Becky Springer, DeKalb County Treasurer, mailed 39,906 DeKalb County real estate tax bills on Thursday, May 1, 2025.  This year’s bill was mailed in a letter-size envelope. The envelope is clearly identified with the phrase “This is Your Tax Bill” in large, white letters highlighted in a orange box on the front.   Taxpayers only receive one bill per year with two payment stubs.  Bills have been printed, processed, and mailed using a first-class, presort rate permit saving DeKalb County taxpayers’ money and improving office efficiency. An additional cost saving measure, taxpayers can enroll in paperless billing on the County’s website.

The Treasurer’s office will be collecting a total dollar amount of $285,711,535.96.  A breakdown of this total is:

The Treasurer’s Office continues to offer a wide variety of options to pay the 2024 Real Estate tax bill.  “Payments may be made at a local bank, by mail, or online by debit card, credit card or a direct debit from your bank account.  The payment mailing address is shown on the bill,” Springer said. 

“To pay online, visit the County’s website, dekalbcounty.org, scroll down and click the box with the orange box with red letters that say “Pay My Real Estate/Mobile Home Taxes” on the homepage of the County’s website.  That link will direct users to the County’s Property Tax Inquiry database and online payment interface,” Springer continued.  “The Treasurer’s office accepts Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover Card credit cards, and Visa and Master Card debit cards, as well as electronic check that is a direct debit from the taxpayer’s account,” said Springer. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Pay Pal are payment options online.

Please note that a convenience fee of 2.60%, which is charged by the credit card service provider, will be added for those wishing to charge their real estate taxes on their credit cards or Visa/MasterCard debit cards. The online payment service provider charges a $1.00 convenience fee for electronic check direct debit payments. No portion of these fees are received by DeKalb County.

Taxpayers may also pay their taxes at most banks in DeKalb County during the bank’s normal business hours, on or before the due date of the installment. Taxpayers should bring the entire tax bill to the bank and put their parcel number on their check. Banks cannot accept payments after the due date.

If paying by mail, taxpayers should make the check payable to DeKalb County Collector.  Taxpayers should make sure to include their parcel number(s) on their check, make sure their check is signed, and that the numeric amount they have written matches the written-out dollar amount on the second line of their check.  

Taxpayers should note that the payment stubs are located on the bottom of the bill.  They should return either the first or second installment stub with the corresponding payment or both stubs if they are paying both installments.

Taxpayers will notice that barcoding appears on the stubs.  This feature will allow the Treasurer’s Office to scan payments into the property tax collection system.  This will decrease the time needed to post payments, which translates into funds being distributed to the taxing bodies more quickly.  Taxpayers are asked not to mark on the payment stubs so that the barcoding remains readable.

The tax bill contains a Site Address.  This is the actual location of the property. “This feature will assist taxpayers with multiple parcels in determining which bill is for which parcel,” Springer said.

The information printed to the right of the site address is the calculation of this year’s tax bill.  It displays the Equalized Assessed Value, itemizes exemptions, shows the tax rate, and provides the total bill amount.  This is where taxpayers can check to make sure they have all the exemptions to which they are entitled.  If a dollar figure is listed after the exemption name, the taxpayer is receiving that exemption.

Applying for exemptions on a timely basis can save taxpayers money. Taxpayers will notice that the Homestead Exemption Limited amount for owner-occupied properties is $6,000, which provides an approximate savings of $600 in taxes paid based on a 10.00% tax rate.  Also, the Senior Citizen Homestead Exemption for those 65 years of age and over is $5,000, which provides an approximate savings of $500 in taxes paid based on a 10.00% tax rate.  Taxpayers may contact the Chief County Assessment Office to determine if any additional exemptions may apply to their bill.

The information just below the calculation information contains statutory data, 

 required by law, to be included on the tax bill.

A useful piece of information found on the right side of the calculation information is the 2023 Equalized Assessed Value.  Having this information will assist the taxpayer in determining what caused their tax bill to change from the prior year.  They can compare the Equalized Assessed Values, and the prior years and current year’s tax rates to see what changed.

Drainage taxes are billed directly on the real estate tax bill.  Drainage taxes are levied as a lump sum and are not included in the regular tax calculation.  

Please examine your tax bill carefully upon receipt.  This year the first installment due date is June 4, 2025, and the second installment is due September 4, 2025.  This is the only bill taxpayers will receive.

If you receive a bill for property you have sold, please mail the bill to the new owner.

If you have questions regarding your tax bill, please contact the DeKalb County Treasurer’s Helpline at 815-895-7337, or visit our website at www.dekalbcounty.org.  The DeKalb County Treasurer’s Office is now on Facebook offering reminders, tips, and more. Visit us at facebook.com/DeKalbCountyILTreasurer.