Qualifying residents 65 years or older in the current calendar year can receive deferrals and discounts on their tax account.
Deferrals
To qualify for a deferral, a senior’s taxable income must be less than $12,500 for a single pensioner or $14,000 for married pensioners. The total household income must be less than $24,000. All requests must be supported by a copy of the Notice of Assessment which can be obtained by calling Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-959-8281. They must either be living in their property or the property must be vacant. The property cannot be rented to others or occupied by family members. The resident must pay $650 per unit for water and sewer. Any property tax that is deferred will remain a lien on the property.
Prescription drugs to the value of $700 for a single person, and $1,400 for a couple, will be considered for the purpose of computing income. Receipts must be provided.
To apply for a deferral please contact the City Collector at 709-637-1568.
Discounts
To qualify for a 15% discount the taxpayer must be 65 years of age or over during the 2024 fiscal year and must be in receipt of the Guaranteed Income Supplement under the Old Age Security Act. They must either be living in their property or the property must be vacant; the property cannot be rented to others or occupied by family members. To find out if you qualify for this benefit, please contact Service Canada at 1-800-277-9914 or online.
Senior citizens in receipt of the GIS are eligible for an interest free payment plan if all of the 2024 taxes are paid by June 30, 2024. To be eligible for the interest free payment plan, 20% of the outstanding taxes for 2024 are to be paid in February, March, April, May and June via post-dated cheques or pre-authorized payment. To apply for the interest free payment plan, please contact the City Collector at 709-637-1568.
Discounts will not be applied to interest or arrears.
An application must be submitted to the City Collector in Treasury Services. The application form can be obtained here.
Widows’/Widowers’ Deferral
To qualify for widows’/widower’s deferral the taxpayer’s taxable income must be less than $12,500 plus $1,350 for each dependent up to a maximum of three dependents with total income not to exceed $24,000. The basic charge of $650 must be paid and any property tax that is deferred will remain a lien on the property. They must either be living in their property or the property must be vacant. The property cannot be rented to others or occupied by family members. All requests must be supported by a copy of the Notice of Assessment which can be obtained by calling Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-959-8281.
Disabled Pensioner
To qualify for a disabled pensioner deferral the taxpayer’s taxable income must be less than $12,500 plus $1,000 for spouse with total income not to exceed $24,000. The basic charge of $650 must be paid and any property tax that is deferred will remain a lien on the property. They must either be living in their property or the property must be vacant. The property cannot be rented to others or occupied by family members. All requests must be supported by a copy of the Notice of Assessment which can be obtained by calling Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-959-8281.
