7th Floor, Frost Building South 
7 Queen’s Park Crescent
Toronto ON  M7A 1Y7
Telephone: 416 325-0400
Facsimile:   416 325-0374

An Open Letter to property owners in the Unincorporated Territory

I am writing to follow up on your interest in Provincial Land Tax (PLT) Reform.

As you may be aware, the government is in the final stages of Provincial Land Tax (PLT) reform and will be completing the move to Current Value Assessment (CVA) for the Unincorporated Territory.  This will create a modernized and fair property assessment system where properties in all of Ontario are assessed in a similar manner.

At least two-thirds of property owners in the Unincorporated Territory are familiar with CVA, as it is the current base for municipal, education and interim-Provincial Land taxation in Ontario.  When the province moved to the CVA format in 1998, it was not applied to properties in the unincorporated territory, even though assessed values of those properties have increased since the last assessment in the 1940s.

The government has received input from residents of unincorporated territories, stakeholders, and Provincial Members of Parliament. 

Recognizing the need for fairness must be balanced with an approach that does not result in significant increases, the input of Bill Mauro, MPP, Thunder Bay – Atikokan, was key in providing suggestions on behalf of his constituents to ensure property owners do not face sharp increases in required tax payments.

As a result of these discussions, the province is implementing policy that respects property owners while ensuring that the government does not increase tax revenue as a result of reassessment in unincorporated territory. 

The minimum tax will remain $6 per year.  As noted earlier, while assessed values have increased since the last assessment in the 1940s, the government will reduce PLT rates to offset the increase. 

For example, the pre-reform PLT rate is 1.5 per cent (.015) for all properties in the unincorporated territory. However, the post-reform PLT rate for residential property will be significantly less - no higher than 0.0023 within school boards, and no higher than 0.0004 outside school boards.

Under this reform, approximately half of properties will see a tax decrease.  Of those properties experiencing a tax increase, about 90 per cent will see an increase of less than $150.

In order to help property owners estimate the impact of reform on their own properties, I am attaching a worksheet that includes maximum tax rates for each class of property.  The appropriate tax rate, multiplied by an estimate of the 2008 value of your property, will give you an approximation of the PLT payable annually for 2009 to 2012.

The enclosed tax rates are based on analysis of 2005 assessed values.  They may change as a result of the 2008 reassessment.  The final tax rates will not be higher than those published in the attached worksheet and may be set lower.

You may already be aware that the government will be holding information sessions to further discuss these reforms, their impacts and potential benefits.  A copy of the invitation to these sessions was mailed to you earlier and I have enclosed another copy for your convenience. You may wish to contact 1-866-668-8297 for further information.

Thank you for your interest in this issue. 

 

Yours truly,

“Original Signed By”
Dwight Duncan
Minister of Finance

How to Estimate Provincial Land Tax Payable for 2009-2012

The minimum tax will remain $6.00 per year.  Table One shows the maximum tax rates for 2009-2012 based on analysis of 2005 assessed values.  The tax rates may change as a result of the 2008 reassessment.  The final tax rates will not be higher than those published in Table One and may be set lower.