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Property tax fumble has city apologizing

Last Updated: Friday, November 20, 2009 | 12:14 PM MT

CBC News

The City of Calgary has sent apology letters to hundreds of homeowners after withdrawing extra money from their bank accounts without warning.

Property owners enrolled in the city's tax instalment payment plan make automated payments every month to cover their municipal taxes.

Some must pay extra in November to make sure their bill is paid in full by the end of the year — usually new clients or those who missed a payment.

Normally the city sends an advisory letter to those that need to pay more, but the letter didn't go out this year. Without warning, the city withdrew amounts ranging up to several hundred dollars from the accounts of hundreds of taxpayers. An apology letter went out last week, said city spokesman Paul Wan.

"In the letter, we explain to them what happened, we apologize for it and we explain to them if there's any NSF or bank charges resulting from this higher than normal TIPP withdrawal, they can contact the city and we will make arrangements to adjust their account for it."

Wan said the system has been corrected to ensure that adjustment letters go out before the city makes any larger than expected withdrawals.

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Internal Links

Transit cuts, layoffs limit tax hike to 4.8%

External Links

City of Calgary: Property Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP)

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