York Region Property Tax

The amount of tax you pay is calculated using the following formula:

“Assessed value of a property”  X  “Tax rate”

There are two parts to the tax rate:  

• The municipal tax rate, which is set by your municipal government (York Region and the city or town you live or own property in)
• The education tax rate, which is set by the provincial government

A municipality can set different tax rates for different classes of property and the main classes include residential and farm, multi-residential, commercial and industrial.

The current value assessment of a property is established by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). The current value assessment for properties in 2017 is based on a valuation date of January 1, 2016 with a four year phase-in for assessment increases through to 2020. Assessment decreases are recognized in 2017. For further information on how your assessment is calculated please contact MPAC.

The Region’s property tax rate is established annually by York Regional Council and is based on budgetary requirements for the Region. The Region’s tax rate varies for each property type and class based on tax ratio weights.

Tax Ratios

The amount of tax paid for a property is determined by its current value assessment and by its property class. Tax ratios distribute the amount to be collected between property classes.

The tax ratio for a property class is calculated based on the residential class tax ratio, which is always "one". A property with a tax ratio of “two” would pay twice as much as a residential property for the same assessed value.

Allowable Ranges

The province has set “allowable ranges” for each property class. There is an upper and lower range for the tax ratio for each property class and any ratio that falls between the upper and lower ratio is allowable. Municipalities are allowed to exceed the allowable range when utilizing revenue-neutral tax ratios, which have been adopted by York Regional Council each year since 2017. 

Table 1: Tax Ratios and the Provincial Allowable Ranges for each property class.

York Region’s Tax Ratios Compared to Nearby Municipalities

The tables below compare York Region’s 2024 tax ratios with those of other municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Residential Tax Ratios

Commercial / Industrial / Pipelines Tax Ratios

Farm / Managed Forests / Landfill Tax Ratios

There are various tax rebates, tax reductions and relief programs that property owners in York Region can access.

New Multi-Residential (Municipal Reduction) Subclass

In 2024, the Government of Ontario gave municipalities the opportunity to offer a property tax discount for eligible new multi-residential properties. This incentive aims to help increase supply of new purpose-built rental housing. Multi-residential properties for which building permits are issued on or after May 23, 2024, could be eligible for a potential discount. This subclass discount is being reviewed and recommendations will be considered by York Regional Council for the 2025 tax year. 

Vacant and Excess Land Discount

York Region offers a discount for vacant and excess commercial and industrial lands. Under section 313 of the Municipal Act, tax rates are reduced by 30% for commercial properties and 35% for industrial properties.

A review of the discount is underway, and recommendations will be considered by York Regional Council for the 2025 tax year. 

Tax Discount for Farmland Awaiting Development

Working farms in Ontario have traditionally received property tax relief. York Region provides a temporary discount to farmland awaiting development to allow the land to be farmed before construction begins.

When a plan is registered for a subdivision, a 75% property tax discount is provided to the developer if the land is being farmed before construction begins. Once the building permit is issued, the discount is removed as the land can no longer be farmed. 

Tax Relief for Seniors, Low-Income Pre-Seniors and Low-Income Persons with Disabilities

Seniors aged 65 or older, low-income pre-seniors between the ages of 55 and 64, and low-income persons with disabilities who own a principal residence in York Region, may be eligible for an annual deferral of all or part of their property tax increases.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a full deferral of the tax increase, you must be:

• Person with a disability eligible to claim a disability amount as defined in the Income Tax Act
• A senior age 65 or older

To be eligible for a partial deferral, you must:

• Be between the ages of 55 and 64, and receiving a property tax increase of more than $100 in a reassessment year
• Have an annual gross household income from all sources of $23,000 or less if single, or $40,000 or less in the case of a family of two or more persons
• Be the owner of the property on January 1 of the taxation year for which the deferral has been requested
• All deferred taxes must be repaid in full upon the sale or transfer of title to the property. Repayment is not required if the transfer of the property is being made to a spouse

How to Apply

To determine your eligibility to receive a property tax deferral, please contact the tax office of your city or town.

Exemption for Portion of Homes Built for Seniors and People with Disabilities

A tax exemption of up to 10% may be available for a portion of a residential property built or altered to accommodate a senior or a person with a disability.

How to Apply

Please contact the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation for more details.

Ontario Seniors Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant

The Ontario senior homeowners’ property tax grant (OSHPTG) is a tax grant of up to $500 for low-to-moderate income senior homeowners. It is administered by the Province of Ontario.

For more details, please check Ontario.ca and/or the annual Ontario income tax package on the Canada Revenue Agency website. 

Property Tax Assistance for Seniors

Under the Municipal Act, 2001, the City of Richmond Hill, the City of Vaughan, and the Town of Newmarket offer property tax relief for eligible seniors in the form of an annual rebate/grant.

Please contact your local city or town for more information.

Extraordinary Circumstances Tax Relief

The Township of King offers tax relief in extraordinary circumstances that are extreme, unforeseen, typically one-time, and that prevent a taxpayer from being able to make their property tax payment by the due date.

Please contact the Township of King for more information.

Registered Charities

Registered charities are eligible for a property tax rebate equal to 40% of the taxes payable for space that is rented or leased in a commercial or industrial class of property.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for this program, the following criteria must be met:

• You must be a registered charity as defined by subsection 248(1) of the Income Tax Act and can provide a registered charity number issued by Revenue Canada
• You must provide documentation from the landlord specifying the amount of property taxes payable for the rented or leased space occupied

How to Apply

To determine your eligibility to receive a charitable rebate, please contact the tax office of your local city or town. 

Rebate for Royal Canadian Legions, Veterans Associations and the Ontario Provincial Command

Royal Canadian Legions are exempt from paying property taxes. Veterans Associations and the Ontario Provincial Command receive a 100% property tax rebate. 

Reductions for Heritage Properties

In 2004, Markham and Newmarket adopted programs which provide eligible heritage properties a property tax reduction of 30% and 40% respectively. The reduction programs apply to both local municipal and education portions, pursuant to section 365.2 of the Municipal Act, 2001. For further details, please contact the Town of Newmarket or City of Markham.

Relief for Brownfields

The Brownfield Statue Act is a tool by which Ontario's municipalities can encourage intensification and infill development through the redevelopment of vacant, abandoned and/or idle industrial and commercial sites within the existing urban boundary.

Through the Brownfield Act, amendments to several Acts provide tools that can be used by both the private and public sectors in the development of brownfields. Municipalities now have the authority to grant property tax incentives/postponements to owners and developers who are willing to undertake the redevelopment process.

Tax assistance can be offered during the rehabilitation period and during the development period. In addition, the education portion of property taxes can be frozen or cancelled during the rehabilitation and development period provided approval is received from the Province.

Once these properties have been rehabilitated there will be environmental and financial benefits. The money granted or loaned to a developer will be recovered through a future increase in property tax assessment. The limit of the financial assistance is to be no greater than the total cost of rehabilitating the site.

Please contact your local city of town for eligibility criteria.

Conservation Lands and Managed Forests

The Government of Ontario offers property tax incentives for natural heritage properties.

The Conservation Lands Tax Incentive Program provides a 100% property tax exemption for eligible conservation lands. Eligibility conditions are set out on Ontario Regulation 282/98 (as amended), enacted pursuant to section 3 of the Assessment Act, R.S.O. 1990.

The Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program allows lands reassessed as Managed Forests to be charged a property tax rate equal to 25% of the residential property tax rate. This is reflected in the tax ratio for Managed Forests.

Please contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry for more information. 

Community Improvement Plan Incentives

Community Improvement Plans are tools that may be established under Section 28 of the Planning Act, 1990 to encourage development, intensification, or revitalization in designated areas. Local cities and towns have implemented Community Improvement Plans, which may offer property tax incentives.

Please contact your local city or town for more information.

Capping and Clawback Mechanism for Business Classes

The Capping and Clawback Mechanism for Business Classes is no longer available, effective 2021 taxation year.

Tax Rebate for Vacant Commercial and Industrial Units

The program is no longer available, effective 2018 taxation year.