New Illinois laws to aid disabled veterans

(Joe Ragusa/WJBC)
(Joe Ragusa/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl/Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – Being a homeowner has some advantages, and more advantages are being extended to Illinois’ disabled veterans as it pertains to their property taxes.

New laws: expand the homestead exemption for service-connected disabilities to those with a rating of 30 percent disability, compared to the previous 50 percent; allow accessibility modifications to be exempt from increasing the assessed value of the home; and, said Illinois Department of Reveune spokesman Terry Horstman, “the Specially Adapted Housing Exemption Benefit was increased, providing reduction in the assessed value for specially adapted housing, of up to $100,000. That was previously $70,000.”

Horstman added that a disabled veteran can claim only one of the following on his or her primary residence for a single tax year: Veterans with Disabilities Exemption; Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities; Standard Homestead Exemption for Veterans with Disabilities.

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