News & Insights

Tax Alert | Upcoming Ontario Property Tax Deadlines

Tax Development Feb 04, 2022

Rebate Applications

Property owners are reminded that the deadline for Ontario property tax rebate applications is rapidly approaching. Applications for rebates of municipal property tax paid in 2021 must be filed by the legislated deadline of February 28, 2022.

Property tax rebates may be available where a property has experienced a significant change in value over the course of a year due to specific events.

Examples of significant events that may have occurred in 2021, resulting in a property becoming eligible for a municipal property tax rebate, include:

  • Demolition: A property may be eligible for a rebate if it, or any part of it, was demolished during 2021.
  • Damage due to fire or other causes: A property may be eligible for a rebate if it was damaged by fire or other causes, such as flooding, storm damage, and other weather-related events. To qualify, the property or a portion of the property must have been substantially unusable for the purposes for which it was used immediately prior to the damage.
  • Repairs or renovations: A property may be eligible for a rebate if it was undergoing repairs or renovations during the 2021 calendar year. The repairs or renovations must have been extensive enough to prevent the normal use of the property, or a portion of the property, for a period of three months or more. Any repairs or renovations lasting three months or longer should be reviewed for eligibility, as the term “normal use” can be quite subjective.

If any of the significant events noted above or similar situations occurred at a property in your portfolio, please contact Ryan with the pertinent details so that we can determine your eligibility for a rebate.

Appeals and Requests for Reconsideration

Property owners and tenants in Ontario have until March 31, 2022 to file an appeal or request for reconsideration to challenge their property tax assessments. 

There are several reasons taxpayers should consider filing an appeal in this sixth year of the current assessment cycle in Ontario. For example, if the COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the value of a property, an appeal should be considered, even if an appeal was previously filed and resolved in an earlier year of the assessment cycle. Similarly, taxpayers should consider filing an appeal if:   

  • A new property has been acquired in the last 12 months;
  • There has been a change in use in all or a portion of a property;
  • Physical changes to a property have been experienced, such as demolition, contamination, additions, etc.; or
  • There has been a recent appeal decision on a neighbouring property.

In addition, the province has extended the assessment cycle for an additional year (as was done last year). As a result, an appeal filed for 2022 will also automatically apply to 2023.  Property owners and tenants can also benefit from lowering an assessment value in the current cycle as this will establish a lower valuation base for the calculation of any phased-in assessment increases in future years.

More Information

With more than 850 global professionals in 41 cities, Ryan has the local market expertise and resources to successfully manage your organization’s property tax obligations.  Our integrated team, including designated appraisers, former local assessment officials, engineers, attorneys, paralegals and financial analysts, can maximize potential property tax refunds while ensuring compliance with the regulatory requirements in all Canadian jurisdictions.   

For more information or to discuss your current situation, please contact your Ryan account representative or the Ryan TaxDirect® line at 1.800.667.1600.