Property Assessments and Calculating Property Taxes in Ontario

By Puneet Shroff

What is MPAC?

The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), is the largest assessment jurisdiction in North America. MPAC operates as an independent, not-for-profit corporation funded by all Ontario municipalities and is held accountable by the Province, municipalities, and property taxpayers. The role of MPAC is to regularly update Ontario's property records database. This database encompasses new constructions, additions, and renovations.

How are my property taxes determined?

Your property taxes are determined by MPAC through a process that involves analyzing the sales of similar properties in your area to assess the current value of your residential property. This assessment is based on the sales information of comparable properties. The assessed value of your property, along with the combined tax rates set by the municipality and the Minister of Finance, is used to calculate your property taxes.

How often will my property be re-assessed?

As Ontario's independent property assessor, MPAC performs a mandated province-wide assessment of properties every four years. The most recent province-wide Assessment Update was executed in 2016, utilizing a valuation date of January 1, 2016. The planned 2020 Assessment Update was delayed as a result of the pandemic. Furthermore, during the Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review in 2021, the Province declared another postponement of the assessment update. Consequently, property assessments for the 2023 and 2024 tax years will continue to be based on the January 1, 2016 assessed values.

MPAC is in the process of mailing 713,632 Property Assessment Notices to property owners across the province. Each property owner who receives a notice will find the specific reason for the updated assessment detailed on the notice. Further information related to the changes can be found on the MPAC website. The alterations that can trigger a notice include

• new properties,
• changes in ownership,
• variations in assessed value or property usage,
• alteration to legal description,
• update to mailing address
• changes to lot dimensions, legal description or the property location,
• updates to the owner's name or citizenship status.

Despite these updates, the Property Assessment Notices for this year will still denote property values as of January 1, 2016. These assessments will be utilized by municipalities for the 2024 tax year.

What can I do if I disagree with MPAC’s assessment?

Property owners can access AboutMyProperty™, an online tool that allows them to compare their property with others in their neighborhood and examine the information used by MPAC to assess their home. If a property owner disagrees with their property's assessment, they can submit a Request for Reconsideration (RfR) with MPAC online through AboutMyProperty, free of charge. The deadline to file an RfR for the 2024 property tax year is April 2, 2024.

Contact our office for assistance in preparing the RfR or if you have any questions about the assessment against your home.