Property Taxes

Property taxes form a very significant portion of the revenues of the Township of South Algonquin and are required to ensure that staff are able to provide the services and projects directed by council through the budget process.

Interim Tax Billing

This is the first tax bill that a resident receives in a given year. It is calculated based on 50% of the previous year’s Final Tax Billing. This billing is issued in March with installments due on March 31st and May 31st.

Final Tax Billing

This is the second tax bill that a resident receives in a given year. It is calculated based on the completed Township Budget and respective tax rates as well as the tax rates provided by the Province of Ontario for education. The Final Tax Billing calculates all required amounts, less the amounts previously billed on the Interim Tax Billing. This bill is issued in August with installments due on August 31st and October 31st.

When you receive your property tax billing from the Township of South Algonquin, it is significant to note that the Township is collecting taxes for the Provincial Education and the Township. The Township is obligated to disburse the required funds to the Province regardless of whether or not the Township has received payment for the same. For this reason we are proactive in attempting to get our property tax accounts receivable as current as possible at all times.

SUPPLEMENTARY / OMITTED TAX BILLINGS

A supplementary tax billing represents an adjustment to a previous tax bill that reflects any additions or improvements made to a property that were not previously assessed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). Similarly, when MPAC has omitted or failed to include a property, the newly included item must be assessed.

When MPAC has completed their assessment, they advise the Township of the same, and we prepare a supplementary tax billing that reflects the change in assessed value. This process is not immediate but can occur at any time and assessment changes can be retroactive up to 3 years. When this occurs, the entire billed amount is due as the respective time frame is in the past – residents are encouraged to begin setting aside funds to cover these billings when they occur.

• Telephone banking
• Internet banking
• Your financial institution
• Mail
• In person – cash, cheque, money order or Interac Debit

Telephone and internet banking: When using telephone or internet banking, “South Algonquin Township” is the payee and the roll number on your tax bill is your account number. The bank will require the removal of the last four digits “0000.”  It is important to note that you must enter a separate roll number and amount for each property that you own so that payments are allocated correctly.

By mail: Cheques and money orders should be made payable to “Township of South Algonquin.” Post-dated cheques are accepted.

In person: Residents can make a payment in person at the main office, 7 Third Ave., Whitney, Ontario. In addition, there is a drop box outside the main entrance doors of the office for after-hours.  We accept cash, cheques or money orders.

If your property tax payments are falling behind, please contact our office to discuss how we can help.

Penalty and interest charges of 1.25% (15% per annum) will be added on the first day of each month of all taxes that have not been paid by the due date. All outstanding penalty and interest charges are paid first from any payments received and the remaining amount is applied to the oldest outstanding balance first. Penalty/interest charges cannot be waived.

For more information on collection procedures please refer to the Property Tax and Collection Policy.

Other Charges

• Payment returned from the bank (NSF cheques): $25.00 plus bank charges
• Tax statement: $5.00
• Tax certificate (usually requested by lawyer when selling): $35.00

It is the property owner’s responsibility to inform the Township of any changes of mailing address. To prevent misdirected tax bills, please advise us in writing of any changes as soon as possible. A change of address form is available in the documents section below.

Once completed please return the form to the Municipal office or email to jwilson@southalgonquin.ca. Please be aware, failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve you from payment of taxes nor from liability of penalty for late payment.

All property assessment valuations are completed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).

These values cannot be changed by the Township so if you have questions or concerns regarding your property assessment, please contact MPAC directly at 1-866-296-6722 or visit their website.

Property owners can also view assessment information by visiting AboutMyProperty.  AboutMyProperty is a secure, online, easy-to-use, self-serve website that allows property owners to learn more about how their property was assessed, see the information MPAC has on file as well as compare it to others in their neighbourhood or area.

If property taxes remain unpaid for a period of three years, the Municipal Act provides for the municipality to register a “Tax Arrears Certificate.”

The tax arrears certificate indicates the property will be sold if the “Cancellation Price” is not paid within one year of registration of the certificate. The owner would be able to redeem the property by paying the full amount of taxes and other costs to the municipality, thereby stopping the tax sale. Partial payments are not accepted. Upon the conclusion of the one year redemption period, the municipality may advertise the property for sale. Advertisements are published in a local newspaper once a week for four weeks and in the Ontario Gazette for one week.

Tax sales are conducted by public tender (a tender is a written document that advises the treasurer how much you will pay for the property). A Minimum Tender Amount is set based upon total outstanding taxes, penalty, interest and the municipality’s costs in conducting the tax sale procedures. The person who submits the highest tender or bid will be permitted to buy the property and has fourteen days to complete the transaction. All properties are sold without warranty and “as is.” The Treasurer is not bound to inquire into, or form any opinion of, the value of the land before conducting a sale and is not under any duty to obtain the highest or best price for the land. The municipality has no obligation to provide vacant possession, if occupied.

Other Costs

Tax sale administrative costs: $500.00

Preparation and registration of a Tax Arrears Certificate: Cost recovery

Preparation and registration of Statutory Declarations: Cost recovery

Preparation and registration of a Cancellation Certificate: Cost recovery

Preparation and registration of a Tax Arrears Extension Agreement: Cost recovery

Survey costs ( if applicable): Cost recovery