You may have heard that many Torontonians who declared homes as occupied were charged a vacant home tax regardless. Did you receive a vacant home tax bill in error? At DeClute Real Estate we are concerned and want to ensure the complaint process is as easy as possible. To this end, we have collected the relevant information and contacts to facilitate the appeal process.
The City of Toronto was inundated with over 55,000 complaints regarding vacant home tax notices. These homeowners contend their properties were not vacant last year. Some admitted they missed the March 15 deadline for filing their occupancy status. Others are claiming they filed on time but were billed regardless. This tax targets homes left unoccupied to encourage the use of residential properties amid a housing shortage.
In response to the outcry, the city announced that the late fee would be waived for anyone who asserts they met the deadline. Moreover, they plan to propose a waiver of the late fee for all affected parties.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has expressed regret over the confusion and difficulties caused, promising resolutions and acknowledging the shock and frustration of receiving unexpected bills. Mayor Chow shared her own challenging experience with the system the previous year, emphasizing a commitment to rectify the situation for the future.
If you feel the city miscategorized your home’s occupancy status, please reach out for an easy-to-follow appeal process package.
Under the vacant home tax bylaw, owners are required to declare the occupancy status of their properties every year. Subscribe to reminders and notifications to ensure you never miss the declaration.
If the property was an owner’s principal residence or was occupied for more than six months in 2023, the vacant home tax does not apply. But they must file a notice of complaint and indicate that the property was occupied.
Did you receive a vacant home tax bill in error? If you did and you believe it is in error and would like to dispute it, go to the city website to file a complaint.
