Tax bills are not in the mail – yet

Tax bills are not in the mail and the March 16 installment due date will be extended.

James Hepburn, the County’s Director of Finance, said in a statement today distribution has been delayed as the provincial Ministry of Finance has not yet released the 2015 education tax rates.

“Education tax rates are required to calculate the education portion of the 2015 annual taxes. As the County has not yet received these rates, the 2015 final tax notices were not able to be generated with enough notice to have a March 16 due date,” said Hepburn’s statement. “The Ministry of Finance has not advised when the County can expect to receive education tax rates for 2015.”

Once the 2015 education tax rates are released, the 2015 final tax notices will be generated and mailed, with a due date of at least 21 days from the date of mailing.

Taxpayers who wish to make an estimated payment for their March installment in advance of the receipt of their final tax notices are welcome to do so. The delay in distributing the 2015 final tax notice will not impact property owners enrolled in the monthly pre-authorized payment plan and the regular monthly withdrawal will continue as scheduled.

“We understand that this unexpected change in deadlines may be frustrating for the taxpayer, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” said Hepburn. “We would like to assure taxpayers that we will be providing an extension of the due date for the first installment of their 2015 taxes.”

Property taxes are due three times per year. Each installment represents approximately one third of the total taxes due. For properties within the residential, farm and managed forest property classes, the installment due dates are in March, June and September. For properties within the multi-residential, commercial and industrial property classes, the installment dates are in May, September and November. Property taxes notices are mailed once a year.