In an effort to assist property owners financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, on November 24, 2020, the Cook County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted in favor of Ordinance 20-5643 waiving for a two-month period the 1.5 percent late fees on all TY 2020 property taxes. Specifically, the Board voted that:

The two-month waiver of late fees is the second move of the Board to provide relief to cash-strapped Cook County property owners. In May of 2020, the Board granted a similar waiver of late fees on property taxes due on August 3, 2020 (see Legal Update, COVID-19: Illinois Counties Offer Real Property Tax Relief). Ordinance 20-5643 amends Section 74-48 of the Cook County Municipal Code, which reflects the Board's May 2020 amendment. Although the most recent November 2020 amendment is not yet reflected in the Code, its passage has been confirmed.

The passage of Ordinance 20-5643 by Cook County is an example of the ongoing effort of governmental authorities to provide much needed relief to taxpayers burdened by the impact of COVID-19. As these efforts continue, taxpayers and their counsel should pay heed to changing deadlines.

For a collection of resources related to COVID-19, see Real Estate Global Coronavirus Toolkit.