Taxation

Taxes are based on a property’s assessed value and the annual municipal tax rate set by City Council. Property taxes are calculated using a simple formula such as in this example:
i.    Property is assessed at $300,000
ii.    Tax rate is 1% (0.01)
iii.    $300,000 x 0.01 : $3,000* in property taxes
*Other charges like provincial education taxes or special levies may also be included in the final tax bill.

Here’s a simple breakdown of where your property tax goes:

• 80 per cent – City of Wetaskiwin services (e.g., roads, parks, and emergency services)
• 19 per cent – Provincial education system
• 1 per cent – Wetaskiwin & Area Lodge Authority

Property tax amounts fluctuate due to changes in property assessments, municipal budget needs, and provincial requisitions (e.g., for education taxes). Even if the tax rate were to stay the same, if assessed value change, the property tax bill then changes too.

The amount of education tax that each municipality must collect from property taxes is determined by the Government of Alberta. This amount is pooled and then distributed to all Alberta school boards on an equal per-student basis. Education property taxes are not subject to control or evaluation by the City of Wetaskiwin and support both the public and separate school systems. All residential and non-residential property owners pay education property taxes.

In 2025, the provincial education tax has also increased:

• 10 per cent increase for residential properties.
• 8 per cent increase for non-residential properties.

For residential homeowners, that works out to about $22 per month for every $100,000 of home value.

A local improvement charge may appear as an additional levy on your property tax notice. A local improvement is a project that City Council approves as more of a benefit to one area of the municipality than to the City as a whole.

Some examples of local improvements are concrete curb and gutter installation or lane and street paving. Charges are generally based on frontages, area, or a combination of the two. Local improvements are a charge against the property — not the owner — and are registered on the tax roll. If the land or home is subsequently sold to another buyer, the local improvement charge remains on the property. Local improvements can be paid out at any time during the amortization period, but there may be an applicable penalty.

For more information, please contact Financial Services at 780.361.4400.

The City of Wetaskiwin accepts payments through the following methods:

• In-person: Wetaskiwin City Hall (4705 50 Avenue) is open to the public Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can pay your property taxes in-person during regular business hours. Cash, debit, cheque, or money order are accepted forms of payment at city hall. Cheques and money orders can also be delivered to the night drop-box on the north side of city hall. Please do not leave cash in the night drop-box.
• Online: Pay taxes using your bank's online services or apps.
• PaySimply: Use PaySimply.ca — a secure, third-party Canadian payment provider — to pay your taxes via major credit card, Interac e-Transfer, in-person at a Canada Post office using cash or debit, and PayPal. 

The City of Wetaskiwin does offer the Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP) — a monthly payment plan to pay your property taxes throughout the year. This allows property owners to pay their property taxes directly to the City in monthly installments from January to December, and avoid paying one large lump sum and incurring late payment penalties if there is still a balance remaining after the payment deadline. Payments are automatically withdrawn from your bank account on either the first (1st) or the fifteenth (15th) of each month.

If you are on the pre-authorized payment plan, you will receive a tax notice in May for your information, however, you do not need to pay the total tax bill. There is an area named "New Monthly Payment Amount" on the tax notice, which will contain the payment amount that will take effect for your July Pre-Authorized tax payment.

If you wish to sign up for or require further information about this plan, please contact Finance Services at City Hall by calling 780.361.4400 or you can download the TIPP application form, fill it in, and return it to taxation@wetaskiwin.ca.