Taxes

REVIEWING YOUR ASSESSMENT: Upon reviewing the combined assessment and tax notice, property owners are encouraged to carefully review the information provided. If a property owner finds discrepancies or is not satisfied with the assessment information prepared by the assessor, they have the option to file a complaint on following matters as per Section 460 of the M.G.A:

• a property or business description
• the name or mailing address
• an assessment class, sub-class or assessment amount
• type or improvement of the property
• school support
• whether the property is assessable or exempt from taxation under Part 10 or S. 364.1

Property tax rates are established by tax rate bylaw and cannot be appealed through the Assessment Review Board (ARB).

REQUIREMENT TO FILE AN ASSESSMENT COMPLAINT: A complaint fee must accompany the Assessment Review Board Complaint Form.  The complaint fees are as below:

• Residential 3 or fewer dwellings and farmland - $ 50.00
• Residential 4 or more dwellings - $ 650.00
• Non-residential or Commercial - $ 650.00

DEADLINE TO FILE YOUR COMPLAINT: The complaint must be filed on or before August 20, 2024.  Complaints received after this date will not be eligible for an ARB hearing. 

Combined Assessment Notices have been mailed out.  Please contact the Tax Department to ensure your Alberta Land Title address matches your mailing address.  

Have you had an address change? 

Ensure you receive your assessment notices at the correct address, on time, to avoid tax penalties.  (Please refer to the Important Dates section for tax related penalty dates.) 

You must first contact Land Titles by calling them at 780-427-2742 (to call toll free from anywhere in Alberta, dial 310-0000 first) or more information is available in this form, Change of Address - Land Titles Office information

You should also fill out a Property Tax Change of Address Form to change your address with the County of Vermilion Tax Department.

If you are unsure if your address has been changed please contact the Tax Department to confirm that your mailing address matches the Alberta Land Title address.

Tax Certificates can be ordered by submitting the Tax Certificate Request Form.  Tax certificates cost $20.00 per property and will be processed once payment is received.  For the most efficient service, you can pay online with a credit card through OptionPay.  For detailed instructions about OptionPay click HERE.  You may also pay through online banking.

Mill Rate Comparison (2014 - 2023)

The Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP) is a property tax payment program that divides the annual tax bill to be paid in full over 12 months, January to December. The first 6 payments of the year are estimated and then are adjusted to reflect the levy once Council approves the budget.

• Payments are withdrawn automatically from your bank account on the 15th of every month
• You may join TIPP at any time during the year; however, the deadline for approval to join TIPP for the current tax year is April 1. 
• If you would like to join for the current tax year, you'll need to make an initial payment equal to the missed installments from January 1.  For example, to start the plan on April 1, your required initial payment equals the payments missed from January, February and March.
• If your application is approved after April 1, your enrollment will begin for the next tax year, with payments beginning January 15th.  You will still be required to pay the full balance of the current year's taxes by September 30th.
• If you own more than one property you must request and complete an agreement for each Roll Number you want on the plan.  We require only one void cheque if all payments are to be withdrawn from the same bank account.
• There are no penalties calculated when you are enrolled in TIPP and there is no cost to enroll.
• To Register for TIPP, please fill out the TIPP Application Form.  Your taxes must be paid up to date at the time of enrollment. 
• If you have moved, changed banks or purchased new property please contact our Property Tax Department at 780.846.2244 regarding your payment plan.  You will need to re-register if you have moved.
• To withdraw from the Tax Installment Payment Plan, please fill out the Tax Installment Cancellation Form.  Please note that taxes become due and payable once you have been removed from TIPP.  For more information, please read the Tax Installment Payment Plan Bylaw.

Bylaw 20-18 was repealed on January 10, 2023 - Motion 2023-01-06

The education property tax provides Alberta's education system with a stable and sustainable source of revenue.  The tax supports all public and separate school students and helps pay for basic instruction costs, including teacher salaries, textbooks, and other classroom resources.

Every year the province calculates, based on assessment value of your property and local education property tax rate, the amount each municipality must contribute towards the public education system.

Municipalities collect the education property tax is pooled into the ASFF and distributed to public education system school boards on an equal per-student rate. 

You may declare your support for either the public or the separate school boards, if you live within the border highlighted on the map below.  If you do not live within this area, your support will be declared for the public school division automatically.

The boundaries for the East Catholic School Division have changed for the 2023 tax year.  Any property within the Catholic School Division boundaries may have its education tax dollars to be directed to either the public or separate school jurisdictions.  The County of Vermilion River has mailed property owners within the new boundaries a School Support Declaration form.  If you own property within the area prescribed in the Ministerial Order (please see our map) and haven't received a School Support Declaration form, please find the form below or contact the Tax Department.  The deadline for submission for the 2023 tax year is December 31, 2022.  If you have any questions regarding Education Property Tax to call the Alberta Education Property Tax Line at 780-422-7125, refer to the brochure for more information, or visit https://www.alberta.ca/education.aspx.

For more information, visit the School Support Notice Fact Sheet (alberta.ca) 

Education Property Tax Facts and Information

Government of Alberta Department ECACS BAO 006 2022 Signed of Education Ministerial Order (#006/2022)

Senior homeowners seeking assistance in paying their property taxes may wish to consider the Seniors’ Property Tax Deferral (SPTD) program.  This program allows eligible senior homeowners to defer all or part of their annual property tax through a low-interest home equity loan with the Government of Alberta.  This is a voluntary program that can free up funds for senior homeowners to use on other expenses such as home renovations thereby supporting them to stay in their homes as long as possible.

You can find more information on SPTD program and other programs and services for seniors, HERE or call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992 or 780-644-9992 in the Edmonton area.

Inquiries and questions regarding Seniors programs can be directed to:

Shirley McRobert
Vermilion River Seniors Coordinator
780-581-2414

View Taxation and Finance Bylaws HERE