications for all townships in the county. Forms and contact information are available here.