On May 25, 2023, the City of Calgary announced it had started mailing property tax bills for about 555,000 residential and non-residential properties. All owners should have their bill by the end of the following week.
Key dates and rules
- Property tax is due Friday, June 30, 2023.
- A 7% late-payment penalty applies to any unpaid amount on July 1, including for owners who did not receive a bill.
- About 300,000 owners pay monthly through the Tax Instalment Payment Plan (TIPP), and the June deadline does not apply to them. You can join TIPP at any time.
- If your bill has not arrived by the first week of June, call 311 for a statement of account.
New owners, take note
The City warned that Alberta Land Titles is behind on ownership and address updates, so some bills may go to a previous owner or an old address. If you bought recently, do not wait for the mail: check your account and pay on time.
Low-income homeowners who meet the criteria can get help through the City’s Property Tax Assistance Program.
Property tax accounts in Calgary, 2023
Why some bills go to the wrong owner
The City notes that the Alberta Land Titles Office is behind on ownership and address change updates. Land Titles is the City’s only source of ownership details, so if a sale or a change of mailing address has not yet been registered, the bill is mailed using outdated information. If you bought a home recently, or moved, do not wait for the bill to arrive: contact 311 for a statement of account. The penalty applies to everyone who pays after June 30, including owners who did not receive a bill.
What TIPP is and who it suits
The Tax Instalment Payment Plan lets owners pay property tax monthly instead of in one payment. About 300,000 owners already use it, and the June 30 deadline does not apply to them. You can join at any time at calgary.ca/TIPP or by calling 311. For many households, spreading the cost over the year is easier than finding a large sum in June, especially when other costs, such as mortgage payments, have risen.
Where your money goes
Property tax is split between the Government of Alberta and the City. The provincial share funds education; the municipal share pays for City services. At calgary.ca/taxbreakdown you can enter your own tax amount and see how the municipal portion is spent on services that Calgarians rely on every day.
Why this year’s bill may be different
Your bill is based on your 2023 assessment, which reflects market value on July 1, 2022. The median single residential assessment rose from $485,000 to $555,000, and single homes rose more than the average property. That shifts more of the tax towards detached homes and less towards condos. On the provincial side, Alberta froze the total education property tax at about $2.5 billion for 2023/24.
Practical steps
- Check the amount: compare it with last year and with your assessment notice.
- Pay on time: online banking payments can take a few days to arrive; do not leave it to June 30.
- Buyers: if you are closing a purchase in June or July, ask your lawyer how the tax is adjusted between you and the seller.
- Need help: the City’s assistance program is open to eligible low-income homeowners regardless of age.
If you have questions about how your assessment was calculated, the review period for 2023 has already ended, so the bill amount stands. You can still prepare for next year by checking the 2024 notice carefully when it arrives in January.
Mark June 30 in your calendar today.
