Frequently Asked Questions (PAT)

The PAT payment plan is a convenient way to pay your property taxes in monthly installments by automatic bank withdrawal without incurring late payment penalties.

Monthly payments are automatically withdrawn from your bank account from January to December on either the 15th or the last day of every month, whichever best fits your budget or payday cycle.

The PAT payment plan follows the regular tax year, which runs from January to December. Your first five monthly payments (January to May) will be estimated based on your previous year's taxes.  Once the current year taxes are levied, your payments will be recalculated and will be spread over the last seven payments of the year.

Your annual tax notice mailed at the end of May will show the PAT credit to date, the new monthly payment amount and the first effective date of the withdrawal. The revised installments ensure that your account is paid in full by the end of the year. You DO NOT need to make a manual payment before the end of June, your automatic withdrawals will continue.

The property owner must apply to enroll in the plan but may elect to have someone else pay property taxes on his/her behalf. In this case, both the owner and the payor must sign the PAT application form.

All correspondence regarding the tax account will be mailed to the property owner. If the property owner has elected another party to pay on his/her behalf, it is their responsibility to forward any payment change notifications to the payor.

You can join the PAT payment plan at any time during the year, provided any prior year’s tax arrears balance has been paid in full (this includes any charges or penalties including outstanding utilities transferred to taxes). Please ensure that your mortgage company is not paying your property taxes on your behalf.

If you enroll in the PAT payment plan for the current year after January, you will need to make an initial payment of the ‘missed instalments’. For example, if you decide to start monthly withdrawals in May, you need to make up the payments for January, February, March and April.

Yes. However, because PAT applications are unique to each property, you will need to request and fill out a separate PAT application form for each property. Once enrolled in the PAT plan, your payments will be processed as one transaction if they are all withdrawn from the same bank account.

Condo Owners – Separate application form(s) are required for your condo unit as well as any titled parking stall(s) or storage unit(s).

No, as PAT applications are unique to each property you will have to request and fill out a new PAT application.
 

Yes. Please fill out a PAT application form

If you are already enrolled in the PAT plan and receive a Supplementary Tax Notice, your account has automatically been recalculated. Please check your notice for the new monthly payment amount and the first effective date of the withdrawal from your bank account.

You are responsible to submit written notification of any banking information changes to the City at least ten (10) business days prior to your next withdrawal date and supply a new void cheque or direct deposit application from your bank.

Any payments that are dishonored by your/the payor's financial institution due to non-sufficient funds, account closed, etc. shall incur a $40.00 fee which will be added to the tax roll account and will be due and payable by you/the payor. If a returned payment is not replaced, the total outstanding balance remaining in your tax account as of December 31st will be subject to penalty on January 1st.

If this occurs two (2) times within the current year and you/the payor omits to remit a dishonored payment (plus the NSF Fee), the City of St. Albert will be entitled to remove the taxpayer from the installment plan without notice. 

A 'Stop Payment' for any scheduled withdrawals will result in automatic termination of the plan. Unpaid taxes as of the date of termination will be immediately due and payable and will be subject to penalties as outlined in Tax Penalty Bylaw No. 38-2019.

You are responsible to notify the City in writing at least ten (10) business days prior to your next withdrawal date to cancel your participation in the PAT plan. Please submit a Pre-Authorized Tax (PAT) Cancellation Form. Once PAT is cancelled, all unpaid taxes become due and payable and are subject to penalties as per the Tax Penalty Bylaw 38-2019.

If you have sold a property, it is recommended that you inform your lawyer that you are participating in the pre-authorized tax payment plan so the correct adjustments are made on your ‘Statement of Adjustments’ and to determine what month you should be cancelling your PAT plan.

A change of ownership in the property does not automatically cancel participation in the plan.