Do I have to pre-register or set up an account before appealing my Cook County assessment?
Do I have to pre-register or set up an account before appealing my Cook County assessment?
To file online with the Cook County Assessor or Board of Review you create a free account in their online appeal systems before submitting — there is no separate paid registration, and paper filing remains available for owners without online access.
Filing an assessment appeal in Cook County is free, but the online systems require you to set up an account first so the office can track your submission and contact you. There is no fee and no separate qualification step — "pre-registration" simply means creating a login before you upload your appeal.
Cook County Assessor. The Assessor states that "filing an appeal is free and can be done online in as little as 20 minutes." You begin at the online appeals system, where you create or log into an account, look up your property by Property Index Number (PIN), select your appeal reason, and attach evidence. Owners without internet access can file on paper instead. All filings must follow the Official Appeal Rules of the Cook County Assessor.
Cook County Board of Review. The BOR runs a separate online appeals portal with its own account login. You register, enter your PIN, choose an appeal type, and upload supporting documents such as comparable assessments or a recent sale.
Key practical points.
- Create your account before your township window closes — do not wait until the final day, when the portal may be busy.
- You can only file when your township is officially open; an account alone does not let you file early.
- Keep your confirmation number after submitting; it is your proof of timely filing.
- An account at the Assessor does not carry over to the Board of Review — you set up each separately.
If you hire an attorney or authorized representative, they file through these same systems on your behalf under the office's appeal rules.