Farmers are Reminded to Complete the Farmland Affidavit
Cook County farmers are encouraged to complete the Farmland Affidavit prior to January 31. The Assessor’s office will not mail out a copy or a reminder, and the filing can only occur online.
Details
To file, visit: https://www.cookcountyassessor.com/farmlandaffidavit
Cook County assesses a property according to its "Assessment Class" as defined under the Cook County Code of Ordinances. In order for a Cook County property to receive the special “farm” tax incentive, it must have been farmed for the two preceding years, and the owner must have filed the farmland affidavit prior to January 31.
For land that is new to the process, the farm owner must:
- Complete the Class Change/Farmland Application by January 31.
- Upload documentation to establish your farming activities for the current year and the two preceding years. Documentation may include farm-related insurance policies, leases, tax filings, rental agreements, contracts, or invoices.
Once the application is submitted, the owner should receive a confirmation email from the office that the application is under review and a decision regarding the property.
Additional information available at https://www.cookcountyassessor.com/farms
Cook County Farm Bureau has worked with the Cook County Assessor’s Office to revise and modernize the annual farmland affidavit. In addition, Farm Bureau has also worked to ensure that the information regarding the special tax designation process is readily available to farmers seeking the designation.