Mason County Tax Records

Mason County property tax records are kept at the county courthouse in Havana. The treasurer handles collections and the supervisor of assessments manages property values. With a population of about 12,745, Mason County is a rural area along the Illinois River in central Illinois. You can search tax bills, view assessed values, and check payment status for any parcel through the online portal or by visiting the office. The county keeps detailed records on every property, from farmland to residential lots to commercial parcels.

Online Tax Search

Use the Mason County tax search portal to find property tax records. Search by owner name, property address, or parcel number. Results appear quickly and include the tax bill, assessed value, exemptions, and payment history. The tool is free. No account needed.

Each record shows a full breakdown by taxing district. You see what portion of the bill goes to schools, fire protection, road districts, libraries, and other local taxing bodies. This level of detail helps you understand the full cost of owning property in any part of Mason County. The portal stores data going back several years, so you can compare bills from one year to the next.

Results can be printed straight from the page. Use the data when buying a home, checking on your own taxes, or researching a parcel for any reason.

Mason County Treasurer

The treasurer collects all property taxes in Mason County. The office sits in the Mason County Courthouse in Havana. You can walk in during business hours or call ahead with questions about a bill.

Pay in person at the courthouse or send a check by mail with your bill stub attached. Make checks payable to the Mason County Treasurer. The office handles tax sale proceedings for parcels where owners fall behind. The Illinois Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200) sets the rules. Interest on unpaid taxes accrues at 1.5% per month. Once the amount stays delinquent through the sale process, a buyer can pay what is owed. The property owner then has a redemption period, usually two to three years, to pay everything back with interest and fees.

How Property Gets Assessed

Assessments in Mason County follow the 33.33% rule. That means all property outside of Cook County gets assessed at one-third of fair market value. A $90,000 home carries an assessed value near $30,000. Township assessors in Mason County set the initial figures. The supervisor of assessments in Havana checks their work.

The state applies an equalization multiplier to bring values in line with the 33.33% target. The Illinois Department of Revenue calculates this each year. In Mason County, the multiplier may be above or below 1.0 depending on how close local assessments are to the statutory level. After equalization, the county clerk extends tax rates onto the equalized assessed value (EAV) of each parcel. That gives you the final tax amount.

Farmland gets special treatment. Agricultural land in Mason County is assessed based on soil productivity rather than what it could sell for on the open market. This keeps farm taxes lower and reflects the land's actual use.

Exemptions for Mason County Homeowners

Exemptions reduce the taxable portion of your property's value. The general homestead exemption takes up to $6,000 off the EAV for owner-occupied homes. Apply through the supervisor of assessments. Seniors aged 65 and up get an extra $8,000 with the senior homestead exemption.

The senior freeze locks the EAV for qualifying seniors with low income. A disabled persons exemption removes $2,000. Disabled veterans may receive larger reductions based on disability level. File applications at the assessor's office in Havana. Most exemptions need renewal each year, though some carry over once approved. Each exemption shows on the Mason County property tax record for that parcel.

Payment Due Dates and Penalties

Mason County splits the annual tax bill into two installments. The first due date falls in summer. The second is in fall. Exact dates are printed on the bill. Taxes cover the prior year. A bill you get in 2026 is for 2025.

Pay late and you owe 1.5% interest per month. It adds up. If both installments go unpaid, the parcel hits the delinquent list and the county sells the back taxes. A buyer at the sale pays the amount owed and earns interest as the owner redeems. The redemption period runs two to three years. If the owner never redeems, the buyer can go after a tax deed to the property. This entire process is tracked in Mason County property tax records.

Assessment Appeals

Think your Mason County property is worth less than what the assessor says? File an appeal. The Mason County Board of Review hears cases each year. Bring comparable sales or a recent appraisal. Deadlines are firm, so check with the supervisor of assessments for the exact window.

If the board's ruling does not go your way, you can appeal to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB). PTAB is a state-level body that reviews cases from all 102 counties. Winning an appeal lowers your EAV and your bill. The result becomes part of the permanent record for that parcel.

Related Records and Resources

The Mason County Recorder holds deeds, liens, and mortgages. These tie to tax records because they track ownership. When a sale closes, the recorder files the deed and the assessor updates who owns the parcel in the tax system.

Check the Illinois Property Tax Public Inquiry site for statewide data. The Illinois Property Tax Code covers every rule that applies to Mason County property taxes, from how values are set to when sales can happen.

Nearby Counties

Parcels near the county line may be in a neighboring county. Double check which county your property falls in before searching records.