Toronto residents struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic will now have a little more flexibility paying some of their bills.
This morning, Toronto Mayor John Tory announced that the city will be providing a 60-day grace period for property tax, water, and garbage fee payments for all residents and businesses.
Today, we are announcing a 60-day grace period for City of Toronto property tax, water and solid waste utility bill payments for all residents and businesses. pic.twitter.com/8ZJUlzJeiC
— John Tory (@JohnTory) March 20, 2020
The grace period applies to bills as of March 16, 2020.
Property owners who can't pay their bills will not face penalties within the grace period.
Businesses had been offered a 30-day extension and that has been extended to two months as well.
According to the city, here's how many property tax payment scenarios will be handled:
For properties on the regular 3-instalment payment plan, no further instalment payments will be required until June 1, 2020.
Here is how the new instalment structure looks for those on the regular instalment plan (2020 Final Tax bills will be sent out in May 2020):
March 1, 2020: Interim Billing instalment #1 due
April 1, 2020: No instalment due
May 1, 2020: No instalment due
June 1, 2020: Interim Billing instalment #2 due
July 1, 2020: Interim Billing instalment #3 due
August 4, 2020: Final Billing instalment #1 due
September 1, 2020: Final Billing instalment #2 due
October 1, 2020: Final Billing instalment #3 due
- For property owners on the 11-instalment pre-authorized payment plan, Interim 2020 instalment due dates will be extended by 60 days. Customers will be advised of revised instalment amounts and withdrawal dates for the Final 2020 bill.
- Late payment penalties will be waived for 60 days, starting March 16, 2020 to reflect these relief measures.
- Utility bills normally are due approximately 21 days after the billing date. The City is prepared to extend the due date for all utility bills issued to all residents and businesses by an additional 60 days, to give utility customers an additional 60 days to make payment, and still take advantage of the early payment discount.
- These measures will be implemented immediately.