Sterling property tax: where it goes
A typical Sterling house pays about $3,070 a year on the property tax bill, including flat charges on the same bill. Estimated from public rates, not anyone's actual bill.
A Sterling house pays 10.157% of its taxable value in property tax. For a house at $36,233 of value before exemptions with the homestead exemption, that's about $3,071 a year.
Tax is levied on The General Homestead Exemption reduces assessed value by up to $6,000, and the page subtracts it before applying the rates..
Whiteside County's 2025 rates payable 2026 are the latest; 2026 rates are not set until 2027.
Who taxes this house
| Taxing agency | Rate | On $36,233 |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling Unit School District 5 (schools) | 4.1754% | $1,262 |
| City of Sterling | 2.7939% | $845 |
| Whiteside County | 0.9436% | $285 |
| Sterling Park District | 0.962% | $291 |
| Sauk Valley Community College 506 | 0.4015% | $121 |
| Sterling Township road fund | 0.37% | $112 |
| Sterling Township | 0.314% | $95 |
| Special Service Area No. 1 | 0.1967% | $59 |
| Total | 10.157% | $3,071 |
2025 tax year (payable 2026), Whiteside County, tax code 01005. Exemptions applied: General Homestead Exemption, reduces assessed value by up to ($6,000).
Ways to pay less
- General Homestead Exemption. Reduces assessed value by up to $6,000 for owners who live in the home as their principal residence on January 1 of the assessment year. How: See the Whiteside County homestead exemptions page.
- Disabled person's exemption. A reduction of $2,000 in assessed value for disabled homeowners whose home is their principal residence. How: See the Whiteside County homestead exemptions page.
- Returning veterans. A $5,000 reduction in assessed value for veteran homeowners the year they return home from an armed conflict. How: See the Whiteside County homestead exemptions page.
- Disabled veterans needing accessible housing. A reduction in the assessment of up to $100,000 for veteran homeowners with service-related disabilities that require housing designed to accommodate the disability. How: See the Whiteside County homestead exemptions page.
Dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| June and September each year | Whiteside County property tax bills are paid in two installments, due by June and September. |
Sources
- Whiteside County 2025 district rates by tax code
- Homestead exemptions
- Tax cycle
- Nicor Gas Rider 8 municipal utility tax sheet
- Illinois Property Tax Code 9-145
- Nicor Rider 8 municipal tax
- Whiteside County Assessor FAQ
Checked October 30, 2026. Every number here comes from the public sources listed, matched by our checker.
Rates change every year; this page shows when it was last checked. Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.
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