MPAC 2016 Reassessment

Residential property owners in Markham will be receiving an updated Property Assessment Notice from from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) the week of June 13, 2016. Notices for business properties and farms will be mailed the fall of 2016.

Included with your MPAC Notice are the assessment values that will be used by the City of Markham to calculate your property taxes for the years 2017-2020. Please note that an increase in the value of your property will not necessarily result in an increase in your property taxes.

Every four years, MPAC updates the value of every property in the province as part of Ontario’s assessment cycle. The current assessment update is taking place in 2016, based on a valuation date of January 1, 2016.

If you have questions, or would like to learn more about how MPAC assessed your property, contact the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) Customer Contact Centre at 1-866-296-MPAC (6722), or visit aboutmyproperty.ca. How Property Assessment and Taxation Works [Video]

Property Assessment - Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the MPAC 2016 Assessment Update?
   Every four years, MPAC updates the value of every property in the province as part of Ontario’s assessment cycle. The current Assessment Update is taking place in 2016, based on a valuation date of January 1, 2016. These assessments will be applicable to the 2017-2020 property tax years.
   
   
2. Why is it happening this year?
   The cycle for province-wide Assessment Updates is every four years. The last update was in 2012, meaning the next update is set to occur this year.
   
   
3. What valuation date is being used?
   The 2016 Assessment Update is based on a legislated valuation date of January 1, 2016.
   
   
4. What is a valuation date?
   To ensure consistency, MPAC values each property based on a legislated valuation date. For the 2016 Assessment Update, the valuation date is January 1, 2016. MPAC uses the valuation date as the common date for determining what a property could have reasonably sold for if purchased by a willing buyer as of January 1, 2016.
   
   
5. How are the 2016 values being determined?
   To establish a property’s assessed value, MPAC analyzes sales of comparable properties in the property owner’s area and all the key features that affect market value. This method, called Current Value Assessment, is used by most assessment jurisdictions in North America.
   
   For residential properties, there are five major factors that generally account for 85% of a property’s value:
   • Location
   • Lot dimensions
   • Living area
   • Age of the property (adjusted for any major renovations or additions)
   • Quality of construction

How MPAC Assesses Property Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uikghy2Yz10
 

6. When will property owners receive their property assessment notice?
   The residential Notice mailing date for the City of Markham is Monday, June 13, 2016. Non-residential property owners will receive their new assessments starting on October 11, 2016.
   
   
7. How can property owners check the accuracy of their assessment?
   Property owners should review their Notice, and ask themselves if they could have sold their property for the assessed value as of January 1, 2016. Next, they should visit aboutmyproperty.ca, to learn how and why their property was assessed the way it was, and to compare their assessment with others in their neighborhood.
   
   If property owners have questions, they can call MPAC’s Customer Contact Centre at 1-866-296-MPAC (6722), or 1-877-889-MPAC (6722), or visit a local MPAC office.
   
   AboutMyProperty Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6ATjrN2ttc
   
   
8. What is AboutMyProperty™?
   AboutMyProperty™ is a secure, online, easy-to-use, self-serve website that allows property owners to learn more about how their property was assessed, see the information MPAC has on file as well as compare it to others in their neighbourhood or area.
   
   
9. What if property owners don’t agree with their assessment?
   If property owners disagree with MPAC’s assessment or classification of their property, they can file a Request for Reconsideration (RfR) and MPAC will review their assessment, free of charge. The deadline to file an RfR is included on each property owner’s Notice.
   
   There are two ways to file an RfR:
   1. At aboutmyproperty.ca. Property owners will be able to attach documents, pictures and reports to accompany their RfR, as well as check the status of their request. They may also mail or fax their form to MPAC. Forms are available at mpac.ca.
   2. Write a letter to request an RfR. The letter should include the 19-digit Roll Number found on the Property Assessment Notice, the owner’s full name, address and phone number, and the reasons why their assessment is incorrect, including any information they have to support their request.

Starting in 2016 (for the 2017 property tax year) property owners will have 120 days from the Issue Date of their Property Assessment Notice to file a free RfR, to ensure they receive a fair and consistent review of property assessment concerns. The Issue Date and the property owner’s unique RfR deadline will be included on every Property Assessment Notice.

Request for Reconsideration Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPGN-THof5Q
 

10. What happens once a Request for Reconsideration (RfR) has been reviewed?
    MPAC will send a letter with the results of their review within 180 days (or less) of when the request is received. With more complex scenarios, MPAC may need more time (up to 60 more days) to reconsider a property assessment and complete the review. MPAC will contact the property owner if they need more time. Once a decision has been made, MPAC will mail a letter advising the owner about the outcome of their review.
    
    If the owner disagrees with the outcome, they have the option to file an appeal with the Assessment Review Board (ARB), an independent assessment appeal tribunal of the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.
    
    Property owners have 90 days after MPAC has notified them of its decision about the RfR to file an appeal with the ARB. The ARB has its own appeal process. For more information, please contact the ARB at 1- 866-448-2248 or 416-212-6349 or visit http://elto.gov.on.ca/.
    
    
11. What happens at an ARB hearing?
    At an ARB hearing, the onus is on MPAC to prove the accuracy of the assessed value of a property. MPAC presents comparable sold properties as evidence and shares that information with the property owner prior to the hearing. The property owner presents evidence in support of their position. Ideally, they should select properties that are similar to their property.

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