FAQs About My Assessment

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What is a Property Assessment Notice?

Yes

This notice advises you of:

Your new current assessed value
Your tax classification and tax liability for Provincial Education, Green Acres, and Municipal taxes
Your legal description (Plan;Block:Lot)
Your declared school support
Your complaint deadline

Need help understand your notice? Click here

What was the average single family dwelling assessment change in my neighbourhood?

Yes

For the 2019 tax year overall property assessments for single family dwellings increased about .37% on average, as of July 1, 2018 compared to the previous year's assessments.

To view the average assessment change for single family dwellings in your neighbourhood from July 1, 2017 to July 1, 2018, click here.

What is a Supplementary Assessment Notice?

Yes

A supplementary property assessment is done when a new building, renovation or an addition to an existing building is completed in the current calendar year. The supplementary tax bill will reflect the number of months the building was completed or occupied during the year.

Provincial legislation requires that your City apply the same tax rates to supplementary assessments that were applied for annual property tax purposes. This includes both the Municipal tax rate and the Provincial Education tax rate.

Your assessment is an estimate of the price your property may have sold for on the open market by a willing seller to a willing buyer, as of July 1, of the previous year.

"Market Value is the amount that a property...might be expected to realize if sold on the open market by a willing seller to a willing buyer."
Municipal Government Act Section 1(n), Province of Alberta.

Why is my property assessment different every year?

Yes

Municipalities are required to reassess all properties annually. Your current assessment is based on the market value as of July 1 of the previous year.

How do I know my assessment is fair?

Yes

Assessed values are reviewed at three points in the valuation process:

By the City's internal checks and balances
By the Alberta Government's annual assessed audit process
By individual property owners' review of their notice

You may wish to use the Property Information WebMAP http://gis.lethbridge.ca/propertyinfo/ to compare your assessment to your neighbours and other similar properties that have recently sold. You can also contact your Assessment Department with any questions or for more details on your assessment. We would be happy to assist you and answer any inquiries.

Where can I find all the assessed values for the City?

Yes

All property assessments can be searched on the Property Information WebMAP.

All assessed values included on the assessment roll are available at the Assessment and Taxation Office and include:

The property roll number
The type of property
The property address
The property legal description
The tax classification and liability
The assessed value

If you'd like detailed information on other properties, general property searches can be provided to you for $25, assessment summary reports for $30 for single family houses and $50 on all other property types.

What can I do if I believe my assessment and property details are incorrect?

Yes

At your City's Assessment Department, we welcome any inquiries regarding your assessed value. If there are errors in the physical characteristics recorded, the appraiser will amend the assessment accordingly. Below outlines the actions you can take to help ensure your assessed value is correct:

Discuss concerns with a City appraiser	Satisfied?	No further action is required
Not Satisfied?
File a complaint through the Assessment Review Board	Satisfied?	No further action is required
Not Satisfied?
Seek "Leave To Appeal" from Court of Queen's Bench

How does the Assessment Department collect the information on properties in the City?

Yes

To meet Provincial Government audit guidelines, and to assist in calculating fair assessments for all property, the assessment office must update recorded property characteristics at least once every five years. Assessors have various ways to collect information, they include:

Completing physical inspections of homes
Requesting property owners to complete self-reporting requests for information (RFI)
Review of sale and listing information
Review of permits
Use of the City aerial photography
Complete outside inspections

For more information

Phone: 311 or 403-320-3111 (if outside of Lethbridge)
Email: tax@lethbridge.ca or assessment@lethbridge.ca
Address: City Hall, 1st Floor, 910 4 Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 0P6

Didn't find what you were looking for? Go back to the My Property Assessment Page