Property tax - frequently asked questions

The funds collected through property tax are generally split between the Alberta Government and The City. About 65% of all residential property taxes will go towards City services while about 35% will be sent to the Government of Alberta. 

City Council sets the annual budget needed to pay for services that benefit all Calgarians.

The City budget is paid from property taxes, plus other sources including license fees, provincial grants and user fees like transit fares.

Your property taxes support services like police, fire protection, garbage collection, transit, parks, recreation, social services and more.

See where your tax dollars go using the tax breakdown tool

View current property tax rates.

Learn about how wedeliver city services and determine your property tax bill.​​​​

Your property tax bill is based on the budgetary needs of The City (municipal tax) and The Province (provincial tax) multiplied by the portion allocated to you. Your portion is determined by the value of the property you own in Calgary, which is your property assessment each year. 

Calgarians can go to calgary.ca/taxcalculator and enter their property assessment to get an estimate of what their property tax bill is before it is mailed in late May. The calculator can also show their year-to-year tax change, as well as a breakdown of where their residential tax dollars are being spent. 

For information and examples on factors that impact your property tax bill, visit the Assessment and Tax bill page.

If you are a residential property owner experiencing financial hardship there are a number of programs offering assistance. Under The City's Property Tax Assistance Program, residential property owners of any age may be eligible for a credit/grant. You can find more information at calgary.ca/ptap, calgary.ca/fairentry or by calling 311 or 403-268-CITY (2489) if calling from outside Calgary.

For information on programs for seniors such as the Seniors Property Tax Deferral Program, contact the Government of Alberta at 310-0000. For more contact options visit alberta.ca/contact.

The City of Calgary is supporting citizens and businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Council approved municipal property tax relief measures that support taxpayers facing financial hardship. Go to calgary.ca/propertytax for important information you need to know as a residential or non-residential property owner seeking tax relief due to the COVID-19 pandemic.​

Property tax bills are mailed in May and cover the calendar year Jan. 1 – Dec. 31. Property tax bills and account information are not available online.

Property owners who have not received a tax bill by the first week of June can request a copy of the bill.

You can also change the mailing address​ for your property tax bill and assessment notice.​​

The City of Calgary offers a variety of property tax payment options​ to pay The City directly or through your bank. Credit cards cannot be used to pay property tax.

The Tax Instalment Payment Plan (TIPP) is a popular program that allows you to pay your property tax on a monthly basis instead of making one payment in June. Your payment automatically comes out of your chequing account the first day of every month, making paying your property tax easier.

Have you moved recently? Make sure you update your property roll number when you make a payment through your bank.​

 Visit calgary.ca/propertytax​ to view this year's property tax key dates, including the mailing due date, as well as the late penalty amounts and dates.

Yes. If you have filed a complaint against your assessment you must still pay your taxes by the due date to avoid a late payment penalty.

If the Assessment Review Board (LARB or CARB) or Court of King's Bench or Municipal Government Board makes a decision on your complaint that results in a lower tax levy, the reduction is credited to the tax account. If this tax reduction results in a credit balance, interest is paid on the municipal portion. A refund cheque is issued for accounts with a credit balance greater than $25 (credits of less than $25 will remain on the account.)

The Tax Instalment Payment Plan (TIPP) is a popular program that allows you to pay your property tax on a monthly basis instead of one payment in June, making budgeting easier.

Your property assessment is used to determine your share of taxes, relative to all properties in Calgary, to meet The City's budget needs.

Once Council has set the tax rate, your assessment is then multiplied by the tax rate and the result is your share of property tax shown on your tax bill.

Your property’s year-to-year value change compared to the typical value change for all residential (or non-residential) properties determines how your property tax bill might be impacted. For more information on how your property assessment impacts your property tax bill see the Assessment & Tax Bill page. 

The tax Calculator, available online at calgary.ca/taxcalculator, factors in the estimates your property tax taxes before Council approves the budget and the property tax bylaw, and your actual taxes once the budget and tax rate is approved.

You can search for your current property assessment using Assessment Search. Learn how your property is assessed.​​

You will find a link to the Property Assessment Frequently Asked Question page and a whole lot more on calgary.ca/assessment