General
Tax Information
2012 Tax Bills:
The 2012 Interim tax bills (for all classes) are due in two
instalments – February 27, 2012 and April 27, 2012. They were
mailed on February 2, 2012.
Supplementary
Tax Information
If your
property tax assessment reflects its land value only, The
Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) will issue a revised assessment within the next
year that will include your land and dwelling. When
the City of Pickering receives your revised assessment, you will
be issued a supplementary tax bill that will reflect the value of
your house multiplied by the current tax rate.
A general rule
of thumb regarding budgeting of house taxes is to use your purchase
price multiplied by the current tax rate. For example if you paid
$200,000 for your house, your taxes would be:
$200,000
x 2011 Tax Rate (.01355112) = $2,710.22
The $2,710.22 represents your estimated tax expenditure.
If you have
any questions regarding your assessment, please contact the
Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) at 1.866.296.6722.
24
hour Property Tax Certificate - with Verbal Information - $85.00
Due to the many requests from legal
and financial institutions, the City is now offering a 24 hour
turnaround for property tax certificates for a fee of $85.00 per
roll number. The tax certificate will be faxed to your office with
the original to follow by mail. For example: the City receives your
(completed) request on Monday at 3:00 pm, your property tax
certificate will be faxed to you by 3:00 pm on the following
business day. If you receive your property tax certificate after the
24 hour period, the City’s regular fee of $65.00 will apply.
Regular Property Tax Certificate Fee - $65.00
You can still order a tax certificate
for a $65.00 fee and expect the document to be mailed within five to
seven days. This tax certificate will not be faxed. The $65.00 fee
has remained the same for the last eight years. This tax
certificate fee does not include verbal information
Low
Income Seniors and / or Disabled Tax Deferral Program
Eligibility
Criteria:
Deferral Amount: The amount
that qualifies for a tax deferral is limited ONLY to the assessment
related tax increase shown on Schedule 2 of the Final Tax
Notice. The eligible deferral amount is that part of the
assessment-related tax increase that is in excess of the first 5% of
the assessment-related increase or one hundred dollars ($100.00),
whichever is greater.
Seniors: For the purpose of
this application, a Low Income Senior is defined as a person who is
65 years of age or older, and who is eligible to receive payment
under the Guaranteed Income Supplement, or the Guaranteed Annual
Income System (GAINS). The applicant or spouse of the applicant must
have owned the subject property for at least one year before the
date of the application.
Disabled: For the purposes of
this application, a Low Income Disabled person is a person who is
eligible to receive payment under the Ontario Disability Support
Program Act (ODSP), or the Guaranteed Annual Income System (Gains).
The applicant or spouse of the applicant must have owned the subject
property for at least one year before the date of the application.
Please note: Deferred amounts
represent a lien against the property, under provisions established
under Section 319 of the Municipal Act, and must be repaid when the
property is sold or a change in ownership occurs.
View
/ Application for Deferral
[PDF 128 kb]
Tax
Payment Options
The City of
Pickering is the tax collector only for the Region and the School
Boards and does not in any way set their rates nor approve their
expenditure or service levels. Tax bills are mailed twice a year,
usually in February and May. Tax due dates are usually in the
months of February, April, June and September. The various methods of
payment are as follows:
11- MONTH PRE- AUTHORIZED PLAN
This plan runs from January 1st to November 1st each year. In order to join this payment plan,
your taxes must be in good standing. Applications may be picked up at the tax office
or from this website.
A “VOID” cheque must be included with the application.
Please contact Taxation Staff for further enrolment
information.
NEW – INSTALMENT/DUE DATE PRE-AUTHORIZED
PLAN
This plan allows your tax payments to be automatically withdrawn
from your bank account on the due dates noted on the tax bills. In
order to join this payment plan, your taxes must be in good
standing. Applications may be picked up at the tax office or from
this website. A “VOID” cheque must be included with the application.
Please contact Taxation Staff for further enrolment information.
BY MAIL
Make your cheque
payable to the City of Pickering and return by mail along with the payment stub.
Note: Your tax account is credited when payment is
received at our office, not the post-marked date.
POST-DATED CHEQUES
You may post-date
your cheque(s) to the instalment due date(s). Please write
the property roll number on the cheque(s) and include the payment
stub(s).
TELEPHONE
& INTERNET BANKING
Realty taxes may be paid by telephone & internet banking. Contact your financial
institution for further information.
Note: Your tax account is credited when payment is received
at our office, not the day funds are withdrawn from your bank
account.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Payments can
be made at any chartered Bank or Trust Company. Most
financial institutions also offer Property Tax Payment through
electronic telephone service and over the Internet. Please contact
your institution either in person or online for more details.
Note: Your tax account is credited when payment is received
at our office, not the day funds are withdrawn from your bank
account.
CIVIC COMPLEX
You may pay
your taxes to the Cashier on the second floor between 8:30 am and 4:30
pm Monday to Friday. Please remember to bring the tax bill. After hours, payments (NOT CASH) may be
placed in the drop box located in the tower between the Library
and the Civic Complex.
MORTGAGE COMPANY OR AGENT
If your tax bill is to be paid by a Mortgage Company, please forward the
bill to them immediately for payment.
SERVICE CHARGES
Payments not honoured by your bank for any reason, are subject to a
service charge. Please note that the service charge also applies to electronic payment corrections and post-dated cheque
retrieval.
PENALTIES
& INTEREST
The late payment penalty of 1.25% is applied on the first day of
default. A further late payment penalty of 1.25% will be added
on the 1st day of each calendar month for taxes that remain
unpaid. PAYMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED AND PROCESSED BY THE DUE
DATE IN ORDER TO AVOID LATE PAYMENT CHARGES.
ENQUIRIES
Enquiries can
be made in person at the Corporate Services Department, Pickering
Civic Complex, One The Esplanade, Pickering, between the hours of
8:30 am and 4:30 pm Monday to Friday. The direct telephone
number for Tax Billing enquiries is 905.420.4614 (North
Pickering 905.683.2760 and Toll Free 1.866.683.2760). The Corporate Services Department’s
general enquiries line is 905.420.4634.
Paying Taxes Online
This option of payment is done through your own
banking institution. The City of Pickering is chosen as the
“payee” and your roll number using all 15 digits (excluding the
1801) is used as the account number. On most bank sites we are
listed as Pickering-Taxes.
Pre-authorized
Tax Payment Plan
It's
easy and it's convenient
What
are pre-authorized payments?
Pre-authorized payments are a modern, easy method to make recurring
payments without the inconvenience of cheque writing. With your
permission, your payments can be made automatically through your
financial institution. Monthly payments allow for easy budgeting,
eliminating the need to pay your annual taxes in four larger
amounts. Avoid late payment charges and eliminate the worry
about missed due dates with the instalment plan. You will also save on postal charges, it's all automatic.
Once you are enrolled in the Plan you do not have to reapply for
subsequent years.
Who
is eligible and how do I join?
You are eligible if your tax account is up to date.
Applications are available at the Civic Complex or on the website.
Please contact the Taxation Staff for further enrolment information. Attach a cheque marked "VOID" to the
application, and return both to:
City of Pickering
Taxation Section
One The Esplanade
Pickering, ON L1V 6K7
Monthly Payment Plan - How
much will my monthly payment be? Will it change?
Under the City's PAP plan, your annual taxes will be paid over
eleven months starting in January and ending in November. The
initial payment calculation is based on the previous year's taxes.
Once the final taxes are known (usually in June) your payment amount
will be adjusted for the remainder of the year. Your complete
payment schedule is shown on the reverse side of the Final Tax
Notice. As this is an eleven-month plan, the
month of December is payment free.
Download the form [PDF]
Instalment/Due Date Plan
There are four instalments in a calendar year; two interim
instalments and two final instalments. Property tax payments will be
automatically withdrawn from your bank account on the due dates
noted on the tax bills.
*New
Defined Payment Plan
(Arrears)
To join this plan, your account does not have to be up-to-date. This
plan is designed for owners that are in arrears and wish to work on
paying down their balance. Payment amounts are determined by the
City according to individual circumstances, and will be
automatically withdrawn from your bank account on the 15th day of
each month. Applications must be received at least 10 days before
the first withdrawal. A new application is required to make a change
in the amount and it must be received in our office 10 business days
prior to the next withdrawal. Penalty and interest charges will
accrue on tax balances.
Download the form [PDF]
Is
it confidential and safe?
Yes. The City's Bank handles all of the payment transactions. Access
to your account is limited solely to withdrawal of monthly/instalment tax
payment funds as authorized. Account information of balances and
other transactions is not available to the City.
What
if I pay my taxes through a mortgage company?
You may wish to contact your mortgage company to ask if they will
allow you to join the Pre-authorized Tax Payment Plan.
What
if I sell my property?
Simply notify the City of Pickering in writing stating the closing
date of the sale. We will ensure that the deductions stop at the
appropriate time. We will require notification by the 15th day of
the month prior to the next scheduled withdrawal date.
Can
I withdraw from the plan?
Yes. To withdraw from the plan, at anytime, just send a note to the
City of Pickering Taxation Section stating your decision to cancel and
your tax account will revert to the regular instalment billing
system. To cancel a payment, the City must receive your written
request by the 15th day of the month prior to the next scheduled withdrawal.
Notice after the 15th day of the month cannot be accommodated.
Download the form
[PDF]
What if I change my banking information?
Simply notify the City of Pickering in writing by the 15th
day of the month prior to the next scheduled withdrawal date and
provide a new void cheque.
Download the form
[PDF]
What
if I miss a payment?
If more than one monthly payment in a year is dishonoured by your
bank for any reason, your enrollment in the plan may be cancelled
and your tax account will revert to the regular instalment billing
system. Your tax account will be subject to the standard penalty and
interest charges and collection procedures. A service fee
will be applied to your account in response to the returned payment.
Written notification will be sent to you when an item has been
returned by your financial institution. It will be your
responsibility to replace this amount by cheque, upon receipt of
this letter.
What
if there's not enough money in my account on the due date?
Many banks and other financial institutions offer an overdraft
protection service, which will protect you if there are insufficient
funds in your account to cover the monthly tax payment. You may wish
to contact your bank to find out more about overdraft protection.
How
the plan works.
The Pre-authorized Tax Payment Plan offers you the option of
worry-free payments even if you are away for an extended period of
time. Simply fill in the application form, return it along
with a void cheque, and we'll do the rest. Your monthly tax payments
will automatically be withdrawn from your bank account starting on
the 1st day of the month beginning on January 1st.
Your instalment tax payments will automatically be withdrawn from
your bank account on the due dates noted on the tax bills.
Receipts.
Your final tax bill will be mailed to you each year, once the tax
rates are finalized. This bill will be sent to you for your
information only and will contain your payment schedule for the
entire year. Please retain it for income tax purposes, as no
other will be issued.
Our address is:
City of Pickering
Taxation Section
One The Esplanade
Pickering, ON L1V 6K7
Enquiries can be made in person at
the Corporate Services Department, Pickering Civic Complex, One The
Esplanade, Pickering, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm
Monday to Friday. The direct telephone number for enquiries is
905.420.4614 (North Pickering 905.683.2760 or Toll Free
1.866.683.2760) or email
propertytaxes@cityofpickering.com.
Pre-authorized Tax
Payment Application Forms:
Property
Tax Rebates for Vacant Commercial & Industrial Buildings
Under new Provincial legislation
(Bill 140 - Continued Protection for Property Taxpayers Act), the
concept of "real time" approach to the taxation of vacant
commercial and industrial properties is introduced.
For the 2001 assessment roll,
commercial and industrial properties were reported as fully occupied
regardless of whether there were vacancies in the building. The tax
bills for these properties were based on full occupancy. However,
property tax relief is available through rebates offered by the
local municipality.
To qualify for a rebate, the vacancy
period must be at least 90
consecutive days. Applicants
for vacancy rebates may submit either:
- One application for the entire tax
year; or
- Two applications, reflecting the
first and last six months of the tax year.
The vacancy program does not apply
under the following conditions:
- Seasonal Property: Businesses that
operate on a seasonal basis are not eligible for a rebate for
the seasons they are closed.
- Leased Property: Buildings or
portions that are vacant but are leased to a tenant are not
eligible for a rebate.
- Vacant Land Sub-Class: Buildings
that are included in a vacant land sub-class (e.g. new buildings
that have never been occupied) are not eligible for a rebate.
IMPORTANT
The deadline for submission of a complete
application is the last day of February in the year following the
taxation year for which the application is made. The
onus is on the applicant to provide documentation to support their
vacancy rebate application. An application is not considered
complete unless all of the supporting documentation is
included by the deadline. A list of supporting documentation
can be found on the vacancy application.
If you have any questions concerning this rebate program, please
contact the City Tax Office at 905.420.4614.
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