Please Check Your Mailbox or Email for Your Property Tax Notice

Assessments and Property Tax Notices are in the Mail

The Town of Ponoka 2025 combined assessment and property tax notices have been mailed or emailed to all property owners in Ponoka this week. Please check your mailbox or email inbox. 

Citizens have until Thursday, July 31, 2025 to pay property taxes without penalty. The 2025 Tax Rate Bylaw, which was passed by Town Council this week, sets municipal property taxes based on the revenue required to fund Town services approved in the 2025 Town of Ponoka Budget.

The property tax penalty dates and fees that are outlined in the Property Tax Penalty Bylaw for property taxes not paid by July 31 annually are:

• August 1: Three per cent of the current year’s unpaid taxes
• October 1: Seven per cent of the current year’s unpaid taxes
• January 1: 10 per cent of the total outstanding balance for unpaid taxes

If you have not received a copy of your property tax notice by Friday, June 6, please contact the Tax Clerk at 403-783-0127 or by email at taxes@ponoka.ca and you will be provided with a copy of your assessment and property tax notice. 

How to Pay Your Property Taxes

• Monthly Property Tax Payment Plan – Also known as the Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP), property taxes can be paid in monthly payments that are withdrawn on the first or 16^th day of the month. For more information or to sign up, please contact the Tax Clerk at 403-783-0127, taxes@ponoka.ca or click here.
  
  
• Online Banking – To pay using online banking, sign into your online bank account and search for ‘Town of Ponoka Taxes’ as a bill ‘payee.’ The ‘account number’ will be your roll number, which can be found at the top of your tax notice. If your account number is not accepted, you may have to add one or more zeroes to the beginning of your roll number to satisfy your bank’s requirements. Online banking payments can take up to five business days to process. You are responsible for submitting the payment early enough for it to be processed by July 31.
  
  
• At Your Bank – You can bring your tax notice with you and make your payment in person directly through your bank.
  
  
• Credit Card Using Option Pay – Option Pay is a third-party service provider that facilitates online credit card payments (for a processing fee). To use Option Pay for your property taxes, please click here.
  
  
• Drop Box at the Town Office – There is a drop box in the west entrance at the Town Office (5604 50 Street) available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. where residents can drop off their property tax payment using a cheque or bank draft. The drop box is unavailable on statutory holidays when the Town Office is closed.
  
  
• Mail – With the possibility of a postal strike in the coming weeks, you are encouraged not to mail your property tax payment. Please choose a different payment option instead. If you choose to mail your property tax payment using a cheque or bank draft, ensure the envelope is postmarked by the due date to avoid penalties. The Town’s mailing address is: Town of Ponoka, 200, 5604 50 Street, Ponoka, AB, T4J 1G5.

Education Tax and Property Assessment Value Increases

Due to the Alberta Government’s unexpected 2025 education tax rate increase of 10.8 per cent for Town of Ponoka residents, Council lowered the municipal property tax increase to 1.25 per cent – down from the proposed 3.25 per cent increase that was initially approved by Council last fall in the Interim Budget. This was done to offset to impact of the education tax increase.

Although Ponoka’s municipal tax increase has been reduced to 1.25 per cent, property owners in town may see a larger increase in their overall tax bill. This is due to two main factors:

• The 10.8 per cent increase to the provincial education tax. The Town has no influence over this portion of the tax bill and is legislatively required to collect and remit the education tax to the Province. In addition to collecting municipal property taxes and the education tax, the Town is also required to collect a Seniors Housing Tax on behalf of Rimoka Housing Foundation through the annual property tax notice mailed to property owners each year.
  
  
• An increase in property assessment values across Alberta, including the Town of Ponoka where residential assessment increased by $54.7 million and non-residential assessment increased by $10.6 million over the 2024 assessment. Assessment values reflect the market value of individual properties as of December 31, 2024.

The 1.25 per cent increase in the municipal portion of property taxes equates to an annual increase of $10.95 per $100,000 of assessed property value for residential properties and $14.29 per $100,000 of assessed value for commercial properties. This increase helps ensure continued reliable delivery of municipal services.

Municipal Budget Funds Town Services

The municipal budget funds a long list of Town services that citizens rely on, including indoor and outdoor recreation facilities that enhance the quality of life in Ponoka; fire, police and bylaw enforcement services that help keep our community safe; the maintenance and improvement of roads, sidewalks and other essential Town-owned infrastructure; 

If you have any questions about your property taxes, please call the Tax Clerk at 403-783-0127 or email taxes@ponoka.ca.