Property Tax Sale Process
If property taxes remain unpaid for a specific period of time. Part XI of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001 provides for means of collecting property tax arrears. A tax sale process is initiated by the registration of a tax arrears certificate in the land registry office. The municipality may register a Tax Arrears Certificate if taxes remain unpaid on vacant or improved land for three years prior to January 1st of any year. These time lines apply to both residential and non-residential classes of property.
A Tax Arrears Certificate indicates that the property may be sold if taxes, penalties, interest and reasonable costs incurred by the municipality are not paid within one year of registration of the certificate. Once a certificate has been registered, partial payments cannot be accepted.
In the event the cancellation price is not paid before the expiry of the one-year redemption period, these properties can be disposed of either by public auction or by public tender. Advertisements are published in the Markham Economist, for four consecutive weeks and the Ontario Gazette for one week. The sales are always subject to certain rules and follow procedures, which have been established by legislation. At these sales, the minimum acceptable offer on a property is always the cancellation price, plus accumulated taxes, penalties and interest, GST where applicable and the relevant land transfer tax.
Need more information?
Send us your request in writing at the Town of Markham, Tax & Assessment Division, 101 Town Centre Blvd., Markham Ontario, L3R 9W3 fax at 905-479-7769 or by e-mail at
[email protected] leaving us your name, address, telephone number and we would be pleased to respond to your query as expeditiously as possible.