Property Assessment and Taxation

The roles of the Assessment Services Branch are carried out by four work units.

Click here for a list of contacts in each unit.

Assessment Audit Unit

Reviews the assessment procedures of municipalities to see that they are consistent with assessment legislation.  As well, the unit reviews the property assessment reports of municipalities each year to determine that the regulated standards have been met for assessment quality.  Part of this annual review is performed automatically by the Assessment Shared Services Environment (ASSET) system, the Internet-based computer program that municipalities use to submit their assessment information to the branch.

Tax Program Delivery

Provides advice and assistance to property taxpayers, municipalities and other stakeholders.  The unit provides information on assessment legislation and practices, and helps to increase understanding of the assessment and property tax process in Alberta.  This unit also calculates the equalized assessments that determine each municipality’s share of the education property tax and various other cost-shared programs.  Every spring, after the provincial budget is announced, each municipality is advised of the amount of education tax that it needs to collect from property taxpayers.  The education property tax helps to fund Alberta’s basic learning system.

Education Requisitions 2016 Tax Year

• 2016 Education Property Tax Q&A
• Education Property Tax Requisition
• Alberta Fact Sheet
• Calgary Fact Sheet
• Edmonton Fact Sheet

Linear Property Assessment Unit

Carries out the linear property assessment function on behalf of municipalities.  This work includes the preparation of assessments for linear properties, sending the assessment notices to companies, providing copies to the municipality, preparing a provincial linear property assessment roll (available for viewing at the branch office in Edmonton), and responding to linear assessment complaints and appeals.  A portion of the cost of these operations is recovered from municipalities.  The unit also informs municipalities of new energy wells within their boundaries so they can administer the Well Drilling Equipment Tax where appropriate.

Linear Property Assessment Fees

Linear property assessment fees are collected from municipalities to recover the costs the ministry incurs associated with preparing and defending linear property assessments.  Similar to last year, to assist your municipality in budget planning, please open the spreadsheet below to view your municipality’s 2015 linear property assessment fee.  This fee is determined by a common rate that is charged to each municipality per dollar of linear assessment.  The rate has decreased for 2015 by about 18 per cent, and this reduced rate has been used to calculate your municipality’s fee.  If you have any questions, please contact the Assessment Services Branch toll-free at 310-0000, then 780-427-3170, or at lgsmail@gov.ab.ca. This is not a bill, the actual bill will be mailed out to each municipality by Mid to Late November 2015. 

• 2015 Linear Fees Ministerial Order #015-15
• 2015 Linear Fees Billing By Municipality
• 2014 Linear Fees Ministerial Order #147-14
• 2014 Linear Fees Billing By Municipality
• 2013 Linear Fees Billing By Municipality
• 2012 Linear Fees Billing By Municipality

Linear Property Assessment Annual Report

• 2016 Annual Report

Request for Information

• 2015 Assessment Year

2016 Tax Year (2015 Assessment Year)

• Annual Linear Property Assessment Information
• Stakeholder Meetings with Owners/Operators of Linear Property
• Stakeholder Meetings with Municipalities
• Linear Complaint Information

Letter of Authorization

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Request for Annual Letter of Authorization (Linear Property Owner/Operator)
• Template (Linear Property Owner/Operator)
• Request for Letter of Authorization (First Nations and Métis Settlements)
• Template (First Nations and Métis Settlements)

epost Connect™ Delivery Option

• Interested in receiving your linear property assessment information electronically?
• epost Connect™ Participation Agreement Instructions and Forms
• epost Connect™ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Assessment & Property Tax Policy Unit

Responsible for initiatives related to the assessment policies and procedures for property that is assessed on the basis of regulated rates and processes. These properties include “linear” properties (such as oil wells and pipelines), industrial machinery and equipment, railways and farm land. The unit monitors the legislation related to the assessment of these properties, and consults with representatives of municipalities, industry and the assessment profession in updating policies, procedures and rates.  The unit also updates manuals used in assessing some residential and commercial properties.