Property Tax Rebate Deadline Nears In Orland Park

3,700+ Residents Use Online Application Process

The Village of Orland Park began accepting applications for its Property Tax Rebate Program on October 29.

One month later, approximately 3,700 residents have applied online and another 2,400 have visited the Village Hall where village staff has helped them apply. In addition, thousands of completed paper applications have been mailed or hand delivered to the Village Hall.

Completed applications and required documentation must be received by the village no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, December 14. Applications submitted after the 5 p.m. deadline on December 14 will not be accepted.

“We’re giving it one final push to remind people to get their applications and documents in before the December 14 deadline,” said Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin. “It’s a busy time of the year and we want to be sure that everyone who is eligible for the rebate applies for it,” the mayor added.

The Village Board was able to authorize a rebate $2.5 million in residential property taxes as a result of the Village of Orland Park’s strong financial position.  This will mark a village tax rebate for eight of the last 11 years.

“We began rebating a portion of the property taxes that residents pay to the village in 2002, and despite a suspension of the program during the nationwide economic downturn, are pleased that the village is again in a strong financial position to offer the rebate,” said Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin.

“Even though the village’s portion of the property tax bill is only about 7%, the rebate offers some relief for residents,” said Trustee Brad O’Halloran, chair of the village’s Finance Committee. “We’re lucky to be able to provide the rebate through Home Rule Sales Tax while continuing to provide a large number of valuable services for village residents,” O’Halloran added.

When the village last offered the property tax rebate, the amount that each household received was determined by the equalized assessed value of the home. This year’s rebate will be evenly divided among eligible residents who submit complete applications that are reviewed and approved by the village. 

“With just more than a week left until the application deadline, we’re glad to see that nearly 4,000 households took advantage of the online application process,” said Trustee Jim Dodge, chair of the village’s Communications and Technology Committee. “Residents can complete the entire applications online or download paper applications to mail, or come into the Village Hall to have staff help them apply,” Dodge added.

The village has been running an instructional video explaining the online application process on its website at www.orland-park.il.us and on the village’s YouTube channel at VillageofOrlandPark. Eligible residents may apply online at www.optaxrebate.com.

Paper applications are available at the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall at 14700 South Ravinia Avenue; the Recreation Administration Building at 14600 South Ravinia Avenue; the village’s Sportsplex at 11351 West 159th Street and at the Orland Park Public Library, 14800 South Ravinia Avenue.

Along with the required application, an eligible resident must include copies of their 2011 second installment property tax bill, a valid driver’s license and recent utility bill. Those applying online can scan and upload copies of the documents or take a picture of them with a cell phone or tablet.  If a Village of Orland Park municipal bill account number is provided during the online process or on the paper application, a copy of a recent utility bill is not required.   

“The online process is more convenient for those who are familiar with computers and uploading documents,” McLaughlin said. “However, we have paper applications for those who don’t use computers,” he noted.

Residents who delivered applications to the Village Hall will receive an email by January 15 telling them the application has been received. All successful applicants will receive an email by February 15 letting them know that their applications have been approved. Rebate checks are scheduled to be mailed in mid-March, 2013.

Eligible village residents must apply before 5 p.m. on Friday, December 14, 2012. Questions may be directed to the village’s Tax Rebate Hotline at 708/403-3086.