Filing a Complaint
For complaints concerning 2009 matters, please contact the Assessment Review Board at 780-496-5026.
- What should I do before filing a complaint?
- Should I still pay my taxes?
- How do I file a complaint?
- Where can I get a complaint form?
- What is my filing fee?
- What is the deadline for filing an appeal?
- What happens if my complaint is received after the deadline or with an insufficient fee?
- What happens after I file a complaint?
- How do I prepare for a hearing?
- 1. What should I do before filing a complaint?
Contact an assessor to get more information on how your assessment was determined, or to compare your assessment with similar properties. The assessor may issue an amended notice. If there is still disagreement with the assessed value or classification after your meeting, you may file a complaint with the Assessment Review Board. Complaints, along with the required fee, must be filed on or before the date specified on your assessment notice.
The Assessment Department can be contacted at 780-496-6388.
- 2. Should I still pay my taxes?
You must pay your taxes before the deadline to avoid being charged late payment penalties, even if you file a complaint. If the Assessment Review Board alters your assessment, the City will adjust your tax account. You may request a refund of the tax adjustment by writing to the Assessment and Taxation Branch.
- 3. How do I file a complaint?
Complaints must be filed in writing using the prescribed form in schedule 1 of Matters Relating to Assessment Complaints Regulation (MRACR) and must be accompanied with the required fee as set by City Council under section 481(1) of the Municipal Government Act.
The reasons for filing a complaint must accompany the complaint form. The complainant must:
- indicate what information shown on the assessment notice or tax notice is incorrect,
- explain in what respect that information is incorrect,
- indicate what the correct information is, and
- identify the requested assessed value, if the complaint relates to an assessment.
Copies (2 for residential, 3 for non-residential) of your completed complaint form, agent authorization form, attachments (if any) and the required fee (as stated on your assessment notice) must be received no later that 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date (as indicated on your assessment notice) at the following address:
Clerk of the Assessment Review Board
Assessment Review Board
Main Floor, City Hall
1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton AB T5J 2R7- 4. Where can I get a complaint form?
Complaint forms are available at the Assessment Review Board, Main Floor, City Hall. They are also available on this website under Forms.
- 5. What is my filing fee?
Your filing fee is indicated on your assessment notice. For more information on filing fees refer to Complaint Fee Information.
- 6. What is the deadline for filing an appeal?
You must file your complaint and the required fee no later than 4:30pm on the complaint deadline specified on the assessment notice you are filing a complaint against.
- 7. What happens if my complaint is received after the deadline or with an insufficient fee?
A preliminary hearing will be scheduled to allow the Assessment Review Board to determine if the complaint was:
- received by the clerk of the Assessment Review Board after the deadline specified on your assessment notice,
- received with no fee or an insufficient fee,
- incompletely or incorrectly filled out.
The Assessment Review Board has no jurisdiction to extend a complaint deadline for any reason.
- 8. What happens after I file a complaint?
If you have filed your complaint form and the required fee on time, and in compliance with all applicable requirements of the Municipal Government Act and MRACR, a hearing will be scheduled for your complaint. You and the assessor will receive notice of the hearing date.
- 9. How do I prepare for a hearing?
Preparation for a hearing should begin as soon as you consider filing a complaint. Some ways of preparing for a hearing include:
- Do research to find out if the assessed value is comparable to similar properties in similar areas. Your assessment should reflect what your house may have sold for on an open market July 1 last year.
- Review the rules that apply to your complaint. They are set out in the Municipal Government Act and Matters Relating to Assessment Complaints Regulation.
- Prepare your submissions:
- Disclosure of evidence must take place between the complainant, the respondent and the Assessment Review Board. The documentary evidence is a summary of the testimonial evidence and any written argument that the complainant or the respondent intends to present at the hearing. It is submitted prior to the hearing and in accordance with the Municipal Government Act and the Matters Relating to Assessment Complaints Regulation. (see disclosure of documents).
- Evidence is presented to the Board and the other parties at the time of the hearing. Your evidence may include documentary evidence supporting your claim (such as purchase agreements, comparables, lease agreements, appraisals, photos) as well as a written argument.You should have six copies of your documents available (one for you, one for Board administration, one for each of the three Board members, and one for the respondent).
Please note that you (the complainant) must present sufficient evidence to convince the Assessment Review Board that an assessment is incorrect or unfair and inequitable with assessments of similar properties.
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