The City of Toronto is continuing to accept Vacant Home Tax declarations of property occupancy status from Toronto homeowners. Although, Thursday, February 2, was the official declaration deadline under the Toronto City Council-approved bylaw, the City has made it so that residential property owners can still submit a late declaration using the secure online portal at www.toronto.ca/VacantHomeTax. The portal will remain open to accept late declarations without penalties until the end of February.
Homeowners only require their property assessment roll number and customer number to make their home occupancy declaration. The numbers can be found on the most recent property tax bill or on the declaration notices that were mailed out by the City late last year. Homeowners who do not have access to a computer can authorize someone to act on their behalf to make the online submission.
As of this morning, the City has received online declarations from 86.7 per cent of residential property owners who were sent a notice about the declaration requirement. Staff also continue to tally and input declarations received in paper forms.
The City will mail reminder notices to property owners who did not declare occupancy status by the February 2 deadline. The notices will inform property owners that they can submit a late declaration. The notices will also explain that, if a declaration is not received, the property will be deemed vacant and the property owner must pay the Vacant Home Tax in the amount of one per cent of their property’s Current Value Assessment (CVA).
If residents own their own home, if they live in their home but go to a vacation home during parts of the year or work abroad, or even if residents rent out their property, the tax will not apply in their situation. While the Vacant Home Tax will not apply to the vast majority of Toronto residents, all homeowners must submit a declaration.
Full details about the Vacant Home Tax, the available exemptions and how to submit a declaration of property occupancy status are available on the City’s Vacant Home Tax webpage:
www.toronto.ca/VacantHomeTax.
Quotes:
“We understand that declaring the occupancy status of one’s residential property is a new process for Toronto homeowners, and we want to give them every opportunity to make their declaration before the Vacant Home Tax notices are issued. The vast majority of Toronto property owners will not pay the Vacant Home Tax because their properties are not vacant, and we encourage those who have yet to make a declaration to do so soon.”
– Mayor John Tory
SOURCE City of Toronto
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