COVID-19 Property Tax FAQs
As of Feb 22, 2021, city hall is resuming in person services including payment of property taxes by cheque or debit (cash is currently not accepted). Under the red level, details on city service resumption can be found here.
Support for businesses impacted by COVID-19 can be found through:
| How can I make a payment? |
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Taxpayers have numerous ways of remitting payment for property taxes that respect physical distancing;
Property taxes are the most important revenue source for the City to ensure we continue to provide essential services for residents of the City of Burlington during these challenging circumstances. |
| How do I contact the property tax office? |
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Staff are answering our tax phone line 905-335-7750 during business hours (8:30am-4:30pm Mon-Fri). Due to higher than normal call volumes you may need to leave a message and a staff member will return your call. We can be reached by emailing propertytax@burlington.ca for any inquiries or by email to pap@burlington.ca for inquiries specific to our pre-authorized payment plans. |
Property Assessment Update and COVID-19
As a result of the pandemic surrounding COVID-19, the reassessment originally scheduled to be completed for the 2021-2024 taxation years has been postponed.
Please visit the following link to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) for updates regarding the reassessment.
https://www.mpac.ca/HowAssessmentWorks
For the 2021 taxation year, your property’s assessed value will be the same value as that from the 2020 taxation year unless there have been changes to your property.
For information regarding an appeal of your property assessment, please visit the appeals page.
Where do your tax dollars go?
Your total property tax bill provides for more than just the cost of city services. Like the city, Halton Region prepares a budget each year, with a large part of their operating expenditures funded through property taxes. The Province determines education tax rates.
The City's portion of the overall 2020 residential tax bill is 44.7 cents of every tax dollar and the remaining 55.3 cents goes to Halton Region and the Province of Ontario for education taxes.
The city considers it very important for taxpayers to understand what city services they receive for their property tax dollars. For 2020, an urban residential property assessed at $500,000 amounts to approximately $1,700 in property taxes for city services.
Where Your 2020 Tax Dollars Are Spent
(per $500,000 of residential assessment)
| Service | Amount |
|---|---|
| City Services (44.7%) | $ 1,699.69 |
| Capital | $ 392.51 |
| Public Safety Services | $ 317.80 |
| Maintenance Services | $ 232.93 |
| Roads and Transportation | $ 216.93 |
| Internal Support and Administration | $ 196.82 |
| Local Boards and Other Agencies | $ 145.36 |
| Leisure Services | $ 122.54 |
| Hospital levy | $ 30.10 |
| Customer Relations and Citizen Representation Services | $ 27.12 |
| Design and Build | $ 21.35 |
| Mayor and Council | $ 16.85 |
| Net Corporate Revenues | $ (20.62) |
| Regional Services (35.2%) | $ 1,338.12 |
| Halton Regional Police Service | $ 490.39 |
| Road Operations | $ 182.30 |
| Waste Management Services | $ 143.13 |
| Public Health & Paramedic Services | $ 117.70 |
| Housing | $ 109.75 |
| Other Services | $ 67.20 |
| Services for Seniors | $ 60.00 |
| Planning & Economic Development | $ 48.55 |
| Conservation Authorities & Heritage | $ 35.70 |
| Children's Services | $ 32.50 |
| Property Assessment | $ 29.95 |
| Employment & Social Services | $ 20.95 |
| Education (20.1%) | $ 765.00 |
| Total 2020 | $ 3,802.81 |
Download a copy of the 2020 Taxpayer Brochure
Receive Your Property Tax Bill Electronically
Receive your property tax bills electronically by visiting the epost website, creating an account and adding the mailer: City of Burlington - Property Tax.
Additional Information
Select a link below to learn more about:
- Paying taxes - when taxes are due and payment options
- Tax rates - rates for the past few years
- Property assessment - how to look up your property assessment and resources for understanding and estimating assessments
- Rebates and deferrals
- Updates to mailing address or ownership - moving or changing mailing address
- Contacts and related links - important contacts for assisting with property taxes and assessments
- Appeals - how to file an appeal
- Tax Applications - for tax reductions due to demolition, fire, exemptions, etc.