Treasury & Tax

Treasurer: Charles Quenneville, B.Com., CMA

Finance department phone number: (519) 867-2024

Department of Finance

The Department of Finance provides front counter service, receives payments, administers pre-authorized payments, tax billing and collection, accounts payable, payroll, audit, switchboard, and performance measurements services.

For frequently asked questions please click here.

Payments for Taxes and Water at Banks

Effective June 6, 2016 banks will no longer process water and tax bill payments using paper based processes. You can continue to make water and tax payments through electronic bill payment options, but they will no longer accept bill payments that require a paper stub. Sorry for the inconvenience, however, this is a bank policy change and not a Township of St. Clair policy change. Options for water and tax payments are in person, mail, on-line banking, telephone banking and pre-authorized payments. Preauthorized forms can be found below.

Preauthorized Tax Payments

Taxpayers who wish to enroll in the Pre-authorized Tax Payment plan can complete and return the pre-authorized form available by clicking here or can call the Tax Office to request one. If your payment is late, a penalty charge of 1.25% will be added the day following the due date and the first day of each month thereafter.

If you would like to cancel or make changes to previously arranged pre-authorized payments, please click here for a change or cancellation form.

Pay taxes and water online by Credit Card or PayPal

Visit PaySimply, our secure third-party payment provider, to pay property taxes and water online with any major credit card (Visa, MC, Amex) or PayPal.

Click here to pay property taxes

Click here to pay water

Please allow 3 business days for processing. A convenience fee will be applied to cover payment handling and processing charges.

2020 Tax Due Dates:

Interim Installment 1 = Thursday, February 27, 2020
Interim Installment 2 = Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Final Installment 1 = Thursday, July 30, 2020
Final Installment 2 = Tuesday September 29, 2020

Click here for further information.

Property Assessment Notices

Property owners are encouraged to visit www.aboutmyproperty.ca to confirm their property details and compare their property with others in their neighbourhood. Login information is included with every Notice mailed.

Enquiries about Property Assessment Notices and assessment matters in general may be directed to the Customer Contact Centre at 1 866 296-MPAC (6722) or 1 877 889-6722 (TTY). Property taxpayers may also visit www.mpac.ca or their local MPAC office. The hours and address for the local office are included on every Notice mailed.

Tax Rates:

Your interim tax bill is calculated at one-half (1/2) of the previous years taxes, adjusted for any changes in assessment during the previous year (annualizing any mid-year changes). Your final tax bill is calculated out as follows: 2007 assessment x 2007 tax rates less interim levy. You should have received a notice from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) in late 2006 only if your assessment changed from 2006. Please call MPAC directly if you have concerns about incorrect assessments (click here for further information).

Vacancy Rebates (Commercial or Industrial Properties):

IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE VACANCY REBATE PROGRAM

Ontario Regulation 62/19 made under the Education Act Vacant Unit Rebate
Amount of rebate 2019 taxation year
1. Despite subsection 257.12.3(1) of the Act, for the 2019 taxation year, the amount of the vacant unit rebate is,
(a) for an eligible property in the commercial property class or the landfill property class, 15 percent of the taxes for school purposes applicable to the eligible property; and
(b) for an eligible property in the industrial property class, 17.5 percent of the taxes for school purposes applicable to the eligible property,

No rebate, 2020 and subsequent taxation years.
2. Subsection 257.12.3 (1) of the Act does not apply for the 2020 taxation year and subsequent taxation years to any area in which a board is required to levy taxes for school purposes under Division B of Part IX of the Act.

Commencement
3. This Regulation comes into force on the day it is filed; April 9, 2019.

What this means for vacancies in the 2019 taxation year. On the education portion of the vacancy rebate a 15% rebate on the eligible Commercial Class or Landfill Class Vacancy Assessment and 17.5% on the eligible Industrial Class Assessment. Rebates are pro-rated on the number of vacant days with a minimum 90 consecutive days of vacancy.
Also, Lambton County Council passed at the November 6, 2019 meeting, the elimination of the “Vacancy Rebate Program” for commercial and industrial property classes effective for the 2020 taxation year and subsequent years.
For 2019 vacancy rebates eligible Commercial class and Landfill class properties will receive 30% rebate on the Municipal and County portion of eligible vacant assessment as determined by MPAC. Eligible industrial class properties will receive 35% rebate on the Municipal and County portion of eligible vacant assessment as determined by MPAC.
For eligible classes vacancies are pro-rated on the number of vacant days with a minimum 90 consecutive days of vacancy.

The application must be submitted by February 28th of the year following the taxation year to which the application relates.

Vacancy Rebate Application

Tax Capping Parameters:

Tax capping is a mandated Province wide (calculated at the County level) method of ensuring commercial, industrial, and multi-residential properties do not face tax increases greater than 10% of the previous years taxes. This is paid for by increasing the taxes of properties with decreasing assessment in the same tax class. Feel free to call our office if you require further information.

Financial Statements:

Green Energy Act

Click here for the Township energy management plan.

The Green Energy Act requires that public sector organizations post on their web sites the Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emission each year starting in 2011: