There are many ways to pay your taxes:
- Online through your bank:You can pay your property tax bill at most banks through internet banking. To register for Internet banking:
-
- Find your tax roll number located on your property tax bill
- Sign in to your bank’s secure website
- Select “City of Markham” or “Markham” as a payee
- Select “taxes” or “property taxes
- Enter your tax roll number as the requested account number
-
-
- Example: 36020123123450000000 (20 digits). Roll number must start with “36” NOT “1936”
- In person at your bank: You can also pay at your bank or financial institution.
- By mail: Make sure that you write a cheque for the full installment amount. Please match the dates on the cheques to the installment due dates. You must also write the Tax Roll Number on the front of your cheque and send us the bottom portion of your bill (remittance portion).
Tax Department
Markham Civic Centre
101 Town Centre Boulevard
Markham, Ontario, L3R 9W3
- At the Civic Centre: You can pay your taxes at our cashier's counter. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday excluding holidays. You can also drop off your payments in the drop box found at the Thornhill Entrance of the Markham Civic Centre ( No cash payments are accepted for property taxes).
- Through a Pre-Authorized Tax Payment Plan: No more cheques or postage. Choose a payment schedule that meets your needs and pay in 4, 6 or 11 instalments. See below about pre-authorized tax payment plan.
Important Notes:
- Even if you do not receive a property tax bill or statement, you are responsible for paying your property taxes.
- If you do not pay your property tax bill by the due date, the City will charge penalties on late payments.
- The City will charge you an extra fee if your cheques cannot be processed and does not make payment. Make sure that you sign and fill out your cheque properly.
- We are cashless for property taxes as of January 1, 2020
Late payments
If your payment is late, the City will add a 1% penalty to the unpaid amount of your instalment. Each month that your payment is late, the City will charge an interest fee of 1.25% on the outstanding amount. This charge will be added on the first day of each month for as long as your taxes stay unpaid.
Penalty and interest charges are set by City of Markham by-laws, which are enforced by the Municipal Act, 2001. City of Markham Council and staff do not have the authority to waive or alter penalty and interest charges.
With a Pre-authorized Tax Payment Plan (PTP), the City of Markham will automatically withdraw money from your bank account. You can pay your taxes in 4, 6, or 11 instalments. Your withdrawal dates will depend on the payment plan you choose. You will see your specific dates on your tax bill.
Why sign up for the PTP Plan?
- It’s flexible: Choose from 4, 6, or 11 installments – whichever works best for you!
- It saves you money: You won’t need to pay for postage, late fees, or interest charges.
- It’s convenient: You’ll never miss a payment. You also won’t need to wait in line to pay your tax bill.
- It helps you plan your finances: Signing up for PTP is the easiest way to budget for your tax payments throughout the year.
How often will I pay?
Residents can pay their taxes in 4, 6, or 11 installments. Commercial or industrial properties can pay in 4 or 6 installments.
4 Installment Plan
For residential properties: pay two (2) payments in February and March for the interim tax bill, and two (2) payments in July and August for the final tax bill.
For commercial/industrial properties: pay two (2) payments in February and March for the interim tax bill, and two (2) payments in October and November for the final tax bill.
For exact payment dates, please check your property tax bill.
6 Installment Plan
For residential properties: pay three (3) payments in February, March, and April for the interim tax bill, and three (3) payments in July, August, and September for the final tax bill.
For commercial/industrial properties: pay three (3) payments in February, March, and April for the interim tax bill, and three (3) payments in October, November and December for the final tax bill.
For exact payment dates, please check your property tax bill.
11 Installment Plan
For residential properties: pay (5) monthly payments from February to June for the interim tax bill, and six (6) monthly payments from July to December for the final tax bill. All payments will be withdrawn from your account on the first day of the month.
This plan is available for residential properties only.
Example Payment
Please find below an example of how a $5,000 tax bill would be paid through a PTP plan:
- 11 Monthly Instalments — $454.55
- 6 Monthly Instalments — $833.33
- 4 Monthly Instalments — $1,250.00
This example is for reference purposes only. Your interim and final installment amounts will be different.
How do I register?
Transit number and account number required.
Apply online
Important Notes:
- To be eligible for the PTP Plan, your tax account must be paid in full.
- If you do not receive an interim or final PTP tax bill in the mail after applying, continue to pay your taxes through your regular payment option and call 905.477.5530.
- If you own more than one property in Markham, you must complete one PTP application per property.
- Please note that you cannot use a line of credit account or credit card cheques for pre-authorized payments.
- If you have sold your home, you must complete a Cancellation Form and re-apply to the program with your new property information.
- To change your mailing address, please complete the online Change of Mailing Address Form.
- To change your banking information, please complete a PTP Banking Information Change Form.
- Please note, you will need to provide the City any information about changes to your account at least 14 days before the next payment date.
- You cannot pay other charges added to your tax bill through the PTP Plan. You must pay other charges separately.
- If your payment is returned by your bank, City will add a 1% penalty to the unpaid amount of your instalment on the first day of default. The City will charge an additional interest fee of 1.25% on the outstanding amount. This charge will be added on the first day of each month for as long as your taxes stay unpaid.
- To withdraw from the PTP program, complete a Cancellation Form.
For more information, please contact a Customer Service Representative at 905.477.5530 or customerservice@markham.ca
If your payment is late, the City will add a 1% penalty to the unpaid amount of your instalment. Each month that your payment is late, the City will charge an interest fee of 1.25% on the outstanding amount. This charge will be added on the first day of each month for as long as your taxes stay unpaid.
Penalty and interest charges are set by City of Markham by-laws, which are enforced by the Municipal Act, 2001. City of Markham Council and staff do not have the authority to waive or alter penalty and interest charges.
A tax sale is the process authorized under the Municipal Act, 2001 to recover unpaid property taxes through the sale of the property. Properties become eligible for tax sale once they exceed three years in arrears. A Tax Arrears Certificate will be registered and shows that the property will be sold if the outstanding taxes are not paid within one year of the registration of the certificate. Once a certificate has been registered, partial payments cannot be accepted.
The City will advertise the property for sale if the cancellation price is not paid within one year of registration of the certificate. The advertisement would be published in a local paper for four consecutive weeks and the Ontario Gazette for one week.
Tax Sales are not typical real estate transactions. If you are considering participating in a tax sale, it is highly recommended that you seek independent legal advice from a lawyer.
The current tax sale property listing is found in here.
