Seniors' Property Tax Deferral program available in 2013

• New Seniors' Property Tax Deferral Act passes into law 

In time for the 2013 property tax season, seniors who own their homes will have the option to defer all or part of their property taxes, through a new provincial program.

More than 170,000 senior households are potentially eligible to take advantage of the new Seniors’ Property Tax Deferral program that will allow them to use their home equity to stay in their homes longer.
“Support for this program has been astounding,” said George VanderBurg, Minister of Seniors. “It reinforces, for me, just how important a Seniors’ Property Tax Deferral program is for senior homeowners in communities around the province. With this new law, seniors have the choice to redirect equity they already have toward current priorities.”


The Seniors’ Property Tax Deferral program will be a voluntary program, giving seniors the option of deferring all or part of their property taxes as long as they own and live in their own home. The deferred taxes will be paid back to the government, with interest, when the senior sells their home.

“This new program is an innovative way for our government to do more for our seniors,” said Mary Anne Jablonski, MLA for Red Deer-North and sponsor of the bill. “By giving seniors the option to defer their property taxes, it provides opportunity and flexibility, so our seniors can continue to be independent, wherever they live in the province.”

More details about the program, including eligibility and interest rates, will come forward as the regulations are developed later this year.

To view details of the bill online, visit the legislative assembly website at www.assembly.ab.ca