Municipal Property Assessment (MPAC)

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) determines property value assessments, which determines current value and classifications for all properties in Ontario. The Town of Richmond Hill does not determine property value assessments. 

MPAC mailed the 2016 Property Assessment Notices to over five million properties throughout Ontario over a 21 week period starting April 4, 2016. The notices for residential properties in York Region were mailed on June 13, 2016. 

If you believe your property assessment is incorrect in comparison to similar properties in your area, you have the option to submit a Request for Reconsideration (RfR) through MPAC. MPAC will review your assessment free of charge. The deadline to submit a Request for Reconsideration was October 11, 2016. There are two ways to file an RfR: online at AboutMyProperty.ca or mail to MPAC. Forms are available at mpac.ca.

Property owners are encouraged to visit AboutMyProperty.ca to view a profile of their property and learn more about how their property was assessed. This includes video tutorials to explain How Your Property Tax is Calculated and How MPAC Assesses Property. 

1. When will my 2016 Property Assessment Notice affect my property taxes?
The Town of Richmond Hill, the Region of York and the provincial government will use your 2016 Property Assessment Notice to assist with calculating municipal and education taxes, in taxation years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. 

2. Will my taxes increase by the same percentage as my assessment increase? 
An assessment increase does not necessarily mean your property taxes will increase. When property values increase, the tax rate is adjusted down to accommodate the increase. Richmond Hill receives the same total amount of tax dollar revenue. For a detailed explanation of this process, watch the MPAC video, How Your Property Tax is Calculated, available on YouTube. 

The average market change increase for Richmond Hill is 47.2% (four-year phase-in change will be approximately 11.8%), which means those who have an assessment above the average could see an increase on their tax bill and those who have an assessment less than the average could see a reduction on their tax bill with respect to the reassessment impact only.

3. How can I appeal my Property Assessment Notice? 
Steps to appeal an assessment through MPAC are as follows:

• Ask yourself if you could have sold the property for the assessed value as of January 1, 2016. If the answer is yes then the assessment is accurate.
• If the answer is no, visit AboutMyProperty.ca to learn why your property was assessed that way and compare the assessment with similar homes.
• If you still believe the assessed value is incorrect you must submit a Request for Reconsideration (RfR) to MPAC no later than 120 days from the issue date. For Richmond Hill residential homeowners the appeal deadline is Tuesday, October 11, 2016.
• If you disagree with MPAC's decision regarding your RfR you can file a Notice of Appeal to the Assessment Review Board.

4. Is my Property Assessment Notice a tax bill?
No. A Property Assessment Notice is not a tax bill. The Property Assessment Notice advises you of the assessed value of your property and the phase-in value which will be used to help calculate your property taxes the years 2017 to 2020.

5. When will the tax rates be available for 2017? 
The budgets for all three levying bodies are usually approved by April 30 of a taxation year; tax rates are finalized shortly thereafter. However, please be aware that reassessment is just one part of calculating your taxes for the upcoming four taxations years. Tax rates are also based on budget changes from each of the Town, the Region of York and the province of Ontario (for education purposes). 

6. There is a factual error on my notice (e.g. name, legal description, etc.), what should I do? 
Contact MPAC at 1-866-296-6722. You should have your 19 digit roll number ready. You do not need to file a Request for Reconsideration for a factual error. 

7. When will I be billed based on the new phase-in value? 
If you received a tax bill from the Town of Richmond Hill in 2016, your 2017 interim tax bill issued in January will be based on 50% of your 2016 annualized taxes. Your 2017 final tax bill issued in June will be based on your 2017 phase-in assessment and the 2017 tax rates. 

8. I received my Property Assessment Notice, but never received a tax bill from the Town of Richmond Hill. Why and when can I expect a bill? 
If your property is a new home completed in the current or past two years, as the property owner you will receive an interim tax bill in January 2017 for approximately 50% of the taxes that would have been levied on the property in 2016. Most likely the Property Assessment Notice is for land only and you can expect a supplementary tax bill for the structure within the next two years. If the property is older than three years and the property owner has not received a tax bill, contact Access Richmond Hill at 905-771-8800 or access@richmondhill.ca.

9. Why is the January 1, 2016 current value assessment on my notice significantly lower than the value of my property? 
If your property was constructed during the current or past two years, the valuation may be for land only. You can expect a supplementary tax bill for the structure within the next two years. Please contact MPAC for detailed information on the valuation of your property.

10. I severed a portion of my property; however, the assessment notice does not reflect this change. What should I do? 
If MPAC has not processed the severance, the property owner is responsible for the taxes because:
a) The owner has not sold the severed portion as yet; or 
b) The owner sold the severed portion effective the 2017 tax year, therefore, MPAC will revalue the property for the 2018 tax year and the onus is on the property owner's lawyer to settle the 2017 taxes through the statement of adjustments.
If the owner sold the severed portion in 2016 and/or prior tax years and the new assessment notice does not reflect this for 2017 tax year, please contact the Town of Richmond Hill Revenue Services Division at revenue@richmondhill.ca or 905-747-6315.

11. I successfully appealed my assessment. Did Richmond Hill receive notice about my appeal from MPAC or the Assessment Review Board?
Normally it takes 60 days for the Town to be notified of an agreement between MPAC and the property owner on a revised assessment. The Town processes appeals after the final billing for the taxation year is complete. If your appeal is complete and you received your final bill for the taxation year, contact Access Richmond Hill at 905-771-8800 or access@richmondhill.ca for information on the status. 

12. What is MPAC? 
MPAC is the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, an independent, not-for-profit corporation funded by all Ontario municipalities, accountable to the Province, municipalities and property taxpayers through its 15-member Board of Directors. MPAC's role is to accurately assess and classify all properties in Ontario in compliance with the Assessment Act and regulations set by the Government of Ontario. 

13. If I lose my Property Assessment Notice, how do I get a new PIN number for AboutMyProperty.ca? 
Please call the MPAC Customer Contact Centre at 1-866-296-MPAC (6722) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. The MPAC TTY number is 1-877-889-MPAC (6722). 

14. I have a non-residential Richmond Hill property. When will my Property Assessment Notice be mailed? 
Property Assessment Notices for farms will be distributed on October 11, 2016. Notices for non-residential or mixed-use properties will be distributed October 18, 2016.

15. I'm on a fixed income. Is there anything I can do about rising property taxes? 
You may be eligible for a tax deferral program for seniors and disabled persons. Three deferral programs are available, for Low Income Seniors (55-64), Seniors (65 and older) and Low Income Disabled Persons. Each program defers eligible year-over-year tax increases on an interest-free basis until the property is transferred or sold. Your taxes will remain at their current level and when you sell your home, the remaining tax will be due. See RichmondHill.ca/PropertyTax for more information.