Toronto gives 60-days grace for property tax, water, waste bills
TORONTO, ON., March 20, 2020 – Today, Mayor John Tory released a statement announcing a 60-day grace period for City of Toronto property tax, water and solid waste utility bill payments for all residents and businesses.
The immediate extension is part of the City’s ongoing efforts, led by the Mayor, to protect Toronto’s economic success in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Tory says the City is making sure they do everything possible to make everyday life easier for Toronto residents now during this incredibly difficult time.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has turned people’s lives upside down overnight. We know families are struggling to figure out how to make ends meet while also worrying about their health and the health of their loved ones. Toronto businesses and residents need to know that we understand these are extraordinary circumstances and we are here to support them. The immediate grace period announced today will give people relief as we all work to rebuild the economy. We will continue to find ways to offer extraordinary help in these extraordinary circumstances,” said Mayor Tory.
The City of Mississauga is also doing their part for its residents, deferring property taxes 90 Days, providing Free Transit, and easing parking restrictions.
Toronto homeowners and other residential property owners will have a 60-day grace period on their City of Toronto property tax, Toronto Water, and Solid Waste bills as of March 16, 2020.
A 30-day grace period for businesses on tax and utility bill payments introduced earlier this week is being extended to a 60-day grace period as well.
Late payment penalties for residential and business properties will be waved for 60 days, starting March 16, 2020 to reflect these relief measures.
Utility bills (water and solid waste), are normally due 21 days after the billing date, but the City will extend that date an extra 60 days.
This will ensure that residents and businesses who find themselves facing financial hardship due to COVID-19 can defer their next property tax Instalment without penalty. Property tax accounts will be adjusted as necessary to reflect these relief measures.
On Monday, the Mayor’s Economic Support and Recovery Task Force was launched to identify immediate and longer-term economic recovery strategies for residents and businesses, with a focus on supporting those segments of the economy that are most strongly impacted by COVID-19, such as tourism, hospitality and entertainment.
The Mayor will also continue to advocate for renters in the wake of the pandemic. He has been continuously calling on landlords to provide accommodation and leniency to renters because its the right thing to do at this time. Mayor Tory has also publicly asked landlords to offer accommodation to small business on at least the timing of rent payments in light of the severe cash flow difficulties many of those businesses will be facing.
For renters the Mayor will be hosting a teleconference on Monday with various residential landlords across the city as part of the Task Force’s ongoing work.
On this call the Mayor will continue to call on landlords to be accommodating to tenants with cash flow issues and find solutions on how the City can work with landlords during the COVID-19 pandemic.
