Six things you should know about 2017 property taxes

Property tax bills for 2017 are now in the mail and while no one likes paying taxes, we all benefit from the public services they provide. Your property taxes support services like police, fire protection, transit, parks, recreation, social services and more. You can see where your tax dollars go using the online tax breakdown tool. About 60 per cent of residential property taxes go to The City while the remaining 40 per cent goes to the Government of Alberta.

1. Property taxes are due June 30
Property taxes are due by June 30 to avoid penalties. Bills are mailed in May and cover the calendar year January 1 to December 31, 2017. If you don’t receive a bill by the first week of June you can request a copy of the bill. The City of Calgary offers a variety of property tax payment options to pay The City directly or through your bank. Credit cards cannot be used to pay property tax.

The Tax Instalment Payment Plan (TIPP) allows you to pay your property tax on a monthly basis instead of making one payment in June. Your payment automatically comes out of your chequing account the first day of every month, making paying your property taxes easier.



2. Council provides rebates to taxpayers
Council reduced the 2017 property tax increase to 1.5 per cent (from 4.7 per cent) and will cover that increase with a one-time rebate​. Additionally, the Province’s share of property tax was lower than The City expected. This created what is commonly called tax room in the amount $23.7 million. Council agreed to keep the tax room and to rebate the 2017 tax room as a one-time return to taxpayers. As a result, the owner of a residential property valued at $460,000 can expect to see rebates totaling $51 on the 2017 property tax bill.

The rebates will appear as a single credit on your 2017 property tax bill.

3. Changes in your property assessment could affect your tax bill
Your property taxes could still go up or down if there was a change in your assessment relative to the city-wide typical per cent change. What's important is how your property value changes compared to the typical property.

If your property's year-to-year change in assessment is:

• Less than the typical change, your property's taxes will decrease. 
• The same as the typical change, your property's taxes will stay about the same. 
• More than the typical change, your property's taxes will increase.

Read more about how property assessment affects your property taxes.

4. Tax increase capped for eligible non-residential properties
The 2017 Municipal Non-Residential Phased Tax Program (PTP) is a one-year program that Council put in place to assist non-residential properties impacted by the redistributive effect of the 2017 assessment process. Under the PTP, eligible non-residential municipal tax increases will be limited to five per cent (not including the effects of business tax consolidation).

5. Business tax consolidation continues
The City is phasing out the business tax through a gradual transfer of the business tax revenues to the non-residential property tax. Each year, business tax bills will go down and non-residential property taxes will increase. The business tax will be eliminated in 2019.

This year non-residential property owners will see an estimated additional 4.6 per cent increase in their 2017 non-residential property tax rate. When the 2017 business tax bills were mailed in February business owners saw a more than 20 per cent reduction in the business tax rate. Visit calgary.ca/BTC for more information.

6. Programs for those experiencing financial hardship
Under The City’s Property Tax Assistance Program, residential property owners of any age may be eligible for a credit/grant of the increase on their property tax account. Visit calgary.ca/FairEntry for more information or call 311.

Seniors may be eligible for provincial support. Visit www.seniors-housing.alberta.ca or call 1-877-644-9992 for more information. Property owners in need of immediate assistance are encouraged to call 211 or visit www.ab.211.ca for information on all support options available.

Find out more about property taxes and assessment by visiting calgary.ca/ourfinances.

Council sets 2018 indicative tax rate

Council has approved an indicative tax rate of 0 to 2% for 2018. This range of property tax rate increases will help City staff prepare options for adjustments to 2018 business plans and budgets for Council’s approval in November 2017.

Here are some common questions related to this topic:

What is an indicative tax rate?

The indicative rate is Council’s direction on the tax rate that will guide Administration’s preparation of adjustments to the 2018 business plans and budgets.

What indicative tax rate did Council set?

In order to keep the impacts to a manageable level, Council approved an indicative tax rate increase in the range of 0 to 2% for 2018. This amounts to a minimum reduction of 2.7% from the previously approved tax rate increase of 4.7% in 2018 and will result in a reduction to the operating budget of at least $43 million.

How does Council set indicative rates?

Council considers the financial implications of various tax rate options and impacts on citizens. This includes things like changes in the economy and population, inflation, and changes in financial forecasts and risks.

What’s next?

Now that the indicative tax rate has been set, Administration will spend the next few months working together to propose adjustments to programs and services that fit within the indicative tax rate increase. The rates and fees will be finalized by the new Council in late November.

Questions about the indicative tax rates set by City Council? Visit www.calgary.ca/CA/fs/Pages/Action-Plan/Indicative-Rates-And-Fees.aspx for more information.

Have your say on Calgary's future

Action Plan 2015 – 2018 public engagement is happening until March 21! Board our Take Action bus or participate online to help shape Calgary’s future.

This weekend we will be at Market Mall, Beddington Towne Centre, Country Hills Library, Signal Hill, and Crowfoot Library. Visit the Action Plan website for details or to find an event near you.

www.calgary.ca/actionplan

Report to Calgarians - 2014 Assessment Notices

2014 Property and Business Assessment Notices were mailed on Friday, January 3.

Once you have received and reviewed your notice, you can have any questions answered by contacting Assessment's Customer Service line: 403-268-2888.

You can also find more information by visiting Calgary.ca/AssessmentSearch.

2014 Assessment Notices are mailed & Customer Review period begins

Today, The City mailed 2014 Assessment Notices to approximately half a million property and business owners.

The typical single residential property in Calgary is now assessed at $430,000, while the typical residential condominium is assessed at $260,000.

“Overall, we’re seeing a steady and consistent growth in the market between 2013 and 2014,” says Nelson Karpa, City Assessor.

Property assessments reflect the market value of property on July 1, 2013 and the physical condition as of December 31, 2013. The 2014 business assessments reflect the typical net annual rental value of premises as of July 1, 2013.

The June 2013 flood required special consideration by City Assessors. "Staff used aerial imaging, on-site visual inspections and communication with property owners to identify the properties physically impacted by this event”, says Karpa. “From there, we analyzed market activity and reviewed the physical condition of affected properties to determine any changes caused by the flood as of the December 31 physical condition date.”

As a result of this analysis, 1,939 property assessment accounts have been identified to-date as experiencing a market value reduction, at approximately $405 million, due to the flood.

“We are committed to delivering fair and equitable assessments and encourage all property and business owners to use the Customer Review Period to check, review and compare their assessment and to get their questions answered,” says Karpa.

The Customer Review Period runs until March 4.

The Assessment Search website at calgary.ca/assessmentsearch offers tools and resources to help property and business owners review their 2014 assessment.

If customers wish to discuss their assessment further, they're encouraged to contact Assessment at 403-268-2888.

City Matters: Property Tax Assistance Program

The City of Calgary offers a property tax assistance program for low-income homeowners.

Regardless of age, those that meet the criteria may receive a credit or rebate on the increase in residential property taxes from 2012 – 2013.

To find out more, including eligibility requirements, visit calgary.ca/ptap

Property Tax Assistance Program

Did you know if you are a low-income residential property owner, you may be eligible for a credit on your property tax account through the Property Tax Assistance Program (PTAP)?

The City’s Community & Neighbourhood Services is currently accepting applications until December 1, 2013, for those needing help with their 2013 property taxes.

“The City understands that sometimes making ends meet can be difficult and this is why we have such programs as PTAP,” says Susan Fernando, PTAP coordinator. “We encourage anyone to reach out to us even if they are not sure they qualify for this program. Even if you do not qualify we may be able to connect you with other community resources to help.”

To be eligible for this credit, applicants must:

• Experience an increase in property taxes from 2012 to 2013.
• Live in the principal residence for a minimum of one year.
• Own no other property.
• Meet household income guidelines of at or below $23,647/one person; $29,440/two persons; $36,193/three persons; $43,942/four persons; $49,839/five persons; $56,209/six persons; $62,581/seven persons or more.

For homeowners who are under the age of 65, you may be eligible for a rebate/credit of the whole increase in property taxes from 2012 to 2013. For homeowners who are 65 years of age and older they may be eligible to receive a rebate/credit of the increase in municipal property taxes from 2012 to 2013

Homeowners looking to apply or for more information are encouraged to contact 311 or visit calgary.ca/ptap.

A "TIPP" about property tax

The property tax payment deadline is Friday, June 28, but there’s still time to assess your personal tax payment needs.

Do you prefer to save up throughout the year and pay your taxes in one lump sum? Or would you rather budget on a monthly basis? The Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP) is a valuable program that helps make budgeting a little bit easier.

TIPP enables homeowners to pay property taxes monthly instead of making a single payment in June.  Plus, it helps avoid the risk of paying a 7% penalty if you have not paid your property taxes by the June 28 deadline.

It’s simple to join TIPP and you can join at any time. If you’re interested in signing up for the payment plan you can do so by following the steps below:

1. Visit Calgary.ca/TIPP to request an application
2. Click  the ‘Request an application to join’ link
3. Click the ‘Tax Installment Payment Plan application request’ button
4. Enter your home address, then add other key pieces of information by following the prompts
5. Add additional comments if required, or click ‘next step’ to review and submit your request

An application specific to your property will be emailed to you within 7 business days. Follow the instructions in the email, choose your preferred method to submit and you are set!

For more information about TIPP, and other payment options visit Calgary.ca/propertytax.

Find out what other city services are easily available online at Calgary.ca/311.