The Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) is reminding senior homeowners of the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Program.
The new law amends the Senior Citizens Real Estate Tax Deferral Act, introducing two major enhancements effective in tax year 2026 and beyond:
Starting in tax year 2026:
• The maximum household income for eligibility will increase from $65,000 to $75,000 in 2026, then to $77,000 in 2027, and to $79,000 beginning in 2028 and thereafter.
• County clerks may now offer payment plans during the redemption period for county-held tax certificates. When payments are made in accordance with the plan, interest and penalties may be waived for the program.
To qualify for the Senior Tax Deferral Program, homeowners must meet the following criteria:
• be 65 years of age or older by June 1 of the filing year,
• own and occupy the primary residence for a minimum of three years,
• have no outstanding property taxes or special assessments on the property, and
• maintain adequate fire or casualty insurance.
Eligible seniors may defer up to $7,500 per year, including interest and fees, or as much as 80 percent of the equity in their home, whichever is lower.
The deadline to apply for the 2025 Senior Tax Deferral Program is March 1, 2026.
To apply, seniors must contact their local county collector’s office to receive an application. For general questions concerning the program, taxpayers may visit IDOR’s website at tax.illinois.gov or contact their local county collector’s office.
https://mytax.illinois.gov/
IRS to Phase Out Paper Tax Refund Checks Starting with Individual Taxpayers
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service, working with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, today announced that paper tax refund checks for individual taxpayers will be phased out beginning on Sept. 30, 2025, as required by Executive Order 14247, to the extent permitted by law. This marks the first step of the broader transition to electronic payments.
The IRS will publish detailed guidance for 2025 tax returns before the 2026 filing season begins. Until further notice, taxpayers should continue using existing forms and procedures, including those filing their 2024 returns on extension of a due date prior to Dec. 31, 2025.
The change is designed to:
Protect taxpayers: Paper checks are over 16 times more likely to be lost, stolen, altered, or delayed than electronic payments. Direct deposit also avoids the possibility that a refund check could be returned to the IRS as undeliverable.
Speed up refunds: Electronic refunds give taxpayers faster access to refunds, with payments issued in less than 21 days if filing electronically, choosing direct deposit and there are no issues with the return, whereas nonelectronic payments may take 6 weeks or longer for refunds sent by mail.
Cut costs: Electronic payments are more efficient and cost less than paper.
What this means for individual taxpayers:
Filing stays the same: Taxpayers should continue to file their returns as they normally would, using one of the existing filing options.
Refunds go digital: Most refunds will be delivered by direct deposit or other secure electronic methods.
Help for those without access to bank accounts: Options such as prepaid debit cards, digital wallets or limited exceptions will be available.
Act now: Taxpayers should make sure they know their banking information or consider opening a free or low-cost account. Visit FDIC: GetBanked and MyCreditUnion.gov for account options.
Most individual taxpayers already receive their refunds by direct deposit into their bank accounts. During the 2025 tax filing season, the IRS issued more than 93.5 million tax refunds to individual income tax filers, and 93% of those, almost 87 million refunds, were issued through direct deposit. Only 7 percent of individual refund recipients received their refunds by check through the mail.
Next steps
Executive Order 14247 also applies to payments made to the IRS. Taxpayers should continue to use existing payment options until further notice. Additional guidance and information for filing 2025 taxes will be issued prior to the 2026 filing season.
The IRS will share updated guidance on IRS.gov/modernpayments and through outreach efforts nationwide.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-to-phase-out-paper-tax-refund-checks-starting-with-individual-taxpayers
The IRS will publish detailed guidance for 2025 tax returns before the 2026 filing season begins. Until further notice, taxpayers should continue using existing forms and procedures, including those filing their 2024 returns on extension of a due date prior to Dec. 31, 2025.
The change is designed to:
Protect taxpayers: Paper checks are over 16 times more likely to be lost, stolen, altered, or delayed than electronic payments. Direct deposit also avoids the possibility that a refund check could be returned to the IRS as undeliverable.
Speed up refunds: Electronic refunds give taxpayers faster access to refunds, with payments issued in less than 21 days if filing electronically, choosing direct deposit and there are no issues with the return, whereas nonelectronic payments may take 6 weeks or longer for refunds sent by mail.
Cut costs: Electronic payments are more efficient and cost less than paper.
What this means for individual taxpayers:
Filing stays the same: Taxpayers should continue to file their returns as they normally would, using one of the existing filing options.
Refunds go digital: Most refunds will be delivered by direct deposit or other secure electronic methods.
Help for those without access to bank accounts: Options such as prepaid debit cards, digital wallets or limited exceptions will be available.
Act now: Taxpayers should make sure they know their banking information or consider opening a free or low-cost account. Visit FDIC: GetBanked and MyCreditUnion.gov for account options.
Most individual taxpayers already receive their refunds by direct deposit into their bank accounts. During the 2025 tax filing season, the IRS issued more than 93.5 million tax refunds to individual income tax filers, and 93% of those, almost 87 million refunds, were issued through direct deposit. Only 7 percent of individual refund recipients received their refunds by check through the mail.
Next steps
Executive Order 14247 also applies to payments made to the IRS. Taxpayers should continue to use existing payment options until further notice. Additional guidance and information for filing 2025 taxes will be issued prior to the 2026 filing season.
The IRS will share updated guidance on IRS.gov/modernpayments and through outreach efforts nationwide.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-to-phase-out-paper-tax-refund-checks-starting-with-individual-taxpayers