Ottawa shares details of flood tax relief program

WEST CARLETON – Yesterday, City Council approved a deferred due date for the 2019 final property tax bill payment for property owners who have been affected by the Ottawa Waterway Flood. Here are the details

Properties identified as being affected by the flood will be receiving a letter from the City of Ottawa – notifying that the June 20, 2019 tax installment can be deferred up to December 5, 2019 – without penalty.

Most property owners impacted by the flooding will qualify for tax deferral if the following criteria are met:

• The property must be located in an area impacted by flooding (primarily in, but not limited to) –
  West Carleton-March, Cumberland, Bay, Kitchissippi.
• The building on the property was occupied in 2019 by a residence or business that was damaged by the flooding and the flooding damage has prevented the normal use of the residence or business located on the property.
• Property taxes have been paid up to date before the June 2019 final instalment.
• Property owners already enrolled in the Farm Grant Program and Low Income Seniors or Low Income People with Disabilities Tax Deferral programs are not eligible.

Property owners who are not identified and did not receive the deferral letter from the City should notify Revenue Services prior to December 5, 2019. The City Treasurer has the authority to grant a deferral if the property meets the criteria and was inadvertently missed in the initial assessment.

How the due date deferral works
If a property owner who is identified as impacted by the April and May flooding and receives the City Treasurer deferral notification, no action is required. The property tax installment due date can be paid up to December 5, 2019.

Notification of the amount to be paid will be communicated to the property owner in the fall of 2019. If the taxes are paid in full by December 5, 2019, the City will automatically apply a credit equal to the amount of all penalties charged since June 2019.

Other Property Tax Relief Information:

• The City of Ottawa may cancel, reduce or refund part of the property taxes levied on properties where:
• A building was razed by the recent flooding (completely destroyed).
• A building was damaged by the recent flooding to render it substantially unusable.
• Repairs prevented the normal use of a building for at least three months.

Residents must submit an application form by February 29, 2020:

• Online: Ottawa.ca/Taxmitigationprograms
• By email: taxadjustments@ottawa.ca
• By mail: City of Ottawa Revenue Services c/o Tax Adjustments Section, 100 Constellation Drive, 4th Floor East, Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
• By fax: 613-580-2457

Forms are available online at Ottawa.ca/Taxmitigationprograms, or by contacting Revenue Services at613-580-2444. Residents will have to provide details about the damage and repairs, including pictures and insurance reports.

Need help? Contact Revenue Services We are here to help. If you have any questions about the tax deferral for 2019, contact: Revenue Services – 613-580-2444 (TTY 613-580-2401)Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (June to August, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.).