Prepayments of next year’s First Installment property tax bill have skyrocketed to $312.8 million, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas said today.

Nearly 48,000 homeowners have already prepaid their taxes this month. In comparison, 1,775 homeowners made prepayments totaling $14.4 million in 2016.

“Nearly two-thirds of the prepayments are online,” Pappas said. For the first time ever, taxpayers also can use cookcountytreasurer.com to download and print a prepayment bill themselves, for those who prefer to pay by mail or in person.

Under state law, Tax Year 2017 First Installment taxes, due March 1, 2018, are 55 percent of the prior year's total tax. To prepay, taxpayers must have their 14-digit Property Index Number (PIN). They can use their property address to look up their PIN on cookcountytreasurer.com.
 
Here’s how to prepay:

•   Online—Go to cookcountytreasurer.com and select “Prepay Your 2017 Taxes.” You can use your bank account or credit card to pay
•   Download your bill—You can print a copy of your prepayment bill by choosing “Download Your Bill” on the homepage and entering your PIN or property address
•   By mail—Send the prepayment bill and your payment to:

Cook County Treasurer
PO Box 805436
Chicago, IL 60680-4115

 •   In person—Submit the prepayment bill and payment at a Chase branch bank or the Treasurer’s Office, 118 N. Clark St., Room 112, Chicago