1. (a) Any deferral or exemption of payment of an increase in real property taxes granted under this Act shall be limited to real property that meets both of the following conditions:

   1. (1) The property is owned and occupied by a longtime owner-occupant.

   2. (2) The property is the principal residence and domicile of the longtime owner-occupant.

      The corporate authorities of a county, by ordinance or resolution, may impose additional criteria for qualifying for a deferral or exemption under this Act including, but not limited to, (i) requiring the owner-occupant to have owned and occupied the same dwelling place as principal residence and domicile for a period of more than 10 years, (ii) establishing age criteria for eligibility of an owner-occupant, and (iii) establishing income criteria for eligibility of an owner-occupant. A deferral or exemption, or combination thereof, under an ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to this Act, may not exceed $20,000 in equalized assessed value per tax year.

2. (b) No penalties or interest shall accrue on the portion of any deferral granted under this Act.
3. (c) Except as provided in subsection (d) of Section 15, school districts and municipalities within a county to which this Act applies may determine whether financial need, age, or both, of the longtime owner-occupant shall be used to determine eligibility.

(Source: P.A. 93-715, eff. 7-12-04; 94-1074, eff. 12-26-06.)