Taxes
Taxes are sent out around the beginning of June and are due August 31th each year. You can pay them at the office by cheque, cash or debit. If you are unable to come into the office, you are able to make payments through online banking or telephone banking.
Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP)
You can also set up automatic withdrawals by filling out Tax Installment Payment Plan Application Form and including a void cheque with the application. In order to qualify for enrollment, the taxes must paid up to current date. The deadline for enrollment for the current year’s taxes is April 1st. Any application received after this date will be enrolled for the following year.
You will be enrolled in TIPP until you notify the Village by filling out the TIPP Cancellation Form. Any outstanding balance becomes due and subject to penalties.
Change of Mailing Address
The Village of Champion’s source for property ownership & mailing address information is the Certificate of Title as registered with the Province of Alberta Land Titles Office.
Mailing address changes must be made in writing with the Province of Alberta Land Titles Office using the Notice of Change of Address for Service Form. Please ensure the legal description of your property (this can be found on your tax or assessment notice) is entered on the form. Additional information on changing your address with Land Titles can be found at Land Titles Address Change.
It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that your mailing address is correct.
Ownership changes to a title, including changes as a result of marriage, divorce, death, legal name change, spelling corrections or adding/removing an owner, must be made in writing using the appropriate forms with the Province of Alberta Land Titles Office.
Sign Up For E-billing
The Village of Champion is now offering a free e-Billing option to customers. With this service customers can opt-out of receiving a paper invoice through the mail and instead elect to receive their Village correspondence via e-mail.
To get started, simply fill out the form below.
Choosing to sign up for e-Billing will not affect the way you pay your Utility invoices. Customers will continue to have the following options for payment: at your bank, through the mail, Online/Telephone banking, in-person by Cash, Cheque, Visa, MasterCard, and Interac. An after-hours drop-box is available for use at the front entrance of the Village Office.
PLEASE NOTE: If you change your email address, you will be responsible for contacting the administration with your new information. Non-receipt of your e-Bill is not justification for late payment and penalties will apply. If you do not receive your expected e-Bill or have further questions about e-Billing, please contact the administration at 403-897-3833.
The 2024 Summary Due Dates are as follows:
- All annual property tax levies due August 31, 2024
- Penalties - in the amount of 13.5% - will be applied to both Residential and Non- Residential - on any amounts outstanding will be applied on September 1st.
Taxes unpaid by the August 31, 2024 will be subject to a 13.5% penalty. If taxes are still not paid by January 15th of the following year there will be another 13.5% penalty applied to the any amounts outstanding.
Receipts for tax payments are available on request & will not be provided automatically.
Property Assessment
The Village of Champion property assessments are completed by Benchmark Assessment Consultants Inc. based out of Lethbridge, Alberta.
Introduction to Property Assessment in Alberta
The process involves determining the market value of residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural properties as of a specific valuation date, which is typically July 1st of the year preceding the taxation year. This valuation serves as the basis for calculating property taxes owed by each property owner.
Overview of the Assessment Process
The assessment process in Alberta is a systematic approach designed to ensure fair and equitable property valuations across the province, which are used as a basis for determining property taxes. This process adheres to the principles and regulations set forth in the Municipal Government Act (MGA) and involves several key stages:
- Valuation Date and Base Year: Properties are assessed based on their market value as of July 1st of the year preceding the tax year, also known as the valuation date. The physical condition and characteristics of the property as of December 31st of the same year are also considered in the valuation.
- Mass Appraisal: Alberta utilizes mass appraisal techniques, a method that allows for the assessment of a large number of properties simultaneously. This approach employs statistical models that analyze property sales and other market data to assign values to properties based on factors such as size, location, and type.
- Market Value Assessment: Most properties, including residential and commercial real estate, are assessed based on their market value, reflecting the price they would likely fetch in a sale between a willing buyer and seller. This approach ensures that property taxes are proportional to the real value of the properties.
- Regulated Property Assessment: Certain types of properties, such as farmland, machinery and equipment, and railway properties, are assessed using regulated procedures specified in Alberta's assessment regulations. These procedures often take into account factors other than market value, such as productivity value for farmland or replacement cost for machinery and equipment.
- Assessment Notices: Once assessments are completed, municipalities issue assessment notices to property owners, typically early in the year. These notices provide detailed information about the assessed value of the property and instructions on how to appeal the assessment if the property owner believes it is incorrect.
- Appeal Process: Property owners who disagree with their assessment have the right to appeal. Appeals are made to a local assessment review board, which is an independent body that reviews assessment disputes. The appeal must be filed within a specified period after the assessment notice is received, typically within 60 days.
- Preparation of the Tax Roll: After the appeal period has ended and all appeals have been resolved, the final assessed values are used to prepare the tax roll. The tax rate (mill rate) is then applied to the assessed value of each property to determine the amount of property tax owed by each property owner.
This overview encapsulates the comprehensive and methodical nature of the assessment process in Alberta, highlighting its role in ensuring an equitable distribution of the municipal tax burden according to the value of the properties within the jurisdiction.
Understanding the Appeal Process
In Alberta, the complaints and appeals process for property assessments is a structured procedure that allows property owners to contest their property’s assessed value if they believe it to be incorrect or unfair. This process is designed to ensure transparency,
fairness, and accuracy in the assessment system. Here is an overview of the key steps involved:
- Review Assessment Notice: Property owners receive an assessment notice, typically at the beginning of the year, which outlines the assessed value of their property. It's crucial for property owners to review this notice carefully to understand their property's valuation.
- Inquiry and Discussion: Before formally filing a complaint, property owners are encouraged to contact their local assessment office to discuss any concerns or questions they may have regarding their assessment. This step often resolves issues without needing to proceed with a formal complaint.
- Filing a Complaint: If a property owner still believes their assessment is incorrect after discussing it with the assessment office, they can file a formal complaint with the Local or Composite Assessment Review Board (ARB). The complaint must be submitted by the deadline specified on the assessment notice, usually within 60 days from the notice date. A filing fee may be required.
- Assessment Review Board Hearing: Once a complaint is filed, a hearing date is set where the property owner (or their representative) and the assessor present their cases to the ARB, an independent review body. Property owners should provide evidence to support their claim that the assessment is incorrect, such as recent sales data or appraisals.
- Decision: After considering the evidence presented by both parties, the ARB makes a decision. The board may confirm, reduce, increase, or annul the assessment based on the information provided during the hearing.
- Appeal the ARB Decision: If the property owner is not satisfied with the ARB's decision, they may have the option to appeal to a higher court, such as the Court of King's Bench of Alberta. This step involves more stringent legal procedures and deadlines.
The complaints and appeals process in Alberta is designed to ensure that property assessments are fair and reflective of the property’s market value. Property owners are encouraged to engage in this process if they have legitimate concerns about their assessment, ensuring that their property tax obligations are based on an accurate and fair assessment of their property’s value.
The deadline to file an assessment appeal will be displayed on your Assessment & Tax Notice.
To file an appeal: Assessment Review Board Complaint Form