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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about tax sale properties and our platform

Tax sale properties are real estate properties sold by municipalities to recover unpaid property taxes. When property owners fail to pay taxes for a specified period (typically 1-3 years depending on the province), municipalities can legally auction these properties. The process varies by province, but generally involves public notice, registration requirements, and a public auction where the property is sold to the highest bidder above the minimum bid (usually the amount of unpaid taxes plus costs).

A tender submission must be accompanied by a deposit of at least 20% of the tender amount. For example, if you are tendering $5,000, your deposit must be a minimum of $1,000. If you don't provide a deposit of 20% or more, your tender will be rejected. The deposit must be submitted as a bank draft, money order, or certified check from a bank or trust corporation. Certified checks from credit unions are typically rejected.

Accumulated taxes are property taxes that accrue between the advertisement date and when you pay the full tender amount, typically at 1.25% interest per month. For example, if the minimum tender is $10,000 and you pay two months after advertisement, you'd owe an additional $250 (1.25% × $10,000 × 2 months). Any property tax installments that become due during this period are also added to accumulated taxes.

Yes, HST/GST must be paid at the provincial rate unless: (1) there's a residential building on the property that has been sold before, or (2) you're an HST/GST registrant who can self-assess. Tax rates vary by province: Alberta 5%, BC 12%, Ontario 13%, Atlantic provinces 15%, etc. You must provide documentation to the municipality if claiming an exemption.

Land Transfer Tax varies by province and property value. In Ontario: 0.5% on first $55,000, 1% on $55,000-$250,000, 1.5% on $250,000-$400,000, and 2% over $400,000. For example, a $20,000 purchase would incur $100 in land transfer tax (0.5% × $20,000). Toronto has additional municipal land transfer tax. Other provinces have different rates and calculation methods.

Yes, you can withdraw your tender by sending a written request to the municipality treasurer, but it must be received before the advertised tender date and time. Once the tender opening has occurred, you cannot withdraw your submission. If you're the successful bidder and don't complete the purchase, you may forfeit your deposit.

A tax sale cannot be cancelled after a tax deed or notice of vesting has been registered on the title (naming the municipality as the new owner). However, the municipality treasurer can cancel a tax sale at any time prior to this title change. This might happen if the property owner pays all outstanding taxes and costs before the deed is registered.

It's crucial to update your title search on the day of the tax sale to discover any new registrations that occurred since your initial search. For example, the Canada Revenue Agency might have registered a mortgage that would survive the tax sale, or an expropriation order could reduce the land you're purchasing. These new interests could significantly impact your investment.

This language may remain on your title after the tax deed is registered. If the execution is in favor of the Crown (government), it won't be removed until you pay the Crown interest and get written confirmation of removal. For non-Crown executions, contact the land registry office a few weeks after your deed is registered to request removal, though results aren't guaranteed.

We update our database daily by monitoring municipal websites and official sources across Canada. Our automated systems track changes in property status, auction dates, and new listings. However, we always recommend verifying information directly with the relevant municipality before making any investment decisions, as tax sale processes can change quickly and municipalities may have last-minute updates.

Assessed Value is the value placed on real estate by municipal assessors for property tax purposes, usually updated annually. Potential Revenue is the difference between the assessed value and the minimum bid amount. For example, if a property has an assessed value of $50,000 and a minimum bid of $5,000, the potential revenue is $45,000, representing the possible value opportunity.

"Inactive" status means the tax sale has been completed or cancelled and is no longer available for bid or tender. This could happen because the property was successfully sold, the owner paid the outstanding taxes, or the municipality cancelled the sale for other reasons. Once a property is inactive, it cannot be bid on.

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