The City has now started auditing Vacant Unit Tax declarations for properties that were not charged the tax, ensuring the information provided was accurate. The audit uses varied criteria to select an unbiased sampling of properties impartially. The City will notify selected property owners by letter or email if the person is enrolled with paperless billing.
The letter will provide details on the required documentation to support your declaration. Documentation may be uploaded using the Audit link on ottawa.ca/vut, through the property tax account on MyServiceOttawa, or by contacting Revenue Services at 613-580-2444.
The tax will apply if a property was declared occupied but, through the audit, is found to be vacant. Property owners providing false declaration status and information may also be penalized or fined. Residents wishing to appeal the outcome of an audit will have 90 days to file their appeal.
The VUT audit is a transparent process designed to ensure compliance with the by-law and fairness for those who accurately completed their declarations and were levied the tax. The audit process for the 2022 occupancy year will run from September 2023 to August 2024. The extended audit timeline ensures a thorough and comprehensive review of the sampled declarations.
Results of the complete 2023 VUT cycle including the declaration, appeal, and audit phases will be published on Ottawa.ca in the fall of 2024.
VUT appeal deadline is September 15
Residents completed occupancy declarations earlier this year, with those who declared vacant or were deemed vacant receiving the Vacant Unit Tax charge on their June Property Tax Bill.
If you believe you were incorrectly charged the vacant unit tax, remember the September 15 deadline is quickly approaching to file a notice of complaint and appeal your charge. Visit ottawa.ca/vut or contact Revenue Services at 613-580-2444.