HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN-2023-354 - Applications for Cancellation, Refund, Reduction of TaxesFinancial Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee
DATE OF MEETING: September 18, 2023
SUBMITTED BY: Saleh Saleh, Director of Revenue, 519-741-2200 ext. 7346
PREPARED BY: Feras Abdulhadi, Tax Specialist, 519-741-2200 ext. 7440
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: August 29, 2023
REPORT NO.: FIN-2023-354
SUBJECT: Applications for Cancellation, Refund, Reduction of Taxes
RECOMMENDATION:
That the applications to City Council for write-off, cancellation, reduction, or refund of
taxes totalling $656,395.31 as attached to Financial Services Department report FIN-2023-
354, be approved, pursuant to Sections 354 and 357 of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c. 25
.
BACKGROUND:
Sections 354 and 357 of the Act allow the local municipality to write-off, cancel, reduce, or refund
all or part of taxes levied on land in the year in respect of which the application is made for
certain specific reasons as laid out in these sections of the Act.
REPORT:
Seventy-seven requests for tax adjustments under Sections 354 and 357 of the Act were
reviewed and processed. Additional statistics related to these applications are as follows:
53 applications were approved for adjustment resulting in a total tax reduction of
$656,395.31.
15 applications were declined for adjustment for reasons such as an absence of a building
permit or other documentation in support of the application.
9 applications were returned by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation without
any recommended changes to the assessment.
The required notices to the affected parties were sent out in accordance with the relevant
legislation.
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The following table shows a breakdown of the reduction in taxes in this report by the applicable
reason.
Relevant
Total Taxes
subsection of the Reason for Application
Reduced
Act
357(1)(a) Ceases to be liable for tax at rate it was taxed $71,323.66
357(1)(c) Became exempt $59,342.52
357(1)(d)(i) Razed by fire, demolition or otherwise $389,399.95
357(1)(f) Gross or manifest clerical/factual error 73,988.82
357(1)(g) Repairs/renovations preventing normal use $9,401.89
S.357 Tax only Adjustment $52,938.47
Total $656,395.31
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
the delivery of core service.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The tax reductions are shared with the Regional Municipality of Waterloo and the School
Boards. The net effect to the City of Kitchener is a reduction in current year revenue, including
a reduction in City levies of $144,922.38 and a reduction in BIA levies of $9,868.15 dollars, both
of which are accommodated within the 2023 Operating Budget. The City share forms part of the
-offs, which carries a net revenue budget of $1.1 million
annually.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
council meeting.
The required notices to the affected parties were sent out in accordance with the relevant
legislation under Section 357 of the Act.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jonathan Lautenbach, Chief Financial Officer.