Finance Property Tax Programs & Services

Council has passed Bylaw 1321-18: Small Business Assessment Subclass to set up an assessment sub-class for small businesses. The purpose of this bylaw is to establish a base that will allow Council to set a separate tax rate for qualifying businesses. In order to qualify, a small business must complete the Annual Small Business Declaration prior to December 31 of each year.

Property owners who are concerned about their assessment can file a complaint with their municipality’s assessment review board. For more information on property assessment complaints and appeals visit the Government of Alberta's webpage. 

Deadline to be accepted on the direct debit tax payment plan is November 15th of each year. The current years taxes, local improvement levy plus any tax arrears must be paid in full for eligibility in the Plan. The payment calculation will be based on the previous year's tax levy divided by twelve (12) months. Any increase / decrease in the issuing of the current year's Assessment and Tax Notice will be adjusted in the month of June.

Bylaw 1128-05: Tax Installment Payment Plan

Tax certificates take 5 to 10 business days to process.
To order property tax certificates, please send proof of payment of $22.00 with a request either by Fax 780-656-3568 or email dhackman@smokylakecounty.ab.ca

The Seniors Property Tax Deferral program allows eligible senior homeowners to defer all or part of their property taxes through a low-interest home equity loan from the Alberta government. If you qualify, the Alberta government will pay all or part of your property taxes on your behalf through a low-interest loan that is secured against your home equity. You then re-pay the loan with interest when you sell your house, are no longer eligible, or at any time you choose. The Seniors Property Tax Deferral program is voluntary and homeowners must apply.

Eligibility
To be eligible for the Seniors Property Tax Deferral program, you must:

• be an Alberta resident (65 or older); 
• own a residential property in Alberta; and 
• have a minimum of 25% equity in your home.

To apply
For more information, or to get an application form, visit Seniors Property Tax Deferral page or call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992.

By provincial legislation, all individuals who own property located in a municipality where both a public school district and a Roman Catholic separate school district exist are required to complete a Declaration of School Support Form when a property is acquired. However, an individual may file the Declaration at any subsequent time.

The purpose of collecting this Declaration is to apportion the percentage of the school tax collected on the property to the appropriate school district, according to the declaration of faith.