Understanding Property Taxes in Port Colborne
Property taxes serve as the primary source of revenue to fund services offered by the City of Port Colborne, the Niagara Region, and local school boards.
Tax Rate Determination
- The Municipal Tax Rate is set following the approval of budgets by both the City Council and Niagara Region.
- The Education Rate is established by the Province of Ontario.
Assessment of Property Value
The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is responsible for providing the City of Port Colborne with the current value assessment and classification of properties annually.
Calculating Property Taxes
- To calculate the amount of property taxes to be collected, the following formula is used.
- Property Taxes = Tax Rate x Current Value Assessment (CVA)
The City of Port Colborne issues property tax bills for all properties twice per year. These are divided into four instalments.
- Information about taxes, including due dates, is available on the tax bill.
- If a tax instalment is missed, an interest rate of 1.25% per month is applied starting on the first day of each subsequent month.
- Tax payments must be received at the Municipal Office City Hall on or before the due date.
- Failure to receive a bill does not exempt the taxpayer from the responsibility of paying taxes and any associated penalties.
Interim Taxes
The interim tax bill is sent out by February 6, 2026.
- 1st Tax Due Date: Last business day of February 27, 2026
- 2nd Tax Due Date: Last business day of April 30, 2026
- The interim tax bill is calculated based on 50% of the previous year's taxes.
Final Taxes
The final tax bill is mailed out by the first week of July.
- 3rd Tax Due Date: July 24, 2026
- 4th Tax Due Date: September 28, 2026
- The final billing is calculated as (Assessment x Tax Rate) minus the interim billing amount.
By-law No. 7448/32/36 [PDF/592KB]- Being a By-law to Set and Levy the Rates of Taxation for City Purposes for the Year 2025
The tax calculator provides an estimated amount of property tax you will pay and the distribution of your City of Port Colborne taxes.
The City of Port Colborne tax bill containing your final tax amount may differ from numbers in this calculator.
The City of Port Colborne, as permitted by the Municipal Act, 2001, may sell a property to recover for unpaid property taxes once the taxes are two years in arrears.
The City will advertise all tax sale properties on this page and in the local newspaper.
Visit Ontario Tax Sales website for tax sale information.
Tax Certificates are available by request at a cost of $63.00.
If required: Municipal Drain certificates will cost $31.00.
Please note: Tax Certificates require 3-5 business days for processing.
Mailing Address for Requests
City of Port Colborne
Tax Department
66 Charlotte Street
Port Colborne, ON L3K 3C8
Payment options
The City of Port Colborne offers a number of ways to pay your Property Taxes.
The City of Port Colborne accepts Visa, MasterCard and Amex payments via Paymentus, a third party automated payment service. Credit card payments can only be made online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A convenience fee is charged on each transaction.
The convenience fee charges are as follows:
| Type of Payment | Fee | Information Required | Max/transaction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property Taxes | 2.39% | Roll Number (123-456-78910-1112) | $10,000 |
| Water/Wastewater | 2.39% | Account Number (099999.00) | $10,000 |
| Parking Tickets | $1.95 | Ticket Number (21z99999) | $250.00 |
| Accounts Receivable | 2.39% | Invoice Number (IVC000000) | $10,000 |
There are two ways to pay by Credit Card:
- To pay by phone please call Customer Service at 905-835-2900 during regular business hours.
- To pay online please visit the Paymentus online payment portal.
Payments made by Visa, MasterCard and Amex are processed the next business day. Please ensure that your payment is made one business day before the due date to avoid any late payment charges.
You can pay your property taxes in person at the cashier counter on the first floor of City Hall in Port Colborne located at 66 Charlotte Street.
We accept cash, debit, cheques, bank drafts or money orders.
Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday - 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed on all statutory holidays)
Make your cheque payable to the City of Port Colborne and mail to:
City of Port Colborne
66 Charlotte Street
Port Colborne, ON
L3K 3C8
- Include the tax payment stub to ensure payment is applied to your account
- Write your tax roll number on your cheque.
- US cheques are accepted and we apply the exchange rate the day it is received.
To avoid late fees, please ensure your payment reaches us by the installment due date.
There is a 24 hour mail drop slot located at the front of City Hall.
Make your cheque payable to the City of Port Colborne.
- Include the tax payment stub to ensure payment is applied to your account
- Write your tax roll number on your cheque.
- Post dated cheques are accepted and processed on the due date.
No cash payments please.
You can make your tax payment in person at any branch or ATM at all banks or other financial institutions.
On-line/telephone banking
Pay your taxes through on-line/telephone banking, by adding The City of Port Colborne as a payee. Your account number is your 15 digit roll number located on your property tax bill (no dashes or spaces).
Mortgage Company
Contact your mortgage lender to set up tax payments to be included with your mortgage.
For your convenience, set up pre-authorized automatic withdrawals from your bank account to pay your taxes.
The City offers two Pre-authorized payment plan options:
Monthly plan
Payments are withdrawn 12 times per year from January to December.
- The tax payment is withdrawn on the first of each month.
- The tax department will send a confirmation letter to confirm the amount of your monthly tax payment.
Installment plan - Due date
Payments are withdrawn 4 times per year on the instalment due date.
Enroll
To enroll in pre-authorized payments, please call our Customer Service team at 906-835-2900 with information from a void cheque handy.
Property Tax relief programs
There are various Tax Relief Programs available for taxpayers.
Under the Municipal Act, 2001 Section 357 & 358 this provides the authority for the City Treasurer to cancel, reduce or refund all or part of taxes levied on land in the year, when an application is made.
You can apply to the City of Port Colborne to request a reduction, cancellation or refund of your taxes under the following circumstances:
- Your property cannot be used for at least three months during the year because of repairs or renovations.
- If the use of your property has changed since the last assessment. For example: from commercial to industrial use.
- Your property has been granted exemption after the last assessment.
- Your property has been destroyed or damaged by fire.
- Your property has been demolished.
- There has been a "gross or manifest error" that was clerical in your assessment.
- You are unable to pay taxes due to sickness or extreme poverty.
- If the mobile unit on the land was removed during the year or during the previous year after the return of assessment for the previous year.
How to apply
Complete the Tax Adjustment Application Form [PDF/702KB], giving the reasons for your appeal.
Contact the Tax Department for deadlines.
Send your completed application by:
- Email the City of Port Colborne tax clerk
- Mail to the City of Port Colborne, 66 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne, ON L3K 3C8
- Fax to the City of Port Colborne at 905-834-5746
- In person at Port Colborne City Hall, 66 Charlotte Street on the first floor. We are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m (closed on all statutory holidays)
Next steps
The City will review your application for cancellation, reduction or refund of property taxes and determine your eligibility.
- The City will send your application to MPAC to obtain the related assessment information.
- Once we receive the assessment information from MPAC, the City will calculate the tax adjustment if applicable.
- A Notice of Hearing will be sent to you about your tax adjustment. Information about the date and time of the Council Meeting.
- The City will mail a Notice of Decision after the Council Meeting.
- Under section 357 of the Municipal Act, if you disagree with Council's decision, your can file an appeal with the Assessment Review Board (ARB).
- Under section 358 of the Municipal Act, Council decisions are final.
Visit the Niagara Region Property Tax Relief Programs to learn about these various programs.
- Ontario Senior Homeowner's Property Tax Grant
- Low-Income Seniors and Low-Income Disabled Persons
- Homes Built for People with Disabilities
- Registered Charities and Similar Organizations
- Heritage Properties
- Farmland Waiting for Development
Each of the programs, criteria, and application forms are available on Niagara Region's website.
Property Tax Assessments
The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is a not-for-profit corporation established by the Government of Ontario to provide consistent and accurate property assessments.
Visit MPAC to learn more or to register for AboutMyProperty.
It is important for you to know how your assessment affects your property taxes.
- MPAC Assessment x the Annual tax rate = Annual property tax.
Every four years, MPAC will mail a Property Assessment Notice to every property owner in Ontario.
MPAC's assessed value of your property is used to determine your annual property tax.
Visit MPAC to learn more about your Property Assessment Notice.
If you disagree with the assessed value or classification for your property, you can file a Request for Reconsideration.
Visit MPAC to learn more about how to file a Request for Reconsideration (RFR).
MPAC will review your assessment in detail to determine if it is accurate.
There is no fee for a Request for Consideration (RFR). The deadline for filing is March 31st of the taxation year.
The Assessment Review Board is an independent tribunal of the Province of Ontario and hears property assessment appeals to ensure that properties are assessed and classified in accordance with the provisions of the Assessment Act.
Visit the Assessment Review Board on how to file an appeal and to learn about the assessment appeal process.