Cook County’s property tax assessment system is the largest in Illinois, covering over 1.8 million parcels across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, and the annual assessment cycle produces a substantial volume of contested valuations. Richard Shapiro has spent over three decades appealing those assessments, accumulating a record of more than 250,000 Cook County property tax appeals won since opening his Evanston practice in 1991.
Overview
Richard Shapiro Attorney at Law is a property tax appeals practice based in Evanston, Illinois, operating from 990 Grove Street, Suite 409. Attorney Richard Shapiro has focused exclusively on property tax appeals since establishing the firm in 1991, developing a specialized practice that handles residential, commercial, and industrial property appeals throughout Cook County.
The firm has won over 250,000 Cook County property tax appeals over its nearly four decades of practice. This volume reflects a focused, high-throughput approach to tax appeal work that handles cases across the full range of property types and assessment situations in Cook County.
The firm’s phone is (847) 750-4626. The fax is (847) 869-9222. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. In-office visits are by appointment. The website is www.richardshapiro.com
Practice Areas
Property Tax Appeals
Property tax appeals are the singular focus of the Richard Shapiro practice. The Cook County property tax appeal process offers multiple levels where property owners can challenge their assessed values, including the Cook County Assessor’s office, the Cook County Board of Review, and the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. For cases involving substantial tax amounts, appeals can also proceed to circuit court.
The firm handles residential, commercial, and industrial property appeals throughout Cook County. This includes single-family homes, condominiums, multi-unit residential buildings, commercial office and retail properties, and industrial facilities. Each property type involves different valuation methodologies, and effective appeals require understanding which approach the assessor used and where it can be challenged.
Cook County’s triennial reassessment schedule means that properties in different areas of the county are reassessed in rotating three-year cycles. The firm’s experience across the full county means it has handled appeals at every stage of this cycle for properties throughout the system.
Certificates of Error
The firm handles certificates of error for Cook County properties. A certificate of error is a mechanism that allows a property owner to correct a prior year’s assessment when an error can be documented, potentially recovering overpaid taxes from previous tax years.
Exemptions
Property owners in Illinois may qualify for various exemptions that reduce the taxable assessed value of their property. The firm handles exemption applications and appeals related to exemption denials, including homeowner exemptions, senior citizen exemptions, senior freeze exemptions, and exemptions for properties owned by qualifying organizations.
Redemptions
The firm handles tax redemption matters for properties that have been sold at the Cook County tax sale due to unpaid taxes. Redemption is the process by which a property owner reclaims a property that has been tax-sold by paying the overdue taxes plus statutory interest.
Attorney Profile
Richard Shapiro is the founding and sole attorney at the firm. He established the practice in Evanston in 1991 and has handled property tax appeals exclusively throughout his legal career. His nearly four decades of practice in Cook County property tax law has produced a record of over 250,000 successful appeals, spanning residential, commercial, and industrial properties throughout the county.
He leads a dedicated team at the firm that focuses specifically on property tax reduction work. The firm’s exclusive concentration on tax appeals distinguishes it from general practice firms that handle these matters alongside other work.
Location and Service Area
Address: 990 Grove St, Suite 409, Evanston, IL 60201
Phone: (847) 750-4626
Fax: (847) 869-9222
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM (in-office by appointment)
Website: www.richardshapiro.com
The office is in Evanston, Illinois, the first suburb north of Chicago along Lake Michigan. The firm handles property tax appeals throughout Cook County, which encompasses Chicago and the surrounding suburban municipalities.
Client Focus
The firm serves residential property owners, commercial property owners, and industrial property owners throughout Cook County who believe their assessed values are higher than the evidence supports. Given the Cook County reassessment cycle, the firm works with both newly assessed properties and properties where assessments have increased significantly since the prior cycle.
Commercial property owners with significant tax bills often benefit most from formal appeal representation, though residential homeowners also regularly succeed in obtaining reductions through the appeal process. The firm’s exclusive focus on property tax appeals means clients are working with a practice that has handled this specific type of matter across thousands of variations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Cook County property tax appeal?
A property tax appeal is a formal challenge to the assessed value that Cook County has assigned to a property for purposes of calculating property taxes. If an assessment is higher than the evidence supports, a successful appeal can reduce the assessed value and lower the annual tax bill. Appeals can be filed with the Cook County Assessor, the Cook County Board of Review, and in some cases the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.
What types of properties does the firm handle?
The firm handles residential, commercial, and industrial properties throughout Cook County. This includes single-family homes, condominiums, multi-unit buildings, commercial and retail properties, and industrial facilities.
What is a certificate of error?
A certificate of error is a Cook County mechanism that allows correction of an assessment error from a prior tax year, potentially allowing property owners to recover taxes that were overpaid based on an incorrect assessment.
How long has the firm been handling property tax appeals?
Richard Shapiro established the practice in 1991. The firm has handled over 250,000 Cook County property tax appeals since that time.
How can I contact the firm?
The firm can be reached at (847) 750-4626. In-office consultations are by appointment. The website is www.richardshapiro.com
Closing
Property tax appeals in Cook County require specific procedural knowledge and familiarity with assessment methodologies that develop only through sustained, exclusive practice in this area. Richard Shapiro has built that knowledge across nearly four decades and more than 250,000 Cook County appeals, representing property owners across the residential, commercial, and industrial spectrum. The firm is located in Evanston and serves clients throughout Cook County. Contact the firm at (847) 750-4626 or visit www.richardshapiro.com