Revenue Collector

The property tax bills due in July may not reflect ownership changes recorded recently. If you recently purchased property in Sterling, and have not received a real estate tax bill, call the Revenue Collector's Office immediately at 860-564-2904 Ext 105, to request a copy. Or go to our website and click the 'Pay your taxes online' feature to look your bill up online (you can search by name or by address). Check with the Assessors' Office to ensure their records have been updated. Payment must be made by August 1, whether or not a bill has been received! If you recently sold property in Sterling, and are still receiving a tax bill for the property, please contact the Assessor's Office at 860-564-2904, ext. 104.

Three types of property are assessed and subject to taxes: Real Estate, Motor Vehicle, and Business/Personal Property. Any land or buildings you own are considered real estate. Registered motorized or unmotorized vehicles, (including cars, trucks, trailers and motorcycles) are considered motor vehicles for tax purposes. Business/Personal property is a general category including business equipment, machinery, furniture and fixtures either owned or leased by business. Unregistered motor vehicles are also taxed as personal property.

The property tax rate is expressed in mills, or thousandths of a dollar. A tax rate (mill rate) of 22.00 mills equates to $22.00 in taxes per $1,000 of net assessed value. The Town of Sterling’s Board of Selectmen sets the mill rates annually in May as part of the municipal budget process. Motor Vehicles are charged the same rate.

Contact the Assessor's Office at 860-564-2904, ext. 104. Do not ignore your bill! Even if your vehicle has been sold, and plates returned to DMV; stolen and not recovered; declared a total loss; or if you have moved from Sterling or moved from Connecticut. If any of these situations applies to you, you may be entitled to a credit. Contact the Assessors regarding the acceptable forms of proof. Two forms of written proof are required, and you must apply within a limited time.

If you owe delinquent property taxes on any vehicle in your name, you may not renew any registrations at the Department of Motor Vehicles without paying your property taxes first. All past due taxes in your name must be paid in full by cash, cashier's check, money order, MasterCard, VISA, debit card, or ATM card for clearance. There is also a fee of $5 per name, per year for a motor vehicle clearance). All DMV clearances are processed within Town hall hours. So if you pay for your car on the weekend, you will have to wait until the Town Hall opens to release your vehicle. Please plan ahead so you are not disappointed at the DMV.

Yes. If you replaced one vehicle with another, and used the same license plates, you must pay on the "old" vehicle now. You will receive a pro-rated Supplemental motor vehicle tax bill in January, for the new vehicle. This bill will reflect a credit for the amount you paid the year before, on the old vehicle. You will receive this credit without having to apply for it. However, you still must pay the entire amount due on the old vehicle in July. However - if you obtained new license plates for the new vehicle, you must apply for a credit. Contact the Assessors Office at 860-564-2904, ext. 104.