Property Tax Information & Frequently Asked Questions

Billing

• How many Tax Bills are mailed each year?

  There are two tax bills mailed out each year each bill has 2 installment due dates.

  • INTERIM tax bill mailed out in January for March and May payments.
    • The INTERIM tax bill is 50% of the total of the prior year’s total tax bill.

  • FINAL tax bill mailed out in June for July and September payments.
    • FINAL tax bill - Final taxes are based on your current year phased-in assessment value less the amount from the NTERIM tax bill and reflect any changes in municipal, county, and the education portion of your taxes.
    • The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is responsible for placing a value on all properties in Ontario.  From the information supplied by MPAC, The Township of Clearview calculates the tax amounts and issues the tax bills.

  The tax due dates are noted on the payment stubs.  There are four property tax due dates and they are generally the 4th business day before the end of March (Interim bill), May (Interim bill), July (Final bill) and September (Final bill).

  Supplementary Tax Notice

  If there have been changes to your property assessment due to new construction in the year or the previous two years, you will receive a Supplementary Tax Notice based on the supplementary or omitted assessment placed on your property by MPAC. The Supplemental Bill is in addition to what may have been previously billed on the property, even if the amounts are not yet due. The Supplementary Due Date(s) for these bills will be at least 21 days after the date of the notice.

  NOTE:  if you are currently enrolled in the Pre-authorized Tax Payment Program, supplementary and/or omitted tax bills will not be paid from your financial institution account.  Payment must be received by the due date to avoid penalty and interest charges

• Failure to receive your Tax Bill

  Non-receipt of your tax bill does not waive any liability for payment of taxes or penalty/interest charged. The Treasury department has no authority to waive penalty or interest for any reason.

• Why did I get an Arrears Notice?

  As of the date indicated on the notice there was a past due amount in your tax account.

• How do I change the name shown on my Property Tax Bill?

  The names on the property tax bills are the same names registered with the Land Registry office. To change the names registered on your property’s title you can contact the Simcoe Land Registry Office in Barrie at (705) 725-7232 or visit their office at 114 Worsley Street, Barrie. Alternatively, you can ask your lawyer or other representative to assist you in changing the owners on the title to your property.

• How do I change my mailing address?

  To change your mailing address, please fill out the Change of Mailing Address Form and return it to the Municipality: 

  Change of Mailing Address Form

• What do the codes in the Tax Class stand for?

  First letter – Realty Tax Class

  R – Residential
  F – Farm
  T – Managed Forest
  M – Multi-residential
  C – Commercial
  I – Industrial

  E – Exempt

  Other letters not noted here - check your MPAC Assessment Notice.

   Second letter – Realty Tax Qualifier

  T – Taxable
   

  Third letter – School Support Direction

  P – Public school
  S – Catholic school
  A – French Public school
  C – French Catholic school
  N – No Support

• Why does the Final (Prior Year) Levies number show a higher amount than on my prior year’s tax bill on my explanation of tax changes?

  If your property had a mid-year or year-end change to the assessed value, this figure will be what the prior year’s taxes would have been with the change in assessed value and not what you were actually billed in the prior year.

• How do I confirm that the property tax calculation on my Final Tax Bill matches the announced increase?

  Starting in 2013 Clearview Township has stated the residential property tax increase as a base percentage plus the percentage increase in your property’s assessed value.  This allows better accuracy over the standard municipal statement of “the average property increases the average rate of X%” wherein every property’s annual change in assessed value is different from the average.

  Any special charges are added separately to the total tax bill and are not factored into the annual property tax increase.

Payment Options

• Pre-Authorized Payment Plan Program

  Reduce the risk of late payment penalties by enrolling in a Pre-Authorized Payment Plan (PAP). Have your property tax payments automatically withdrawn from your bank or financial institution. Enrollment in the plan is free and there are no service charges that apply.

  Property owner(s) can enroll in the PAP program at any time. Enrollment in this program will be processed within 15 days of receipt of your application. Once enrolled you will be notified by email or letter.

  There are 3 property tax pre-authorized payment plan options:

  1. Monthly Plan - 10 equal payments from January to October. Taxes must be in good standing to qualify for this program.
  2. Due Date Plan - On the installment due date. Taxes must be in good standing to qualify for this program.
  3. Arrears Plan - For properties in arrears an agreed upon amount will be deducted monthly

  Monthly Plan 
  For properties not in arrears

  • Property taxes will be paid each year by 10 monthly withdraws on the last business day of the month.  Payments are not withdrawn in November and December.
  • An Interim Bill issued in February is based on 50% of the previous year’s annualized taxes and is divided into 5 equal installment withdrawals from January to May. 
  • A Final Bill issued in June is divided by 5 equal installment withdrawals from June to October.
  • Your account must remain in good standing prior to enrollment and during the program.  If your account is in arrears at any point in time you may be removed from the program.

  Due Date Plan 
  For properties not in arrears

  • Withdrawals will be made corresponding with due dates set by council and indicated on your interim and final tax bills.
  • Your account must remain in good standing prior to enrollment and during the program.  If your account is in arrears at any point in time you may be removed from the program.

  Arrears Plan 
  For properties who have tax arrears

  • Monthly Payment of Tax Arrears.
  • Contact Finance staff to discuss your situation.
  • The amount of the monthly payment under this option must be sufficient to clear off the arrears within a reasonable amount of time. 
  • Penalties/interest will apply.

  How to Sign Up

  You must complete an application for each property you are applying for.

  1. Download the PAP form PRE-AUTHORIZED PAYMENT FORM
  2. Fill in the appropriate information and select a payment plan. Complete all required fields on the application including signatures and full date.
  3. Attach a void cheque or complete the account information section and submit it to tax@clearview.ca. Line of credit accounts, credit card cheques or foreign fund cheques cannot be used for this program.
  4. Submit your application by email to tax@clearview.ca or mail:

  Township of Clearview
  c/o Tax Department
  217 Gideon St
  Box 200
  Stayner, ON L0M 1S0

  5. Once enrolled, you will receive email/written notification of your acceptance in the PAP program.  You should continue to pay your taxes through your regular payment method until you receive your confirmation of enrollment.

  Cancelling/Changing Your Plan

  You may cancel/change your plan with at least 15 days notice before your next withdrawal date by:

  1. Completing and signing the change/cancel form PRE-AUTHORIZED PAYMENT CHANGE FORM
  2. Submitting the completed form via email to tax@clearview.ca or submitting it by mail to:

  Township of Clearview
  c/o Tax Department
  217 Gideon St
  Box 200
  Stayner, ON L0M 1S0

  • Cancellations can be made by property owner/law firm.  Banking Institutions cannot cancel on your behalf.
  • If cancelling/changing you will receive email/written notice that you have been removed from the program.
  • If cancelling you must pay the outstanding balance in full to avoid penalty/interest charges.
  • For more information on your right to cancel a PAP agreement visit www.payments.ca

  Changing Financial Institutions

  To update or change your bank or financial information, from which your tax payments are withdrawn, you must notify the municipality within 15 days prior to the next scheduled withdrawal date.  Line of credit accounts, credit card accounts or foreign fund cheques cannot be used for pre-authorized payments

  1. Complete and sign the change/cancel form PRE-AUTHORIZED PAYMENT CHANGE FORM
  2. Submit the completed form via email to tax@clearview.ca or by mail to:

  Township of Clearview
  c/o Tax Department
  217 Gideon St
  Box 200
  Stayner, ON L0M 1S0

  3. You will receive email/written notice that your change of bank or financial institution information request has been processed.

• Credit Card

  Paying your property taxes and utility payments with a credit card is fast, easy and secure. There are two methods of paying with a credit card:

  1) Online Payment System

  Through the online payment system, you can pay your property tax bill online. 

  To view your account or to make a payment, visit the Online Payments page.

  2) Payments by Telephone

  • Call 1-844-602-9055 toll free to make a payment over the phone
  • You will enter the payment information including the account details, credit card information and payment amount.
  • You will be prompted to confirm that you have agreed to pay a convenience fee.

  Having trouble processing your payment? Call 1-800-420-1663 to speak with a live customer 

• Online Banking

  Payments may be made online through participating financial institutions. You will need your 19-digit assessment roll number from your tax bill or property tax account statement.

  1. Sign into your financial institution's secure website
  2. ADD a Payee
  3. Search "Clearview”

  Select either of the following as the payee

  Financial Institution	Listed as
  BMO (Bank of Montreal)	Clearview (TWP of) - Taxes
  CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce)	Clearview Tax
  National Bank	Township of Clearview Taxes
  RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)	Clearview (TWP of) - Taxes
  Scotiabank	Clearview (Twp) Taxes
  TD Canada Trust	Clearview Tax

  Subject to change without notice.  If your Financial Institution is not listed above or you require assistance please contact your bank or financial institution. 

  4. Insert your 19-digit assessment roll number (Exclude the periods and spaces)

  Payments will be sent by your financial institution to us within three (3) to five (5) business days and your account will not be credited until we receive the payment.

• Pay at your Financial Institution

  Property tax payments can be made directly at your financial institution by taking a copy of your bill to the branch. 

• Cheque

  Payments can be made by cheque and dropped off at or mailed to the Clearview Township Administration Centre located at 217 Gideon Street, Stayner, L0M 1S0.

  Postdated cheques are accepted.

  Make your cheque payable to TOWNSHIP OF CLEARVIEW.

  After Hours Drop Box

  Cheques can be dropped into the after hours drop box located at the front door of the Clearview Township Administration Centre located at 217 Gideon Street, Stayner, L0M 1S0.

  *Please do not put cash or coins into the drop box. 

• Cash or Debit

  Payments can be made in person by cash or debit at the Clearview Township Administration Centre located at 217 Gideon Street in Stayner during regular business hours.

Tax Rates & Fees

• What are the Property Tax rates?

  The current Municipal, County and Education tax rates for each property tax class are shown on the following page: Tax Rates

• How are Property Taxes calculated?

  Property taxes are determined by multiplying the Current Value or "Assessment" of your property by the annual Tax Rate for the property type or "Property Class" plus any applicable special charges.

• What are Special Charges?

  Special Charges are non-property tax charges that are specific to your property.  Special charges cover a range of improvements or services including;

  • Local Improvements
    • Creemore Sewer upgrade, Stayner Industrial Servicing, Mowat Street Servicing

  • Tile Drain loans
    • For agricultural landowners only who are approved for the loans

  • Creemore Business Improvement Area levies
    • For certain businesses located in Creemore only as set out by By-law.
• How does Clearview Township determine the Clearview Township property tax rate?

  Clearview Township Council passes a budget each year. The budget sets out the amount of funds to be raised from property taxes. That amount is divided amongst the total taxable assessed value of all eligible properties in Clearview. The taxable assessed value of each property depends upon its tax multiplier which is set each year by Simcoe County Council which follows guidelines set out by the Province. In general farm and forested lands pay ¼ of the taxes of a similarly assessed residential property while commercial properties pay a higher rate of taxes of a similarly assessed residential property. There are minor adjustments for claw-backs, capping, and other property tax adjustments. 

• My property is vacant. Can I get a discount on my taxes?

  No. The County of Simcoe and all local area municipalities have opted out of this program for 2018 and subsequent years.

• I did not receive the Farm Tax Rebate or Managed Forest or Conservation Land Tax Incentive this year. Why?

  Farmland Tax Rate - The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food is responsible for this program.  Please contact them at 1-888-247-4999

  Managed Forest Tax Incentive – The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for this program. Please contact them at 1-855-866-3847

  Conservation Land Tax Incentive – The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for this program. Contact them at 1-800-268-8959

Property Tax Estimator

Property Assessment

• How is my Property assessed?

  All properties in Ontario are assessed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation or MPAC every four years.

  To establish your property's assessed value, MPAC analyzes the property sales in your area based on a single valuation date for the entire province - where all properties are assigned a value as if they sold on the same date. The date, determined by the province of Ontario, ensures consistency for every community. These sales provide the basis for assessed values. 

  MPAC continually collects information about properties to ensure that similar property types are valued consistently within the market area. This method is called the Current Value Assessment. It is used by most assessment jurisdictions in Canada and around the world.

  Ontario's Property Tax System

  Ontario’s Property Tax System is based on everyone paying their fair share to fund the community services that we rely on. The roles and responsibilities are broken down as follows: 

  • Ontario Government: Establishes the province’s assessment and taxation laws, sets the valuation date and determines education tax rates. 
  • MPAC: Calculates, captures and distributes assessments for all properties and buildings across Ontario. 
  • Municipalities: Determines revenue requirements, sets municipal tax rates and collects property taxes to pay for municipal services. 
  • Property Owners: Pays property taxes for community services and education taxes to help fund elementary and secondary schools in Ontario. 

  Assessment and Property Taxes

  A common misconception is that an increase in a property owner’s assessed value will automatically increase the amount of property taxes they pay. This is not always the case. The most important factor is not how much the assessed value has changed, but how much the assessed value has changed relative to the average change for the same property type in the municipality.

  To learn more about property assessments and how they impact your property taxes, including informative videos, please visit www.mpca.ca/facts.

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  For questions about your assessment, please contact MPAC at 1-866-296-6722 or visit www.mpac.ca

• I disagree with the Assessed Value of my Property. How do I get it changed?

  The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) determines the assessed values for properties in Ontario.  You can contact them at 1-866-296-6722 or www.mpac.ca

• Can I appeal my Property Taxes?

  Your property taxes are calculated by multiplying your property’s assessed value by the property tax rates. You can appeal the assessed value of your property by contacting MPAC at 1-866-296-6722 or www.mpac.ca. The property tax rate is the same for all properties in the same property tax class.

Property Tax Certificates

• What is a Tax Certificate and how can I get one?

  To learn about Tax Certificates in Clearview, please click the button below: 

  TAX CERTIFICATES