Information regarding Property Tax Prorations in Illinois Property taxes in Illinois are paid in arrears, which means that the taxes for a particular year are paid in the next financial year. However, This structure proves extremely impactful to some homebuyers in terms of property tax proration during real estate closings.
Proration of Taxes:
When a homebuyer buys a home, the property seller usually pays some of the property taxes for that year to use in the purchase. Those taxes are prorated, so the buyer can borrow a fraction of their total costs to close the deal.
Use Of Prorate Tax Credit:
Irrespective of the closing date used on the mortgage promissory note, homebuyers in Illinois are permitted to use the prorated credit as part of the mortgage. However, since the buyers must prove that they have a down payment, they are not obligated to take the proration credit with them to the title company since it was granted during closing.
Potential for Benefits:
This system blunts the pain for homebuyers as a lesser amount needs to be paid to close the transaction, which in turn provides greater access to homeownership.
States With Similar Property Tax Proration Practices
Property tax proration practices can be wholly different across the United States. Here are some states that have similar systems where property taxes are paid in such a manner that it is applicable to prorate the same:
New Jersey: Property taxes are paid in arrears, and prorations are applied to real estate transactions on sale as common practices.
Texas: Taxes are also paid in arrears, and prorations are possible occasionally at a given closing.
California: Property taxes are paid in arrears, and prorations have become common in most real estate transactions.
Florida: The practices are the same with property taxes, which are paid in arrears and prorations during closings.
This paper has shown that while many states have similar practices of paying property taxes after-due payment arrangements, the repayment terms differ. For instance, buyers, sellers, loan officers, and realtors based in Illinois must understand these prorations to complete the transactions exhaustively. It is, therefore, of tremendous importance to all parties concerned with real estate transactions to understand local tax laws and corresponding practices.