IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING 2022 PROPERTY TAX NOTICES TO ANYONE WHO HAS RECENTLY PURCHASED A PROPERTY IN THE CITY OF CAMROSE

It is currently taking 3 - 4 months for the City of Camrose to receive notification of property title changes from Alberta Land Titles. If you have purchased a property between February 1, 2022 and now, the City may not have the correct information to issue and mail out your 2022 Property Tax Notice.

2022 Property Tax Notices are being mailed out May 20, 2022. If you do not receive a 2022 Notice by June 3, 2022, please call the City of Camrose at 780.672.4426 and ask for a copy of your 2022 Tax Notice. Regardless of whether a Tax Notice is received, property taxes are still due June 30, 2022 and any outstanding balance after this time will be subject to a 6% penalty on July 1, 2022 and a monthly penalty of 1.5% on outstanding balances each month thereafter.

Property taxes are the City's main source of income and are used to fund the many services provided in Camrose. Taxes are due every year on June 30th. View the Property Tax Calculator to find out where your taxes go.

How My Property Taxes Are Calculated

Municipal property taxes in Camrose are calculated using the following three variables:

 City Tax Rates
Each year, the City reviews how much money is needed to pay for municipal programs and services that are necessary to maintain and enhance the high standard of living in the City of Camrose.

This budget process allows City Council to identify where the money is needed most and helps determine the budget to meet those needs. As part of this process, the City considers where the money to cover municipal programs and services comes from. One of the revenue streams for any municipality in Canada is property taxes.

Once the amount of money needed is determined, City Council calculates the tax rate needed to provide the City with enough money to balance the budget.

Check out the video below to find out how assessment and municipal taxation works:

 
Education Tax Rate

At the December 6, 2021 Regular Council meeting, Council approved the 2022 Operating Budget with 2022 municipal tax levy of $26,204,110. This total is based on the 2021 municipal tax levy of $26,054,110, plus estimated growth of $150,000, resulting in a municipal tax increase of 0%. However, this approved 2022 budget did not include the education property tax requisition since the province provides the education requirements with their budget each spring.

As a result of the 2022 provincial budget, there is a 2% increase in the 2022 requisitions from $7,772,098 to $7,929,374. The education requisition separates out different amounts to collect from residential properties and from non-residential properties. Both residential and non-residential properties experienced an increase to the requisition increased by 2%.

How the Education Property Tax is Calculated

Every year the province calculates, based on assessment value, the amount each municipality must contribute towards the public education system. The City collects these taxes and distributes them to the provincial government. City Council has no control over the amount of education tax collected.

Your share of the education property tax payment is based on the assessment value of your property and the local education property tax rate.

Why is education partially funded through property tax?

The education property tax provides Alberta’s education system with a stable and sustainable source of revenue. Pooling the education property tax in the ASFF ensures that students receive a quality education regardless of their municipality’s assessment wealth.

Does everyone pay the education property tax?

All property owners pay the education property tax (with some exceptions, such as some non-profit organizations and seniors’ lodge facilities). People who rent or lease property may also contribute indirectly through their monthly rent or lease payments. As the education system benefits all Albertans, people without children in school also pay the education property tax.

Every Albertan benefits from a quality education system. The education property tax supports an education system that is producing the workforce of tomorrow.

What does this mean for my property?

A 2% increase in the education requisition does not translate into a total tax increase of 2%. The education tax is only one portion of the property tax bills. In addition, new growth properties will also contribute taxes to cover the education increase and reduce the impact on existing properties. Although it is too early for definitive numbers, the likely impact of the increase in the education requisition is 0.36% for residential properties and 0.24% on non-residential properties. Non-residential properties will be slightly less impacted by the increase in the requisition due to a higher level of assessment growth in 2021.

Until Council sets the 2022 tax rates in April our owners won’t know exactly the amount of taxes owing for 2022, however an estimate of the education impact are shown in the table below:

Estimated Impact of 2022 Provincial Education Tax Requisition Increase on a Typical Camrose Property
  RESIDENTIAL NON-RESIDENTIAL
Assessed Value $285,000 $600,000
2021 Municipal Tax Levy $2,410.25 $7,875.60
2022 Municipal Tax Levy $2,410.25 $7,875.60
Increase $0 (0%) $0 (0%)
2021 Education Tax Levy $756.79 $2,343.30
2022 Education Tax Levy $768.14 $2,368.14
Estimated Increase $11.35 (1.5%) $24.84 (1.06%)
2021 Municipal and Education Levy $3,167.03 $10,218.90
2022 Municipal and Education Levy $3,178.39 $10,243.74
Estimated Increase $11.35 (0.36%) $24.84 (0.24%)
Lodge Authority Property Tax
The City of Camrose is also responsible for collecting lodge authority tax from Camrose property owners on behalf of the Camrose and Area Lodge Authority. Camrose and Area Lodge Authority relies on property taxes to support operation of seniors' lodges in Camrose and Bashaw. City Council has no control over the amount of lodge tax levied. 100% of lodge tax collected from Camrose citizens is submitted to the Camrose and Area Lodge Authority. For further information please visit www.camroselodges.ca.
How to Pay My Taxes

You can pay your taxes the following ways:

  • Through your own online banking
  • By dropping off a cheque at the City Hall mail drop box with a copy of your notice
  • By registering for the Tax Installment Payment Program (TIPP)
  • Online by Credit Card, PayPal or Interac eTransfer using PaySimply
  • In-person by Debit Card or Cash at Canada Post using PaySimply to generate a QR code

Credit cards will only be accepted to pay taxes using the option outlined below utilizing PaySimply.

Early Payment Incentive

An incentive allowance is applicable to all monies received up to and including January 31st of the current year as a prepayment of future taxes for the current year. The amount of money received as prepayment shall be limited to an amount equal to the previous year’s current taxes, other than local improvement taxes. (The property owner can only prepay an amount equal to or less than the amount of their prior year's property taxes and have the incentive apply.)

The incentive allowance is then calculated and credited to the respective tax account at a rate of 1.5% on the prepayment amount.

Example:  If your property taxes for the previous year were $3,200, that is the amount you could prepay prior to January 31 (of the current year) to which the 1.5% incentive will apply.

However, if your property taxes were $3,200 last year and $3,000 of that amount was for property taxes and $200 was a payment toward local improvements, only $3,000 of a prepayment towards your property taxes would qualify for the incentive.

If there is new paving or concrete done along property frontage, you can choose to pay your portion of that cost off annually with your property taxes. (This amount, when included with a ratepayers annual property taxes, is called a local improvement tax.)

(This incentive is not available to Tax Installment Payment Program participants.)

Further details can be found in the Property Tax Penalty and Incentive Bylaw 3114-20 or you can contact the Financial Services department at 780.672.4426.

Tax Installment Payment Program (TIPP)

Property owners have the ability to enter into the Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP) program, which would allow them to spread their payments over the current year.

Conditions to join the TIPP are: 

  • All property tax levies, current and arrears and including any supplementary tax levies, must be paid in full prior to the initiation of the Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP).
  • Any payments withdrawn from the account that are dishonored (Not Sufficient Funds), two consecutive months by the Payor’s financial institution will entitle the City of Camrose to remove the Payor from the TIPP’s program without prior notice. All property taxes will become due and payable and provisions of the tax penalty and incentive by-law will apply.
  • Payments are only allowed via direct debit (NO CHEQUES).
  • The Payor is responsible to advise the City of Camrose in writing of any changes required at least two weeks prior to the next payment (ie. Payor information, bank account information, or cancellation of TIPP’s)

 To register for TIPP, please contact us at 780.672.4426 or at taxes@camrose.ca.

Pay Taxes Online by Credit Card, PayPal or Interac eTransfer

Visit PaySimply, our secure third party payment provider, to pay online with any major credit card (Visa, MC, Amex), PayPal or Interac eTransfer.

To ensure your payment is not late, please pay at least 5 business days in advance of the due date because 5 business days are required for processing. Note: A convenience fee will be applied to cover payment handling and processing charges.

Pay Taxes In-person by Debit Card or Cash at Canada Post

Visit PaySimply, our secure third party payment provider, to generate a QR code to take with you to Canada Post with your payment.

To ensure your payment is not late, please pay at least 5 business days in advance of the due date because 5 business days are required for processing. Note: A convenience fee will be applied to cover payment handling and processing charges.
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