Procedures

The procedures depend on whether or not you wish to represent yourself at the Assessment Review Board. The DO-IT-YOURSELF program is for single family residential, farm properties, single family condominiums, small multi-residential and commercial properties with values less than $250,000.
The tax rates for most residential properties range between 1% and 2% producing a property tax of $2,500 to $5,000 annually.
Commercial properties usually have a tax rate between 3% and 5%, which would give a property tax range of $7,500 to $12,500 on $250,000 value. The successful average minimum assessment reduction is between 10% and 30% that would translate into a tax reduction range on the above examples of somewhere between between $250.00 - $1500.00 for residential properties and a range of $750.00 - $3,000.00 for commercial properties. If you are at the high end of these ranges then you should consider hiring a tax consultant. Otherwise, it may be more economical for you to represent yourself with some assistance through my DO-IT-YOURSELF program. The current reassessment  is based on January 1, 2012 appraisal date for taxation years from 2013 to 2016 . This value will be frozen until Jauary 1, 2017.

The following are the steps you would take for the DO-IT-YOURSELF program.

• Contact me by

or phone. I will need an assessment roll number from you notice or tax bill.

There are four actions we can take.

1. Appeal your assessment value or tax classification.This appeal must be filed by March 31st deadline and currently the cost ranges from $75.00 to $150.00 payable to the Assessment Review Board to file the appeal depending on the property classification.
2. Make application for the assessor to reconsider your value or tax classification. Request for Reconsideration (RFR) as it is known also must be filed by March 31st deadline. The advantage to this process is that you do not have to pay an appeal fee and you may be able to convince MPAC to reduce your assessed value without an appeal, however, if the assessor rejects your RFR then you still have 90 days from the mailing of MPAC's rejection letter to file an appeal. This may prolong the process but it is cheaper and provides you with more time to prepare for the appeal.
3. Take no action at all.

• Both one and two.

The Reconsideration in Value is the most common form of getting your assessment changed, however, you must provide valid reasons for your request. This service provides you with the appropriate reasons for the assessor to make the adjustment if warranted.

The basic fees for the DO-IT-YOURSELF program are:

Please note that services are subject to 13% HST.

• Residential ~ $200.00 + $26.00 = $226.00
• Farm ~ $200.00 + $26.00 = $226.00
• Multi-Residential ~ $250.00+ $32.50 = $282.50
• Commercial / Industrial ~ $250.00 + $32.50 = $282.50

The service covered for these fees is as follows:

• Obtain a copy of the assessor's appraisal records
• Review the assessor's appraisal
• Review any information that the client provides
• Make recommendations to the owner on the course of action

Services provided for an additional fee:

• Prepare spreadsheet to be used for appeal presentation = $50.00
• Prepare graph where applicable for appeal presentation = $50.00
• Provide legislative argument where applicable = $25.00 - $50.00
• Make application for Reconsideration of Value = $25.00
• File Appeal for owner over internet with instant electronic receipt = $20.00