COVID-19 Property Tax Relief FAQs
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic impact, on April 6th Council approved temporary property tax relief which allows businesses and residents additional time to make the April interim installment up until June 30th without incurring late payment charges.
Final tax bills have been delayed to align with the relief of the April installment to June 30.
Final tax bills will be mailed in July with due dates of Aug 20 and Oct 20.
It is recognized that some property owners will continue to experience financial hardship as the economy begins to rebuild. For those taxpayers impacted by COVID-19 that require additional assistance for repayment of the April 21 installment beyond June 30, the City is offering enrollment in a monthly pre-authorized payment plan. This plan will provide withdrawals from August 1 to December 1 to pay the remaining 2020 property taxes (April, August and October installments). No penalty or interest will be charged to taxpayers enrolled in this plan.
| What is the property tax relief being provided? |
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Taxpayers have until June 30, 2020 to pay the April 21,2020 interim installment without incurring late payment charges. Property owners who continue to experience financial hardship during these unprecedented times are encouraged to contact property tax staff by email at pap@burlington.ca to discuss a pre-authorized payment plan option to pay the April installment and the final taxes over 5 months of August to December. |
| How will this relief impact the final tax bill? |
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Final tax billing is typically mailed in May with due dates in June and September. Final property tax bills are delayed to align with the April installment relief to June 30 and will be mailed in July with due dates of August 20 and October 20. In addition to delaying the final due dates we recognize that some property owners continue to experience financial hardship during these unprecedented times. A monthly pre-authorized payment plan is available for eligible property owners whereby the remaining 2020 taxes (April, August, October installments) would be withdrawn over the 5 months from August to December. Businesses and residents enrolled in the monthly pre-authorized payment plans are not subject to penalty and interest charges. |
| Do I still need to pay my property tax? |
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Yes, you are still required to pay the property taxes as billed based on the deferred installment dates or by entering into a pre-authorized monthly payment plan. |
| What if I pay my taxes through a pre-authorized payment? |
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The pre-authorized withdrawals will continue with the regular schedule. For the monthly plan, withdrawals will continue to happen June 1 to October 1 for the final billing. An option to defer monthly withdrawals to August 1 to December 1 can be requested by emailing pap@burlington.ca. For the installment plan, the withdrawals will happen August 20 and October 20 for final billing. Any changes to your pre-authorized plan should be emailed to pap@burlington.ca. |
| 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. Taxpayers are encouraged to make payments where possible during these unique times. |
| 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. Please note, the phone number returning your call may be a blocked or private number. We appreciate your patience during this unprecedented time. 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
Due to the current emergency order regarding 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/2020AssessmentUpdate
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.
Property Assessment Appeals and COVID-19
Anyone who disagrees with a property’s assessed value can ask MPAC to review their assessment through a process called a Request for Reconsideration (RfR). The deadline for property owners to file an RfR is usually March 31 of the applicable tax year. However, given the current emergency order regarding COVID-19, the deadline to file an RfR has been extended.
The deadline to file an RfR for the 2020 taxation year will fall 16 days after the Province lifts its COVID-19 Declaration of Emergency. There is no fee required to file an RfR to MPAC. Please visit the following link to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) for updates regarding Request for Reconsiderations.
https://www.mpac.ca/COVID19UpdatesourPartners
Business property owners can also file an appeal directly to the Assessment Review Board (ARB). In accordance with the extension of the Declaration of Emergency regarding COVID-19, the ARB has extended the filing deadline for the 2020 taxation year beyond the normal March 31st deadline. The ARB will now impose a deadline to file an appeal up to and including May 29, 2020. There is a filing fee required to file an appeal to the ARB.
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 2019 residential tax bill is 44.1 cents of every tax dollar and the remaining 55.9 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 2019, an urban residential property assessed at $500,000 amounts to approximately $1,727 in property taxes for city services.
Where Your 2019 Tax Dollars Are Spent
(per $500,000 of residential assessment)
| Service | Amount |
| City Services (44.1%) | $ 1,727.22 |
| Capital | $ 393.91 |
| Public Safety Services | $ 336.94 |
| Maintenance Services | $ 230.59 |
| Roads and Transportation | $ 213.53 |
| Internal Support and Administration Services | $ 200.42 |
| Local Boards and Other Agencies | $ 152.58 |
| Leisure Services | $ 126.01 |
| Joseph Brant Hospital Contribution | $ 32.13 |
| Customer Relations and Citizen Representation Services | $ 23.81 |
| Design and Build | $ 22.13 |
| Mayor and Council | $ 17.09 |
| Net Corporate Revenues | $ (21.92) |
| Regional Services (35.4%) | $ 1,386.62 |
| Halton Regional Police Service | $ 505.40 |
| Road Operations | $ 189.60 |
| Waste Management Services | $ 150.30 |
| Public Health & Paramedic Services | $ 122.25 |
| Housing | $ 117.30 |
| Other Services | $ 62.32 |
| Services for Seniors | $ 59.30 |
| Planning & Economic Development | $ 54.25 |
| Conservation Authorities & Heritage | $ 39.25 |
| Children's Services | $ 33.80 |
| Property Assessment | $ 31.25 |
| Employment & Social Services | $ 21.60 |
| Education (20.5%) | $ 805.00 |
| Total 2019 | $ 3,918.84 |
Download a copy of the 2019 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.