Affiliate disclosure

In plain language: this tool is free to use, and we may earn a fee if you go on to hire an appeal service.

How we make money

This calculator is free, with no account or paywall. To keep it that way, we participate in affiliate (referral) programs. If you click through from this site to a property-tax appeal service — such as Ownwell — and become their customer, we may earn a referral commission. This does not change the price you pay for that service.

We may also show display advertising on this site as a separate revenue source once the site has steady traffic.

Does this affect the estimate you see?

No. The tax estimate, the increase, and the over-assessed analysis are computed the same way for every visitor, using public Cook County data — regardless of whether you ever click an affiliate link. We do not alter your estimate, or which figures we show you, to drive referrals.

Why we recommend an appeal service at all

Filing a property tax appeal yourself is free and entirely possible — see our methodology page and the Cook County Assessor's own appeal process. We mention appeal services as an option for homeowners who would rather not navigate the paperwork themselves. This is a convenience we get paid to mention, not a requirement or a recommendation that it's your best option — that's your call.

This disclosure follows FTC guidance on affiliate marketing (16 CFR Part 255).