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.

The Revenue Collector's Office, located in the Sterling Town Hall, is open:

Monday through Tuesday

8am to 4:30pm

Wednesday

8am to 6pm

Thursday

8am to 4pm

Friday

CLOSED

The office does not close for lunch.

The most convenient way is by mail, or with your credit card. You can also visit the Town Hall when we are open. Pay by credit card online. Or call the office at 860-564-2904, ext. 105. Please have your bill in front of you, and refer to the question and answer on paying by credit card (herein). If you wish to have a receipt returned to you, please send the entire lower portion of your tax bill (both payment coupons) and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your payment. You will receive a receipt back within a few days. We will not send back your receipt if you do not include a self addressed, stamped envelope.

Any taxes received after the due date, are subject to interest. Motor Vehicle taxes that are late are also subject to a $5 fee. The best way to avoid extra fees is to pay on time.

Failure to have received a tax bill does not exempt you from payment of all taxes and all interest charges. If you do not receive a bill for which you are responsible, call the Revenue Collector's Office at 860-564-2904 Ext 105 and request a copy, or go to our website, and click on the 'Pay your taxes online' feature to view your bill on line, or print a duplicate copy.

Exemption categories include Elderly, Veteran; Spouse of a deceased Veteran; Blind; Totally Disabled; Motor vehicle of a Serviceman or Servicewoman (active duty); Farmers; and Forest, and Farm. For details, or if you think you qualify, contact the Assessor's Office at 860-564-2904, ext. 104. Veterans' and other exemptions, if any, appear in the total exemptions ("exempt") column on your tax statement. There is also Renters Tax Relief, an income-based state program for elderly or totally disabled renters.

For more information on any of these exemptions, please visit the Assessor's page.

No. The Revenue Collector does not have the authority to waive interest and makes no exceptions. As owners of property, taxpayers are responsible to see that taxes are paid when due.