Due dates and fees

2020 Interim tax bills are mailed out between February 21 and February 27 with a payment due date of Thursday, March 19, 2020. The interim property tax bill is the first portion of your total property taxes. It is based on 50 per cent of last year's taxes. The final tax bill for the balance of your annual taxes is due on June 18, 2020.

Accessible format

To receive an accessible format of these documents (electronic, large print or Braille), please contact the Revenue Services at 613-580-2444, (TTY: 613-580-2401), or revenue@ottawa.ca.

How to pay your property tax bill

Visit our Payment options page to see the different ways you can pay your tax bill.

Fees

Visit our fees article below for information on fees that may be applied to your property tax account.

Supplementary taxes

Supplementary taxes are not included on the Interim Tax Bill. For more information on supplementary taxes, visit the Supplementary assessment page.

Partial payments

Partial payments are applied first toward the outstanding interest and penalty, then to the oldest outstanding taxes.

Bills paid by mortgage companies, agents or tenants

If your bills are to be paid by a mortgage company, agent or tenant:

• Forward your interim tax bill to the mortgage company, agent or tenant.
• Email the City at revenue@ottawa.ca to have future bills redirected.

If paid by a mortgage company, you will receive a receipt after payment of your final bill in July. If your tax bills are not paid by the due dates, you will receive reminder notices.
It is your responsibility to inform the City in writing when a mortgage company, agent or tenant will no longer be paying your tax bill.

Change of ownership or mailing address

If there has been an ownership change, or a tax bill has been directed to the wrong person, please visit our Change of ownership or mailing address page for more information. You can submit a change of mailing address request by visiting myservice.ottawa.ca.

Tax deferral program

Payment of annual property taxes can be deferred for seniors and people with disabilities on low income. For more information visit the tax deferral program page.

Property assessment

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) issued assessment notices for all properties in Ontario based on January 1, 2016 market values. This new value is being phased in over 4 years and is used to calculate your 2017 to 2020 property taxes. If you have any questions about your assessment, please contact MPAC by phone at 1-866-296-6722 (TTY 1-877-889-6722) or by fax at 1-866-297-6703 or visit their website at www.mpac.ca

Your property taxes

Property taxes pay for the city services you and your family enjoy every day. Every time you travel our network of roads and pathways, take a bus or enjoy the parks in your neighbourhood, your property tax dollars are at work. When you visit your local library or when you get your flu vaccination at a public health clinic, your taxes are working for you. From garbage and recycling collection to the frontline emergency services we all rely on to stay safe, your tax dollars go the distance.
A portion of your taxes goes directly to local school boards and conservation authorities. The following is a breakdown of how the City spent its portion in 2017. It also shows the breakdown of the provincially mandated programs.

• Provincially Mandated Programs – 11%
  • Housing – 5%
  • Employment and Financial Assistance – 2%
  • Public Health –1%
  • Municipal Property Assessment Corp –1%
  • Long Term Care –1%
  • Child Care – 1%
• Ottawa Police Services –17%
• Transit and Para Transpo –17%
• Capital Financing – 13%
• Planning/Roads/Traffic/Parking – 12%
• Fire Services – 9%
• Program Support – 7%
• Parks / Recreation /Culture – 9%
• Ottawa Public Library – 2%
• Paramedic Services – 2%
• Garbage /Recycling - 1% 

How to read your tax bill

The following codes on your tax bill describe the services provided to select areas.

CAL – Conservation Authority Levy
CCR – Canterburry Community Covered Rink
FSR – Volunteer Fire Services
FSU – Fire Services
HDO – Kanata North Project
MNP – Kanata North Mosquito Nuisance Program
POL – Ottawa Police Service
SWB – Solid Waste Bin Services
SWC – Solid Waste Curbside Services
T – Urban Transit
TRA – Rural Transit (extended bus service + Para Transpo)
TRB – Para Transpo (rural areas receiving Para Transpo service only)

Tax class description

C – Commercial
D – Office Building
F – Farmland
G – Parking Lot
H – Landfill
I – Industrial
J – Industrial (New construction)
K – Large Industrial (New construction)
L – Large Industrial
M – Multi-residential
N – New Multi-residential
P – Pipelines
Q – Sports Facility
R – Residential
S – Shopping Centre
T – Managed Forest
X – Commercial (New construction)
Y- Office Building (New construction)
Z- Shopping Centre (New construction)

Type of property

T – Taxable Full
U – Excess Land
X – Vacant Land
1 – Farmland Pending Development

Example:  R T
(Tax Class) Residential
(Type) Taxable

Contact us

If you have more questions about your property taxes, visit the Property taxes section on Ottawa.ca or contact us by:

Self serve: myservice.ottawa.ca

E-mail: revenue@ottawa.ca

Fax: 613-580-2457

Phone: 613-580-2444 (Transactions will be recorded for training and verification purposes.)
TTY: 613-580-2401

Mail:
City of Ottawa, Revenue Services
PO Box 4647 Station A
Toronto ON M5W 0E7

Hours of operation: Weekdays, 8 am to 4:30 pm (June to August, 8 am to 4 pm)
Please have your property address and the roll number listed on your tax bill handy when you contact us.

Last updated: February 20, 2018

2020 Final property tax bills are mailed out between May 22 and May 28 with a payment due date of Thursday, June 18, 2020.

Understanding your property tax bill

Your property taxes are determined by the assessment of your property and the tax rates that apply.

1. The assessment or value of your property is determined by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), a not-for-profit corporation created by the Province of Ontario. All properties in Ontario are assessed and taxed based on a market value of January 1, 2016. Increases are phased in over four tax years 2017 through 2020. Assessment decreases were implemented immediately.  If you have questions about your assessment, please contact MPAC by phone at 1-866-296-6722, by fax at 1-866-297-6703, or visit their website at www.mpac.ca.  Even if you have challenged your property assessment through an appeal or request for reconsideration, please pay your taxes in full. The application of penalty and interest continues to be applied to any balance unpaid after the due date. If your appeal or request is successful, you will be reimbursed for any overpayment.
2. The municipal tax rates on your property tax bill are determined by City Council.
3. The education rate is determined by the Province

Supplementary taxes

Supplementary taxes are not included on the Final Tax Bill. For more information on supplementary taxes, visit the Supplementary assessment page.

Penalty and interest fees

Penalty and interest of 1.25 per cent for late payment is added the day following the due date and the first day of each month until the account is paid in full.

Fees

Visit our Fees page for information on service fees that may be applied to your property tax account.

Partial payments

Partial payments are applied first toward the outstanding interest and penalty, then to the oldest outstanding taxes.

Bills paid by mortgage companies, agents or tenants

If your bills are to be paid by a mortgage company, agent or tenant:

• Forward your final tax bill to the mortgage company, agent or tenant.
• E-mail the City at revenue@ottawa.ca to have future bills redirected.

If your taxes are paid by a mortgage company, you will receive a receipt after payment of your final bill. If your tax bills are not paid by the due dates, you will receive reminder notices.
It is your responsibility to inform the City in writing when you change your mortgage company, or if a mortgage company, agent or tenant stops paying your property tax bill. If someone else pays your bill, it is your responsibility to forward the bill to them.

Change of ownership or mailing address

If there has been an ownership change, or a tax bill has been directed to the wrong person, please visit our Change of ownership or mailing address page for more information.

Tax deferral program

Payment of annual property taxes can be deferred for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities. The 2018 household income threshold is $41,788. For more information on the program and how to apply, visit the tax deferral program page.

How to pay your property tax bill

Visit our Payment options page to see the different ways you can pay your tax bill.

Accessible format

To receive an accessible format (e-text, large print or Braille) of your billing documents, please contact the Revenue Services at 613-580-2444, (TTY: 613-580-2401), or e-mail revenue@ottawa.ca.

Tax distribution by service

Your final tax bill gives you a breakdown of how your tax dollars (net of grants and other sources of revenue) will be spent.

Provincial education:

The provincial government sets the rates that fund the education system in Ontario.

Provincially mandated programs:

The Province requires the City to pay for social service programs such as: social assistance, child care services, social housing, public health and long-term care, and to pay for assessment services provided by MPAC.

Conservation authorities:

The City funds three watershed Conservation Authorities (Rideau Valley, Mississippi Valley and South Nation).

Transit and Para Transpo:

Funds public transit services based on your service delivery area.

Police:

The Ottawa Police Services Board provides residents with protection and law enforcement services.

Capital financing:

These are costs associated with the repayment of borrowed funds along with funding of capital projects.

Fire:

This rate is set according to your service delivery area for fire prevention, suppression and rescue operations.

Roads and traffic:

The City maintains its road network and traffic control systems.

Program support:

This includes functions such as: City Council, City Manager's Office, Financial Services, City Clerk and Solicitor, and Information Technology.

Parks, recreation and culture:

This includes recreational programs and maintenance of recreation facilities, parks and sports fields.

Waste diversion:

Funds recycling waste diversion and the City's landfill. 

Library:

Supports reader and collection services, and virtual services through multi-service points.

Paramedics:

Funds the provision of pre-hospital emergency patient care.

Planning/economic development/environment:

Funds the provision of planning services that guide growth and regulate development and the delivery of environmental and economic development programs.

Other charges:

Includes special charges where applicable such as Canterbury Community Centre and Kanata North Project.
For a full description of the City's budget please visit Budget and taxes.

City of Ottawa Fraud and Waste Hotline

To report suspected cases of fraud, waste or other inappropriate activities, contact the Fraud and Waste Hotline at ottawa.fraudwaste-fraudeabus.ca or 1-866-959-9309.

Tax bill codes

The following codes on your tax bill describe the services provided to select areas.

BRI - Britannia Flood Protection
CAL – Conservation Authority Levy
CCR – Canterbury Community Covered Rink
FSR – Volunteer Fire Services
FSU – Fire Services
HDO – Kanata North Project
MNP - Kanata North Mosquito Nuisance Program
POL – Ottawa Police Service
RSS – Sewer Surcharge
SRA - Stormwater, Residential
SRB - Stormwater, Institutional, Commercial, Industrial (ICI)
SWB – Solid Waste Bin Services
SWC – Solid Waste Curbside Services
T Urban Transit
TRA Rural Transit (extended bus service) + Para Transpo
TRB Para Transpo (rural areas receiving Para Transpo service only)

Tax class description

C – Commercial
D – Office Building
F – Farmland
G – Parking Lot
H – Landfill
I – Industrial
J – Industrial (New Construction)
K – Large Industrial (New Construction)
L – Large Industrial
M– Multi-residential
N – New Multi-residential
P – Pipelines
Q – Sports Facility
R – Residential
S – Shopping Centre
T – Managed Forest
X – Commercial (New Construction)
Y – Office Bldg (New Construction)
Z – Shopping Ctre (New Construction

Type of property

T – Taxable Full
U – Excess Land
X – Vacant Land
1 – Farmland Pending Development

School support

EP – English Public
ES – English Separate
FP – French Public
FS – French Separate
N – No Support

Example: R T E P
(Tax Class) Residential
(Type) Taxable
(School) English Public

Contact us

If you have more questions about your property taxes, visit the Property taxes section at ottawa.ca/taxes or contact us by:

Self serve: myservice.ottawa.ca

E-mail: revenue@ottawa.ca

Fax: 613-580-2457

Phone: 613-580-2444 (Transactions will be recorded for training and verification purposes.)
TTY: 613-580-2401

Mail:
City of Ottawa, Revenue Services
PO Box 4647 Station A
Toronto ON M5W 0E7

Hours of operation: Weekdays, 8 am to 4:30 pm(June to August, 8 am to 4 pm)
Please have your property address and the roll number listed on your tax bill handy when you contact us.

Last Updated: May 14, 2018

Regular:

Property owners will receive two property tax bills each year: 

• The Interim tax bill which represents 50% of the previous year’s tax bill is payable on the third Thursday in March
• The Final tax bill is the balance of the year’s taxes and is payable on the third Thursday in June.
• Legislative requirements are to provide a minimum of 21 days notice from the date of mailing.

Supplemental/Omitted:

Supplemental or Omitted Tax Bills are issued 3 or 4 times per year.

• Properties assessed for new construction or improvements by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) will receive another tax bill for the current year and up to two preceding years. These tax bills, are issued within 90 days of receipt of data from MPAC and are payable in one instalment with 30 days notice.
• Property owners receive a Notice of Assessment from MPAC in advance of these tax bills.

Reminder Notices:

Reminder Notices are issued on all overdue accounts after each billing and at the end of the year.
A reminder notice fee may be applicable. 

Refund: $28.50
A fee applies when producing a refund to cover the cost of refunding credits to clients when credits are not the result of an error by the City.

Change of name: $45
If you have changed your name, recently purchased, or transferred title, there is a fee to cover the costs associated with making the changes to the tax roll. You will be billed separately from your tax bill.

New account: $72.50
If your property is new to the tax roll, you will incur a one-time fee to cover the costs associated with setting up your tax roll. This fee will be charged on your first tax bill.

Returned payment: $47
If your payment is refused or dishonoured by your financial institution you will be charged a returned payment fee for each account the payment was originally applied to.

Reminder notice: $8.15
All tax accounts issued a reminder notice will be charged a fee to cover the production, mailing and administration costs. Reminder notices are issued after the due date for each billing and at year’s end.

Payment distribution: $28.50
If a payment has to be transferred from one account to another, a fee applies.  If you have moved or you have more than one property tax account, you must ensure all your tax accounts have been individually set up for payments.

Online payment service:
The secure third-party payment service provider, Paymentus Corporation, charges a service fee for online payments using a credit card, Debit or Interac Online banking card. The service fee is applied at a rate of 1.99% for credit card and Debit card transactions, and a flat fee of $0.49 for Interac Online payments.

Tax Arrears Certificate: $72.50
There is a fee to purchase a Tax Arrears Certificate. For details see the Tax Certificate page.

Additions to tax roll: $44
All water accounts left unpaid after the second consecutive billing will be transferred to the corresponding property tax account along with the additions to tax roll fee.

Account history: $38.75/year
Duplicate bill: $38.75/year
Should you require a record of payment of your annual tax bill or require a duplicate statement for previous years, a fee applies for each year and property. Your request can be sent by mail to Revenue Services, 100 Constellation Drive, 4^th Floor, East Wing, Ottawa ON K2G 6J8. Be sure to indicate; property address, roll number, name and the year required. Forms are located at all City of Ottawa Client Service Centres where payment for service can be made in person (please refer to CSC hours & day of operation).  This service is currently not available in person due to COVID-19 closures. Later this month, the City of Ottawa will begin a phased reopening of services and programs impacted by COVID-19. More details will be provided as services resume. Learn more about Ottawa’s reopening plan and new safety measures.

Effective July 15, 2020, masks are required to be worn in enclosed public spaces at City of Ottawa facilities as per the Temporary Mandatory Mask By-law.

Property Tax Deferral Application: $144
A $144 non-refundable is charged to the tax account upon receipt of the initial application.

Property Tax Deferral Renewal Application:  $51
A non-refundable fee is charged to the tax account for subsequent year applications.

Penalty and interest: 1.25% per month
Penalty and interest of 1.25% for late payment is added the day following the due date and the first day of each month until the account is paid.

For more information, please call Revenue Services at 613-580-2444 (Transactions will be recorded for training and verification purposes) (TTY 613-580-2401), or contact us by e-mail at revenue@ottawa.ca

Fees listed are subject to change.