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Your assessment is the value of your property at 70% of its fair market value at the time of revaluation.

Fair market value is the price for a property that would be agreed upon between a willing and informed buyer and a willing and informed seller under usual and ordinary circumstances. It is the highest price a property would sell for if it were on the open market for a reasonable period of time.

There are several factors assessors take into consideration when valuing a property and a couple different approaches. The most used approach is the sales approach. The sales approach entails comparing the specific property to similar properties that have sold recently. Important considerations are location, size, condition, quality, and time of sale.

Once your new construction is complete and you have scheduled for a certificate of occupancy from the building department, the assessor will seek an appointment to view and measure your house.

No, the purpose of a revaluation is to make all assessments in town fair and equitable in relation to each other, based on current market trends. The result may be an increase in property values but that does not necessarily transfer over to an increase in the town tax rate.

The assessor maintains current data on each parcel in their respective town, including ownership information, maps of parcel boundaries, inventories of land structures, property characteristics. They also handle certain exemption programs. They analyze and keep current information on trends in sales prices, construction costs and rents to estimate the value of all property.

It is the assessor's job and intent to maintain the most equitable values possible on all properties. You can help yourself and the assessor in making sure that the assessor's office has the most accurate data for your property. If you feel that there is something wrong with your assessment contact the assessor's office to set up an appointment to discuss it. If no agreement can be made and you still feel that there is something wrong with your assessment, your next recourse is the Board of Assessment Appeals which meets in March for real estate and personal property and in September for motor vehicles. The assessor will instruct you as to the proper procedure to follow to set up a meeting with them. Try to remember the limits of the assessor's job responsibilities. If you think your assessment is too high, then the assessor's office is the right place to go. If you think your tax rate is too high, you should speak with your elected officials and those that make the budget.

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.

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.

Your tax town is your town of residency as of October 1, 2021. If you moved from Sterling after October 1, 2021, but still resided in Connecticut, you will still pay vehicle taxes to Sterling. Municipalities do not apportion motor vehicle tax bills for portions of a tax year. If you registered the vehicle in another state, contact the Assessor's Office. If you move, you are required to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles of your new address within 48 hours. Be sure that you request a change of address on your driver's license and on your vehicle registration(s). Forms for this are available on line at the DMV website, at the Revenue Collector's Office, or at any municipal Police Department.

If you newly register a motor vehicle after October 1 (first time registration), you will receive a pro-rated tax bill in January. This "supplemental" bill will reflect the time from the month the vehicle was first registered, through September only.