Darlene F Hook - County Treasurer
Karen McDearmon - Chief Deputy Treasurer
Penny VanKampen - Deputy Collector

Phone : 815-772-5196
Fax: 815-772-5244
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Forms available for download:
Automatic Withdrawal Form - Real Estate Taxes
Tax Sale Buyer Registration Form
Tax Bill Change of Address Form
Senior Citizen Tax Deferral Form (available only in January & February)

The County Treasurer shall receive and safely keep the revenues and other public moneys of the county, and all money and funds authorized by law to be paid to her, and disburse the same pursuant to law. The County Treasurer must keep a record of all such funds and report monthly to the County Board the balances in these funds.

The County Collector prepares bills for the purpose of tax collection of real estate, drainage and mobile home taxes within Whiteside County. Upon receipt of tax monies the County Collector proceeds to disburse these funds to more than 100 taxing districts. The 2010 taxes payable in 2011 to be collected are $67,436,788.14. The first installment of real estate tax is due on June 10, 2011 with the second installment due on September 02, 2011. The County Collector holds a tax sale at the end of every tax year to sell the tax on every parcel that remains unpaid.

For assessment, property description, multiplier, exemption and tax bill mailing address change questions, contact the Supervisor of Assessments Office at 1-815-772-5195. Your local Township Assessor can explain how your assessment was determined. A listing of Township Assessors can be found by clicking here.

For tax rate and tax levy questions, contact the County Clerk at 815-772-5189.

For tax billing and payment questions, contact the County Treasurer at 815-772-5196.

TAX COLLECTION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1.  Your total real estate tax bill is payable in two installments. You will only receive one bill. Partial payments will not be accepted. Failure to receive tax bill or receiving one late, for any reason, will not relieve tax payer from paying taxes or late penalties. Charge for a duplicate bill is $3.00.

2.  If a mortgage company is to pay your bill, it is your responsibility to call them and ask if they need you to send them a copy of your bill. Many mortgage companies pay electronically now and may not require a bill.

3.  If you no longer own this property, forward to the new owner or return entire bill to Collector’s office.

4.  You may pay real estate tax online with a credit card, a convenience fee will be required. www.illinoisepay.com.  You may pay real estate tax by phone (toll free) 1-877-ILL-EPAY  (1-877-455-3729) with a credit card, a convenience fee will be required. You may pay real estate tax over the counter at the Collector’s office with a credit card, a convenience fee will be required.

5.  You may pay your real estate tax at any bank in Whiteside County during the bank’s normal business hours. The banks will be unable to accept current year taxes after September 09, 2011.

6.  You may pay your real estate tax by mail. A postmark showing the due date is acceptable to avoid late penalty. Send the appropriate tax stub and your check made payable to WHITESIDE COUNTY COLLECTOR, 200 East Knox Street, Morrison IL 61270.

7.  You may pay your real estate tax bill in person at the Collector’s office, 2nd floor, Courthouse, 200 East Knox Street, Morrison IL during normal business hours 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on holidays.

8.  You may pay your real estate tax bill by Automatic withdrawal of funds (ACH) from Checking or Savings. This provides a convenient and timely payment of your real estate taxes. You will need to complete and sign an authorization form and attach a voided check. The form is available to be downloaded from our website or you can call 1-815-772-5196 to have one sent to you.  Withdrawals for tax payments will take place on the 1st and 2nd installment due dates as noted on the tax bill.  Forms must be received 10 business days before the installment due date.  The automatic withdrawal will remain in effect until revoked in written notification from the taxpayer. This is a voluntary program for those who do not have an escrow account or simply want the convenience of their taxes being automatically paid.

9. A penalty is effective after due dates pursuant to State Statues. Interest is added at a rate of 1.5% per month until they are paid. Property owners who have delinquent taxes remaining after the second due date will be mailed a certified delinquent letter and a $10.00 fee will be added to the amount due.  A delinquent tax list will be published after the second due date. Additional costs and interest will be added at tax sale.

10.  A minimum charge of $25.00 will be added for checks returned to us by a bank and the tax payment will be voided.

11.  If your mobile home is located in Whiteside County and taxed as mobile home and not real estate, you will receive a separate bill. Mobile home tax is based upon the year and square footage of the mobile home.

12.  If you are in a drainage district for which Whiteside County is the Collector and there is an assessment due this year, the amount of that tax shall be included on your real estate tax bill.

13.  Certain taxpayers may be eligible for the Senior Citizens and Disabled Person Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act. Applications are available from the Illinois Department of Revenue. For information concerning this act, please call the Tax Payer Assistance Office at 1-800-624-2459.

Tax Sale Date is November 02, 2011

The purpose of the Annual Tax Sale is to collect delinquent real estate taxes for the benefit of all taxing districts and to restore tax delinquent property to tax paying status.  Please be aware that when you purchase at the tax sale, you are purchasing real estate taxes and not property. Purchasing taxes is a complex legal procedure and we highly recommend that you contact an attorney, and review the Illinois Compiled State Statues, Chapter 35.

You must register in writing 10 business days prior to the tax sale with the Whiteside County Collector’s office.  To print the registration form click here. There is a $500.00 deposit due with your registration form and will be applied to your purchases at the sale.

A delinquent tax sale list will be made available in the Collector’s office. There is a $100.00 nonrefundable fee to purchase the list. Please note: the tax sale list is provided for the sole purpose of the delinquent property tax sale, use of this information for any other purpose is strictly prohibited.  The County Collector reserves the right to deny sale of the list to anyone violating this rule. Delinquent tax sale listings are also published in part in the local newspapers.

The Tax Sale is held at the end of the tax cycle, usually in November. The tax sale will be held in the Whiteside County Law Enforcement Center County Board Room.

You or your registered representative must be physically present at the sale to bid. The sale is automated and facilitated by:

R.A.M.S. Auctions
Joseph E Meyers & Associates
141 St Andrews Ave Edwardsville IL 62025
1-800-248-2850
1-618-656-5744

Senior Citizens Tax Deferral Program

1.  The Senior Citizens’ Tax Deferral is a program that provides tax relief by allowing qualified senior citizens to defer all or part of the property taxes on their personal residence.  It’s a form of a loan with a six percent interest rate, which must be repaid after the taxpayer’s death, or at the time the property is sold.

2.  Forms are available to be downloaded from our website or you may call 1-815-772-5196 to have one sent to you.

3.  You are required to file two forms with your County Treasurer annually before February 28, 2012. The forms will become available after January 1, 2012 or as received in our office from the State of  Illinois. One form (IL-1070TD) asks for the basic information on your income and property.  It also requires any joint owners to agree to and sign the tax deferral forms.  You must provide the County Treasurer evidence of adequate insurance on the property.  The second form (IL-1018TD) is the agreement for the tax deferral which sets out the conditions of the deferral, including the maximum amount which can be deferred, the interest rate to be charged, and the arrangements for paying back the “loan”.

4.  Who is eligible to participate in the program:

Anyone who is 65 years of age or older by June 1, 2012.

Anyone who has a total household income of no greater than $50,000.

Anyone who has lived in the property or other qualifying property for at least the last three years.

Anyone who owns the property, which must be exclusively for residential purposes. This includes a            condominium or a dwelling unit in a multi-dwelling building that is owned and operated as a cooperative. Joint ownership is limited to you and your spouse.

Anyone who has no delinquent taxes or special assessments on the property.

You must be able to provide adequate evidence that the qualifying property on which the taxes are to              be deferred is insured against fire or casualty loss for at least the total amount of taxes that will defered.

5.  Qualifying property is a homestead that:
You, or you and your spouse, own in fee simple, or are purchasing in fee simple under a recorded                instrument of sale, or are the sole beneficiaries of a land trust.

Is not income-producing property.

Is not subject to a lien for unpaid property taxes and special assessments.