CPA in Oswego, IL: Tax, Payroll and Accounting

Oswego is a Fox River village southwest of Aurora, mostly in Kendall County with part of it extending into Will County. For taxes, its most unusual feature is on the real estate side: since a 2022 referendum, the buyer, not the seller, pays the village's transfer tax. This page walks through that rule, the Kendall County property tax system and the other local taxes the Village levies, and explains how a nearby Naperville CPA firm can help.

Buying a home in Oswego

Village of Oswego voters approved a referendum on June 28, 2022 that put a real estate transfer tax on the buyer of property in the village, at $3 per $1,000 of the property's sale price. Buyers must get a real estate transfer stamp from the Village before the deed is recorded. On a $400,000 sale, for example, that works out to $1,200 (a hypothetical example, not a quote). Check that your closing statement reflects the rule, and ask your agent or attorney to confirm it. For federal purposes, some closing costs can affect your basis in the home; see home sale exclusion and our real estate tax service.

Kendall County property tax

Kendall County issues a single bill for the year's taxes, payable in two equal installments, and does not send a second bill. Bills are mailed in May, late installments accrue interest at 1.5 percent per month, and the County does not mail an original bill to a mortgage company, so ask your lender whether they need a copy from you. The Kendall County Annual Assessments page publishes the assessed values for each township, including Oswego Township, with a final filing date for complaints; for 2026, the valuation date was January 1 and the required level of assessment was 33.33 percent. A Tax Board of Review hears assessment appeals filed under the Illinois Property Tax Code. Appeals address assessed value, not the tax rate. Parts of Oswego lie in Will County, which has its own Treasurer and Board of Review. See our Kendall County and Will County pages.

Other local taxes

According to the Village's Taxes page, Oswego levies a real estate transfer tax, electric tax, food and beverage tax, gas use tax, gas utility tax, grocery tax, hotel and motel tax, motor fuel tax, property taxes, a telecommunications tax and a sales tax. Businesses that collect these should register and file as the Village instructs. The State's sales tax rate is 6.25 percent, and the Tax Rate Finder on MyTax Illinois gives the rate for a specific address and period. The Village is also the place to ask about video gaming, liquor and business licenses.

Who lives here

The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020-2024 five-year estimates) counts about 36,400 residents. Median household income is about $124,000, and about 88 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied, one of the highest shares among the places we cover. Roughly 14 percent of residents were born outside the United States. Employed residents work mostly in education and health care, retail, professional and administrative services and manufacturing, and about 18 percent work from home. For families, the topics that matter are mortgage interest, child tax credit and education savings.

How we can help

We help Oswego buyers and sellers understand how closing costs may affect their taxes, prepare family returns with mortgage and child-related credits, and support new and growing businesses with books and payroll. We can also read IRS notices with you. Start at the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

General information only, not tax, legal or accounting advice for your situation. Rules, limits and deadlines change; confirm the current rules with the official source or a qualified professional before you act. Reading this page does not create a professional relationship with CPA Tax Payroll and Accounting Corp.