Property tax relief deadline is approaching

The city is reminding individuals and organizations eligible to get a break on their property taxes to apply before the deadline, which are scattered throughout the year, depending on which rebate or credit for which they're eligible.

For example, the deadline for the registered charities rebate for the 2013 tax year is Feb. 28. Registered charities, legions, licensed day care nurseries and others are eligible for property tax rebates, provided applicants meet the following requirements:

-registered charities occupying space on commercial properties are eligible for a 40 per cent property tax rebate, provided the charity has a registration number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency;

-the Royal Canadian Legion and the Polish Combatant's Association within Greater Sudbury are eligible for a 100 per cent rebate;

-licensed day nurseries operating as a registered charity under the Income Tax Act are eligible for a 100 per cent rebate, provided the nursery occupies all or part of a property assessed as residential.

The deadline to receive the commercial vacancy rebate is also Feb. 28. To qualify for a rebate of 30 per cent for commercial properties or 35 per cent for industrial properties, property owners must:

-provide proof that all or part of a building has been vacant for 90 consecutive days;

-maintain the vacant unit so that it could be eligible for the rental market; and,

-clearly demarcate the vacant unit apart from other areas of the building.

Properties not eligible for a property tax rebate include seasonal businesses and vacant land, areas of buildings used for storage and vacant areas of a building not available for rent.

Property owners seeking a refund or rebate must apply by Feb. 28, as well. To qualify, owners must provide show they qualify by proving:

-property no longer falls under the applied tax rate;

-property has become tax exempt;

-building has been destroyed by fire or demolition;

-mobile unit has been removed from the property; or

-gross or manifest clerical error has occurred.

Seniors seeking the a property tax credit have until Dec. 31 this year to apply for the 2014 tax year. To qualify, you must:

-receive the Government of Canada's Guaranteed Income Supplement;

-be a resident of Greater Sudbury;

-be at least 65 years of age as of Dec. 31, 2014;

-be assessed as the owner of a residential property for the entire current year; and

-occupy the property on which municipal taxes have been levied.

For complete details and application forms, contact Greater Sudbury by calling 311 or visit the tax department in person at Tom Davies Square, 200 Brady St., Sudbury.