Property Taxes

• Interim Tax Bills:
  • Mailed out by the end of February
  • Due Dates: March 31, 2026 & June 30, 2026
• Final Tax Bills:
  • Mailed out by the end of August
  • Due Dates: September 29, 2026 & November 30, 2026

• Important Reminder: If you don’t receive your tax bill or if it’s misplaced, contact Town Hall. Not receiving the bill does not exempt you from paying by the due date.

How to Pay Your Tax Bill

The Town has several options available for payment. Payment must be received at Town Hall by the due date to avoid a penalty. 

1. Pre-Authorized Payment Plans:

• Your taxes must be fully paid to date to enroll. 
• Supplementary Tax Bills will be your responsibility, as they are not covered under this program. 

Choose from these convenient options:

• 11-Month Plan: Monthly payments from January to November.
• Due Date Installment Plan: Four payments per year.

How to Enroll:

• Fill out the Pre-Authorized Payment Form and submit it with a void cheque or bank account details form.

How to Cancel or Change your Pre-authorization Payment:

• If you need to cancel or change your financial information, complete and submit the Change/Cancel Pre-Authorization Payment Form.
• If you need to change your mailing address, complete and submit the Mailing Address Change Form.
• The forms must be submitted 10 days prior to an installment being withdrawn. 

Note: Two consecutive non-payments will result in cancellation, and insufficient funds fees may apply. Extra bills, such as for new structures, are billed separately.

2. At a Bank:

• Pay your bill at your financial institution.

3. By Mail:

• Address:
  Town of Goderich
  57 West St.
  Goderich, ON N7A 2K5

  Note:

  • Ensure timely delivery to avoid late payment penalties.
  • Make cheques payable to "The Town of Goderich" and include only the remittance portion.
  • For a receipt, include the full bill and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

4.  By Telephone or Online Banking:

• Register with your bank for telephone or online payments.

• Use your roll number as your account number, modifying as needed.

  Note:

  • Financial institutions may require different numbers of digits for the account number. You can remove the first 4 numbers (4028) and/or the last 4 numbers (0000) if necessary.

5.  In Person:

• Visit Town Hall and pay via debit, cash, or cheque.
• Use the mailbox by the front doors for cheque payments—no cash.

2025 Tax Newsletter

• Property Assessments:
  • The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is responsible for assessing the value of all properties in Ontario. For property assessment information, ratepayers may contact the MPAC office at 1-866-296-6722 or visit their website.
    
• Property Assessment Appeal:
  • If you do not agree with your property assessment, you can file a Request for Reconsideration (RFR) through MPAC. The deadline to file is printed on your Property Assessment Notice.
  • Visit aboutmyproperty.ca to see how your property was assessed and compare it to other properties in your neighbourhood. 
• Assessment Adjustment Applications:

• • Section 357/358 Applications allow for the reduction, refund, or cancellation of the taxes. Applications may be submitted for the following reasons:
  • Change in tax class of property -s357(1)(a)
  • Land has become exempt from taxation - s357(1)(c)
  • Building razed by fire, demolition or otherwise - s357(1)(d)(i)
  • Building damaged by fire, demolition, or otherwise & substantially unusable - s357(1)(d)(ii)
  • Repairs/renovations to land prevented normal use for a minimum three months - s357(1)(g)
  • Land has become vacant or excess land - s357(1)(b)
  • Overcharged due to a gross or manifest error, clerical or factual in nature - s357(1)(f), 358

  • Please complete the Application for Section 357/358 Form. Completed forms must be received by the Municipality no later than February 28th of the year following the taxation year to which the application relates.

2025 Tax Rates

To avoid penalty and interest charges, ensure your payment reaches our office by the due date.

Penalties and Interest Rates:

• Late Payment Penalty:

  • A 1.25% penalty is applied to any unpaid taxes on the first day after a missed installment.

• Ongoing Interest Charges:

  • For unpaid taxes, a 1.25% interest charge is added on the first day of each month until the balance is paid.
  • Interest is calculated as simple interest, not compounded.

• Returned cheques: $25.00
• Tax Certificates: $55.00. Tax certificate requests, along with a copy of the payment cheque, can be emailed to tdarnbrough@goderich.ca

• For New Constructions:

  • Initially, you'll receive a land-only tax bill until the entire property, including buildings, are assessed.
  • MPAC (Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) provides the updated assessment, and the supplementary bill is effective from the occupancy date.

• Timing and Payment:

  • Assessments can take up to two years.
  • Supplementary taxes are billed once the assessment is received and are due in the same year as it is billed. 
  • To prepare, start saving funds after purchasing and beginning construction.
  • Note: These bills are not covered by pre-authorized payments. Please pay them separately or contact Town Hall for payment options.

• Speed Up Assessments:

  • To avoid delays, contact MPAC at 1-866-296-6722 for a property inspection request.

For Sold Properties:

• If you receive a tax bill for a property you’ve sold, please return it to:
  • Town of Goderich, 57 West Street, Goderich, ON N7A 2K5
  • Include a note explaining why you are returning the bill.

For New Property Owners:

• If you’ve recently bought a property in Goderich and haven’t received a tax bill, contact us at (519) 524-8344 ext. 213.

Update Your Mailing Address:

• Fill out and submit the Mailing Address Change Form. 

Payment Reminder:

• When purchasing a property, check with your lawyer or our tax department about your next tax payment due date. Not receiving a tax bill due to a sale or address change does not waive your responsibility for payment or late fees.

Tax Sale Properties

As permitted by the Municipal Act, 2001, the Town may sell a property to recover taxes once the taxes are two years in arrears. The Town will advertise all tax sale properties on this page and in the local newspaper. The successful purchaser must pay the amount specified in the tender plus any accrued taxes and land transfer tax.  

Current properties for sale are also available at Ontario Tax Sales.