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Property Taxes

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1. Where can I pay my taxes?

In person, at Town Hall, 110 Bear Street, across the street from the Whyte Museum. We are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is a drop off box at the front entrance of Town Hall for after hours.

You can also pay online through your bank's online banking services. You will need your assessment roll number to set up the account. Or you can pay in person at your bank. Be sure the transaction is completed by property tax due date.

2. Can I appeal my tax invoice?

No. You cannot appeal your property taxes but you can appeal your assessment. The deadline for assessment appeals is 60 days after you've received your assessment notice. More about Property Assessments

3. What is the penalty for late payment charges?

Penalty charges of 1.5 per cent per month are charged on all overdue accounts. If there are arrears on your account, your payment will be applied first to arrears penalties, then to previous arrears, then to current taxes.

4. Are the penalties discretionary?

No. Penalties are mandated through legislation. However, if the Town has made an error, any associated penalties would be waived.

5. My mailing address has changed. How do I let you know?

Please send us written notification by email, fax at 403.762.1260, mail to Box 1260 Banff, T1L 1A1 or drop it off in person at 110 Bear Street.

6. I just got a tax notice for a house I sold. What do I do?

Forward the notice to your lawyers so they can pass it on to the new owner.

7. Can I pay by credit card?

No. We do not accept payments by any credit cards. We do accept cheques from credit card companies.

8. Can I pay my property taxes using a post-dated cheque?

Yes, but the cheque must be dated no later than the property tax due date to avoid late payment charges.

9. I can only pay a portion of my taxes now. What should I do?

To avoid late payment penalties, you should pay in full. If you pay only a portion of your invoice, you will be charged the late payment penalty of 1.5 per cent per month on the balance owing. You may want to register for TIPP, our monthly payment plan, to help you budget your tax payments.
More about TIPP

10. The property tax bill is not in my name. Who is responsible for it?

The person(s) named on the property title are responsible for payment of property taxes. If you are in the process of selling or buying, speak to your lawyer about who is responsible for what portion.

11. Is there a payment plan available for property taxes?

Yes. The Tax Instalment Payment Plan (TIPP) allows you to pay your taxes in monthly instalments. Monthly payments are made through an automatic debit to your bank account. The monthly amount is calculated by dividing your most recent annual tax levy by 12. Payments begin January 15 and are deducted on the 15th of every month throughout the year. More about TIPP

12. How do I know what my new TIPP amount will be?

Your tax notice indicates what your new amount will be effective June 15, and what it will change to effective January 15.

13. How do I know if my property tax payment is included in my mortgage payments?

If you pay property taxes through your mortgage company, it will be noted on your tax bill under the Mortgage/Reference section. A copy of your bill will be sent to them. If it does not appear and you know you pay through your mortgage company, contact your mortgage company immediately.

14. I share ownership of the property with someone. Who pays the property tax?

Everyone whose name is on the property title is responsible for paying the property tax. Unpaid taxes are subject to the late payment charge.

15. The property taxes were paid by the lawyer during sale. What do I do?

Check with the Town at 403.762.1230. Lawyers sometimes pay only a portion of the taxes on behalf of their seller, depending on the time of year. The remainder will be the new owner's responsibility.

16. I own an undivided half duplex. Do I pay the full amount on the tax notice?

Not usually. Owners of undivided half duplexes share one tax roll, so both owners will receive the exact same tax notice. You are only responsible for your share of the current year taxes, which is usually 50 percent. If you are unsure of the amount you owe, contact us at 403.762.1230.

17. I'm not on the TIPP but my tax notice indicate that I am.

Undivided half duplexes may have one owner on the tax payment plan (TIPP). If you own this type of property and you are not the TIPP, it means the other owner is. The total amount due may reflect your share of the tax. If you are unsure, contact us at 403.762.1230.

18. What's garbage got to do with it?

The Town introduced a new waste and recycling utility in 2011 that was phased in over several years. Prior to 2011, you paid for waste and recycling through your property taxes. In 2012, your utility bill included an amount equal to one half of your share of the solid waste collection management costs. The other half was still included in your property tax bill. In 2013, you paid 75 per cent of your solid waste costs on your utility bill and 25 per cent on your property tax bill. The 2014 and 2015 split remains the same as 2013.

19. Why is my property tax increase more than the average?

The actual amount of the increase, or decrease, you pay will vary according to the value of your property and the rate it increased in value over the previous year. If your property’s value increase grew by more than the average, you will see a higher increase in your property tax bill. You may pay less if your property’s value decreased or grew by less than the average.

20. What is the difference between the Bow Valley Regional Housing levy and the municipal housing levy?

Bow Valley Regional Housing (BVRH) is a provincial commission with five member municipalities including Banff. They provide seniors housing in the Bow Valley region. For 2015, the BVRH levy is $304,508. The municipal housing levy supports community housing initiatives within Banff. The approved 2015 budget for this portion of municipal taxes is $49,250. This year, the levy has been listed separately from the rest of the municipal tax to provide transparency regarding the cost to property owners for current and future housing initiatives.

The other two portions of property taxes are the municipal levy for services such a police, fire, recreation and snow removal and the Alberta School Foundation Fund (ASFF) which is a provincial education tax. The 2015 municipal levy is $16,108,580 and the 2015 ASFF levy is $6,112,199.