Older Adults Property Tax Deferral Program

Overview

This program (provided under By-law No. 20-16 (PDF file), as amended by By-law No. 20-18 (PDF file) and By-law No. 35-19 (PDF file)) gives eligible homeowners the opportunity to fully defer their annual property taxes, interest free. Its goal is to help older residents on fixed incomes to manage the rising cost of living and remain in their homes.

How the program works

• Your Town or City will review your application to determine if you are eligible for the program.
• If you qualify, then your Town or City will immediately defer your property taxes for the current year.
• The deferred taxes will become an interest-free loan.
• Once you are in the program, your Town or City will mail a renewal notice in January of each following year.
• You must submit the renewal application by September 30 of each year to remain in the program.

Eligibility

To qualify for the program, you must meet the following criteria:

• You are at least 65 years old.
• You own a home in Halton Region.
• At least one registered owner must have lived in the home (as their principal residence) for the last four years.
• Your combined pre-tax gross annual income (the applicant plus the property’s registered owners) must be less than $66,100. The income threshold for this program is set out in the 2022 Halton Region’s State of Housing Report (PDF file).
• You are not participating in any other property tax deferral or rebate programs.
• You have paid your previous years’ property taxes in full.

For older adults who share a home, each registered owner must meet these criteria and include their information with the application.

Use the Eligibility and Calculator Tool to see if you are eligible for the program and view possible deferral scenarios.

Applying for the program

To apply for the program, please do the following:

• Download the general information form (PDF file) and application form (PDF file).
• Check each registered owner’s Notice of Assessment from Canada Revenue Agency for the gross annual income or total income.
• Complete the application and include a recent Notice of Assessment from Canada Revenue Agency for each registered owner.
  Note: The assessment must be less than two years from the current property tax deferral year.
• Mail or bring the package to your local Town or City Hall before September 30 each year:

Renewing your participation

Your Town or City will review your eligibility for the program every year. Once deferral begins, you must submit a completed renewal by September 30 each year to stay in the program.

• If you do not apply for renewal by September 30, or if you are no longer eligible for the program, your Town or City will continue to defer your property taxes for that year.
• After this first year, you will have a one-year grace period to reapply and show your eligibility. Your Town or City will continue to defer your taxes, interest free, during this time.
• If you reapply during the grace period and are eligible for the program, your property taxes will continue to be deferred.

Unless you end participation, such as by selling your home, the program provides two full years to renew your application and show your eligibility before you must repay the deferred taxes.

At the end of the grace period, your involvement in the program ends (and you must repay the remaining deferred taxes).

Deferral repayment

Once you join the program, you can make full or partial deferral payments to your Local Municipality at any time. You must repay the full amount of deferred taxes in the following cases:

Fees

Enrolment in the program includes the following fees:

• Initial application
  $50 (one time, non-refundable)
• Administration
  $200 (one time, non-refundable, added to value of deferral)
• Annual renewal application
  Free

Tip: We encourage you to seek financial and/or legal advice before entering this program. However, please note that you will be responsible for the costs of these services.