Once a year, the City of Calgary holds a public auction of properties in the city which are more than one year in arrears of tax payments, to recover the unpaid property tax, as directed by the province and in compliance of the Municipal Government Act.
According to the city, “When a property has tax arrears for more than one year, a tax recovery notification or lien is registered on the property. If the tax arrears are not paid in full, a public auction will be held to recover uncollected property taxes.”
“Upon payment of the full tax arrears, the city will discharge a tax recovery notification or lien, and the property will not be auctioned.”
On Thursday, the city’s Infrastructure and Planning Committee approved this year’s sale to be held April 24, pending final approval by city council.
Prior to the auction, homes on the for-sale list can be removed if all of the outstanding property tax arrears are paid to the city in guaranteed funds before March 31, 2025.
City administration said it follows an extensive notification process as set out in the Municipal Government Act.
Notices are online and are sent to the registered owner of each property as well as to all parties with a registered interest in the property.
Every property listed on the website with municipal property tax arrears remaining unpaid as of the date of the auction will be offered for sale at the public auction.
Successful bidders must pay one-third of the purchase price, plus any applicable GST, with cash or cheque, at the date of public auction, or a minimum payment of $500, whichever is greater, with the balance payable no later than 60 days after the date of the auction.
“A property is considered sold when the auctioneer declares the property to be sold,” says a release from the city. “If no bids on a property are received, the auctioneer will declare bids to be closed for that property.”
“Once bids have been declared closed on a property, no further bidding will be accepted in relation to that property.”
Complete information including terms and conditions of sale are available on the City of Calgary website.
