Principal Residence Exemption

Multiply the assessed value of the property by the tax rate for its property class. Assessment is set by a provincial assessment authority on its own cycle and increases are often phased in, so the value lags the market. The rate is set each year by the municipality out of its budget, with an education portion added by the province. Both figures appear on your notice, which is why identical homes in different municipalities carry different bills.

Canada uses a progressive system, so only the income falling inside a bracket is taxed at that bracket's rate. Moving into a higher bracket never raises the tax on the income below it. You face a federal set of brackets plus a provincial or territorial set, and both are indexed most years. Credits, starting with the basic personal amount, then reduce the calculated tax. Look up the brackets for the specific tax year before planning around them.

It can. Property tax follows assessed value, and a shed, deck, finished basement or addition that adds usable space or quality usually raises the assessment at the next valuation. Provincial assessment authorities pick up permitted work through building permit data, then your municipality applies its own rate to the new value. Property tax is municipal, not a CRA matter, so ask your municipality and read your assessment notice before you build.

Property tax is municipal. Your city, town or rural municipality sets the annual rate and issues the bill, inside a framework the province sets: provinces create municipalities, run the assessment bodies that value properties, and add the education or school-support levy that appears on the same bill. The federal government has no role in property tax at all, so neither the CRA nor your income tax return is where a property tax dispute is settled. The municipality is.