The City of Toronto is facing issues with the rollout of its vacant home tax, leading to confusion and frustration among homeowners. The tax, introduced at the end of 2021, requires homeowners to declare if their property is vacant or occupied to determine if they will face an additional tax. The administration of the tax hit a snag at the beginning of 2024 when only 63% of homeowners submitted the necessary paperwork by the deadline of February 29. As a result, the city extended the deadline for declarations.
Many homeowners who believed they had submitted their declarations on time were surprised to receive vacant home tax bills, including late fees, for properties they actually live in. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow described the rollout as a “mess” and apologized for the confusion. Homeowner Florips Bajouco, who received a vacant home tax bill for her occupied property, expressed frustration at the situation, along with others who felt unfairly targeted by the tax. Despite efforts to rectify the situation, including waiving late fees for those who completed declarations on time, homeowners are still facing issues with the implementation of the tax.
In response to the chaos surrounding the vacant home tax, Mayor Olivia Chow and the city’s budget chief are working to waive late fees for all affected homeowners this year. Chow acknowledged the challenges in administering the tax but emphasized that efforts are being made to improve the system going forward. The mayor also expressed regret that the issues existed before her tenure and vowed to address and resolve them to ensure a smoother process for homeowners in the future. Despite the setbacks and challenges faced during the rollout, the city is committed to rectifying the situation and ensuring fair treatment for all homeowners affected by the vacant home tax.
Homeowners who were wrongly hit with late fees for failing to submit details under Toronto’s vacant home tax are advised to disregard the charges while the city works to resolve the issues with the rollout. The city has stated that late fees will be waived for anyone who can prove that they completed the declaration on time. Additionally, homeowners who were charged a fee for declaring the correct status of their property after receiving a vacant home tax bill will not be required to pay the fee. The city is striving to address the concerns and frustrations voiced by homeowners and make necessary adjustments to ensure a smoother and more efficient process moving forward.
As the city of Toronto grapples with the implementation of the vacant home tax, efforts are being made to rectify the issues and provide relief to affected homeowners. Mayor Olivia Chow has taken responsibility for the challenges faced during the rollout and is committed to improving the system. Despite the setbacks and confusion experienced by homeowners, the city is working to streamline the process and ensure that the vacant home tax is administered fairly and accurately. By addressing the concerns raised by homeowners and making necessary adjustments, Toronto aims to create a more efficient and effective system for determining vacant properties and enforcing the associated tax.
