Union County Property Tax Search

Union County property tax records are managed by the county treasurer and assessment offices in Jonesboro. Located in the far southern tip of Illinois, Union County has roughly 17,000 residents and a landscape that ranges from bottomland farms near the Mississippi River to wooded hills in the Shawnee National Forest. You can search tax bills, check assessed values, and review payment history through the county's online tools or by contacting the treasurer's office directly. The supervisor of assessments handles valuations for all parcels in the county.

Union County Online Tax Lookup

The fastest way to find Union County property tax records is the Union County tax search portal. You can search by owner name, parcel number, or property address. Results show the full tax bill, assessed value, exemptions, and payment status. The site is free. No login is needed.

When you pull up a parcel, the tool breaks down each taxing district on the bill. You can see what goes to the school district, fire protection, road fund, and other local bodies. Each line shows the rate and the amount due. Union County property tax records on this portal go back several years, so you can track changes from one year to the next.

The portal gives a clear view of tax bill details and makes it simple to check on any parcel in Union County. If you need a printed copy, you can save or print the page right from the site.

Treasurer's Office in Jonesboro

The Union County Treasurer collects all property taxes in the county. The office is in the Union County Courthouse at 309 West Market Street, Jonesboro, IL 62952. You can call (618) 833-5711 for help with your bill or payment questions. Office hours are Monday through Friday during normal business hours.

Payments can be made in person, by mail, or through the online system. If you pay by mail, send your check with the payment stub from your tax bill. Make the check out to the Union County Treasurer. The office also handles tax sale proceedings for delinquent parcels. Under 35 ILCS 200, unpaid taxes accrue interest at 1.5% per month. After enough time passes, the county puts those taxes up for sale to investors. The property owner then has a redemption period to pay back what is owed plus interest and costs.

Staff at the treasurer's office can also tell you how much you owe for past years. They keep records of all payments and can print receipts if you need proof of what you have paid.

How Assessments Work

All property in Union County is assessed at 33.33% of fair market value. That is the standard for every Illinois county outside of Cook County, set by state law. A home worth $90,000 on the open market would have an assessed value near $30,000. The Illinois Department of Revenue applies an equalization multiplier each year to bring township values in line with the statutory level.

The Union County Supervisor of Assessments manages this process locally. Township assessors do the initial work, and the supervisor reviews their numbers. The office is in the courthouse in Jonesboro. If your value seems wrong, start here. The staff can walk you through how the number was set and what your options are.

After equalization, exemptions get subtracted from the value. The general homestead exemption cuts up to $6,000 from the equalized assessed value for owner-occupied homes. Seniors 65 and older can get an extra $8,000 senior homestead exemption. There is also a senior freeze that locks the EAV for qualifying low-income seniors, and a disabled persons exemption worth $2,000. All of these show up on the Union County property tax record for each parcel.

Paying Your Tax Bill

Union County splits its property tax bill into two installments. The first is typically due in the summer. The second comes due in the fall. Exact dates change each year, so check your bill or call the treasurer's office. Taxes are paid in arrears, meaning the bill you get in 2026 covers the 2025 tax year.

Miss a payment and interest kicks in right away. The rate is 1.5% per month on the unpaid amount. That adds up quick. If you miss both installments, the parcel goes on the delinquent list. The county then sells the taxes at its annual tax sale. Buyers at the sale pay the back taxes and earn interest when you redeem. The redemption period is usually two to three years, depending on the property type. All of these events become part of Union County property tax records for the parcel.

Filing a Property Tax Appeal

If you think your Union County property is valued too high, you can appeal. Start with the Supervisor of Assessments office in Jonesboro. They will explain the timeline and what you need to bring. Comparable sales from your area are the most common form of proof. An independent appraisal works too.

The Union County Board of Review hears local appeals. If that board rules against you, you can take your case to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. PTAB handles disputes from all 102 counties. The process takes time, but a successful challenge lowers your assessed value and cuts your bill going forward. Appeal records become part of the property's tax file.

County Clerk and Tax Rates

The Union County Clerk plays a big role in the property tax cycle. After assessments are finalized and equalized, the clerk applies the tax rates from each local taxing district. That is how the dollar amount on your bill gets calculated. The clerk takes the equalized assessed value, subtracts exemptions, and multiplies by the combined rate of all districts that tax your property.

Union County has several overlapping taxing districts. School districts, fire protection, the library, township road funds, and others all levy taxes. Each sets its own amount, and the clerk's office puts them together. The Illinois Department of Revenue oversees equalization at the state level, but the actual work is done locally. Contact the clerk's office in Jonesboro if you have questions about rates.

Other Property Records

Beyond tax bills, Union County maintains other property records worth knowing about. The recorder's office files deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements. These connect to property tax records because they track ownership changes. When a property sells, the new deed gets recorded and the assessment office updates the owner on file.

The Illinois Property Tax Public Inquiry site is another resource. It pulls data from counties across the state and can help with comparing values or checking records from prior years. For Union County specifically, the local search portal gives you the most current data. The Illinois Property Tax Code (35 ILCS 200) lays out the rules that govern all of these processes.

Nearby Counties

If your property sits near a county line, check that you are searching in the right place. Tax records are filed based on where the land is, not your mailing address.