Brantford Property Tax: Rates, Due Dates, and Relief Programs

Brantford property tax is billed twice a year across four installments, and for 2026 those installments fall on February 27, April 29, June 30, and September 15. The amount you owe is your MPAC-assessed value multiplied by the combined municipal rate (set each year by city council) and the provincial education rate, which is 0.153% on residential property for 2026.¹ Miss a due date and a 1.25% penalty is added immediately, with another 1.25% tacked on the first of every month until you clear the balance.

2026 Due Dates

The city sends two bills a year, each with two installments.²

The interim bill goes out in February and covers the first half of the year. Under Ontario’s Municipal Act, it can’t exceed 50% of what you paid the previous year, so it’s essentially half of last year’s total. The 2026 interim installments are due Friday, February 27 and Wednesday, April 29.³

The final bill is mailed in June, after council approves the annual budget and sets the year’s municipal rate. It shows the actual total for the year, minus what you paid on the interim bill. The 2026 final installments are due Tuesday, June 30 and Tuesday, September 15.²

Not receiving a bill doesn’t excuse a late payment. If you’re on a monthly pre-authorized plan or your mortgage company remits your taxes, you won’t get an interim bill at all. If a bill you were expecting never arrives, call the Property Tax Office at 519-759-4150.

How the Bill Is Calculated

Every property in Ontario is assessed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), an independent provincial agency that estimates what your property would have sold for on a specific valuation date. That assessed value is the starting point for your tax.

Two rates are applied to it. The municipal rate is set annually by Brantford city council through the budget process and funds local services such as police, transit, parks, and infrastructure. The education rate is set by the province and funds Ontario’s school system; for 2026 it is 0.153% on residential property.¹ The city collects both portions on one bill. Multiply your assessed value by the combined rate and you have your annual tax.

How to Pay

You’ll need your 19-digit roll number, printed on your tax bill in the format XXXX-XXX-XXX-XXXXX-XXXX.⁴ For online payments, enter it without spaces or dashes. Brantford accepts payment several ways.

Pre-authorized payment plans. Three options are available. The installment plan withdraws four payments a year matching each due date. The 12-month plan spreads payments evenly on either the 1st or 15th of every month and requires your account to be current. The self-directed plan lets you set a custom monthly amount, processed on the last banking day of each month, and is available even if you have an overdue balance.⁵
Financial institution. Pay through online banking, telephone banking, an ATM, or in person at your bank or credit union. Search for the City of Brantford as a payee and use your roll number as the account identifier.
In person at Brantford City Hall, 58 Dalhousie Street, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding statutory holidays.
Drop box at the Queen Street entrance of City Hall, at the top of the accessibility ramp. Post-dated cheques with payment stubs for both installments are accepted. Do not deposit cash.³
Through your mortgage company. If your lender pays your taxes, forward any bill you receive to their office promptly.

What Happens if You Pay Late

The city adds a 1.25% penalty on the day you default, then another 1.25% on the first of every month after that until the balance is paid. Council and staff have no authority to waive or reduce these charges.²

If taxes remain unpaid for two years, the property becomes eligible for a tax sale. The city can register a tax arrears certificate under the Municipal Act and eventually sell the property by public tender to recover what’s owed. You also become responsible for the city’s legal fees and the costs of every notice sent during the process.⁶

Challenging Your Assessment

If MPAC’s assessed value looks too high, you have two ways to push back. The first costs nothing.

File a Request for Reconsideration directly with MPAC through their AboutMyProperty portal, using the roll number and access key on your Property Assessment Notice. The deadline for the 2026 tax year is March 31, 2026. MPAC will review the file and may adjust the assessment if their data was wrong or comparable properties support a lower value. This step is required before you can escalate.

If MPAC’s answer doesn’t resolve things, you can appeal to the Assessment Review Board, an independent tribunal. The filing fee is $132.50 per roll number, with a $10 discount for e-filing.⁷ At the hearing you can present recent comparable sales, an independent appraisal, or documentation of defects MPAC may have missed. A successful appeal lowers your assessed value, which reduces your bill going forward.

Relief and Deferral Programs

Brantford offers targeted relief for certain residents. None of it is automatic; you have to apply with supporting documentation.

Low-Income Seniors

If you’re 65 or older and receive Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) benefits, you may qualify to defer a portion of your annual tax increases. GAINS goes to Ontario seniors already receiving federal Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement, with a private income ceiling of $4,320 for a single senior or $8,640 for a couple.⁸ The program postpones a portion of the increase; it does not eliminate the tax.⁹

Low-Income Persons With Disabilities

Property owners (or their spouses) receiving Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits can apply for the same deferral. You’ll need proof of ODSP eligibility and property ownership documentation.⁹

Registered Charities

Registered charities occupying commercial or industrial property can apply for a rebate of 40% of the taxes paid on the space they occupy. Residential-class properties don’t qualify. Applications must reach City Hall by the last day of February following the taxation year, so taxes paid in 2025 need an application by the end of February 2026. You’ll need your federal charitable registration number and documentation of occupancy.¹⁰

1
Ontario.ca. O. Reg. 400/98 – Tax Matters – Rates for School Purposes
2
City of Brantford. Taxes
3
City of Brantford. Taxes Due on Friday, February 27, 2026
4
City of Brantford. Request for Copy of Tax Bill or Tax Account Statement
5
City of Brantford. Preauthorized Payments
6
City of Brantford. Sale of Land for Tax Arrears by Public Tender
7
Tribunals Ontario. ARB Fee Chart
8
Ontario.ca. Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System Payments for Seniors
9
City of Brantford. Application for Deferral of Taxes
10
City of Brantford. Property Tax Rebate Application for Registered Charities in Commercial or Industrial Class Properties