A city committee was provided a presentation on property taxes and deadline on collections during a public meeting last week.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com
Members of a city committee recently heard a presentation from staff on the average municipal tax lifecycle experienced by an average resident in Medicine Hat.
Members of the Corporate Services Committee were provided a presentation by Densie Schmaltz, manager of customer care and billing for information, who provided an overview on the lifecycle of a tax customer, beginning from the purchase of a property, to assessment, to unpaid tax penalties.
The presentation highlighted how residents would purchase a new property, how to acquire a tax certification that is needed because the property tax stays with the property and not the resident, as well as legal processes such as land titles, school declaration and e-Billing.
Schmatlz also provided an overview on how taxes are collected, plus important upcoming dates for residents, including assessment notices that will be mailed out at the end of the month.
Additionally, the tax assessment complaint date has been set for May 6. This is the deadline for all residents who would like to dispute the value of a property tax assessment.
“So, if they do not agree with the assessed value from their assessment notice, the first step would be to contact the assessment department and discuss their property to determine how that value was set,” said Schmatlz. “If they are in disagreement of that value they have the opportunity to file an appeal or an official complaint.”
In April, the property tax bylaw will go forward to council for consideration, and at this time the tax rate will be approved for the year.
The tax notices will be generated and mailed May 21. The city expects to mail out approximately 30,000 tax notices to residents in May, and is expecting to collect $118 million in revenue this year.
The due date to pay taxes is June 30, and beginning July 1 monthly penalties will start to accrue for any unpaid taxes.
This penalty is charged at a rate of 8.75 per cent in July and jumps up an additional 1.25 per cent each following month.
If a ratepayer is overdue with payments they will receive an overdue statement every month advising the outstanding balance.
In October supplementary tax and assessment notices will be mailed to residents, which typically represents new or completed construction projects. The due date on these assessment notices will be Dec. 31, and unpaid tax fee would begin Jan. 1 2027.
If a resident goes one year without paying property taxes, the city will begin its tax recovery process.
