Taxes FAQ

1. Who should I contact if I have questions or concerns about changes on my tax bill?

Manitoba requires municipalities to collect all property taxes, including property taxes on behalf of school divisions and Manitoba. Having only one bill is simpler for people to pay.

However, even though you are paying this bill to your municipality, your municipality only has control over the municipal property taxes. Other changes to your tax bill are the responsibility of the school division, the Province of Manitoba, or are caused by the way property values have changed.

If you have questions or concerns about:

  • Education Support Levy (not applied on residential or farm properties): Contact the Education Funding Branch at efb@gov.mb.ca or 204-945-6910 or your elected Member of the Legislative Assembly. 

  • Provincial Property Tax Credits: In 2025, Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit replaces the School Tax Rebate and Education Property Tax Credit for residential properties. Farm properties will continue to receive the Manitoba School Tax Rebate, which is maintained at 50 per cent. There are no provincial property tax credits or rebates to be applied to commercial properties.

    • Members of the public with questions about the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit can find information on https://www.gov.mb.ca/finance/tao/hatc.html

    • For further questions about these credit programs, please contact Manitoba Government Inquiry at mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862, or your elected Member of the Legislative Assembly. 

  • Assessment Changes: Contact the Property Assessment Services district office near you if you have any questions. An assessor will be pleased to help you. General information on reassessment and local office contacts can be found at the Municipal and Northern Relations website at https://www.gov.mb.ca/mao/public/default.aspx.

  • Municipal Taxes: Contact the City of Portage la Prairie municipal office at 204-239-8308 or taxclerk@city-plap.com or one of your elected members on the municipal council.

  • Local School Division Taxes: Contact the Portage la Prairie School Division office at 204-857-8756 or one of your elected school trustees.

2. Why have my property taxes changed?

Your property taxes are set by your local municipality, your local school division, and for some types of property, the Province of Manitoba. 

These organizations each prepare their budgets and decide how much property tax money they need to provide public services during the year. Those tax amounts are then divided among property owners. Your share of property taxes is based on your share of the total taxable value of all the properties within the municipality, school division, or Province, depending on the type of tax.

Decisions about taxation by any, or all of these organizations, can change your property tax bill. 

The value of properties changes all the time based on the property market, and properties can also be built, improved or demolished. Because property taxes are divided among property owners based on their property’s share of the total taxable value of property, changes to your property value, or the value of other properties, affects your property tax bill. 

There are also provincial tax credits that can reduce your property tax bill. Changes to these credits can also affect how much your property tax bill is.

3.    How are taxes calculated for my property?
Total property taxes for the year = Municipal taxes + School taxes – Provincial credits/rebates, where,

  • Municipal taxes are calculated as:    (municipal mill rate is set based on municipal budget and total municipal assessment)

  • School taxes are calculated as:  
    (school mill rate is set based on school budget and total municipal assessment)

  • In 2025, homeowners are eligible to receive the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit (HATC) only for their principal residence (a rebate of up to $1,500) on their school taxes. This replaced the longstanding Education Property Tax Credit (EPTC) program. This is a Provincial Tax Credit. please contact Manitoba Government Inquiry at mgi@gov.mb.ca or 1-866-626-4862 for more information.

  • Manitoba School Tax Rebate is continuing for farm properties which is 50 per cent of the school taxes.

When are tax bills sent out?

Tax bills are mailed out in late May of each year.

When are taxes due?

Taxes are due on the last business day in July of each year.

What period does my tax bill cover?

City of Portage la Prairie tax bills cover the calendar year (January 1 – December 31).

When is the deadline to apply for TIPP (Tax Installment Payment Plan)?

Applications to start the plan the following year will be received up to December 15. However, you may apply to join TIPP after the January 15th instalment but prior to June 30th, with an initial payment of the missed instalments paid at the time of application. If you have any further questions about the Tax Instalment Payment Plan (TIPP), please call (204) 239-8308, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

What is the penalty for paying taxes after the deadline?

1.25% per month is the penalty for paying late.

Are there any service charges to be on TIPP?

No, there are no service charges to be on this program.

If I sell my property & pay my property taxes through TIPP, what do I need to do?

The City requires notification to cancel your TIPP payments. You can notify the City that you have sold your property or wish to stop payments by filling out a form at City Hall, fill out a cancellation online form here or email the tax clerk at taxclerk@city-plap.com.

Can I pay my property taxes online?

Yes, you can pay your property taxes online through your bank’s website. You will have to add the City of Portage la Prairie as a payee. When you search “City of Portage la Prairie”, there are usually different account types: Taxes & Utilities.

Does the City accept post-dated cheques or credit cards for payment of property taxes?

The City will accept post-dated cheques, however, receipts will not be mailed. A receipt can be re-printed upon request and picked up at City Hall. Please note that cheques must be dated appropriately to avoid penalties. Credit Cards payments are accepted online only by using Pay Simply at www.paysimply.ca. Please note, there is a 2.5% fee paid by the customer for this service. Payments may take 3-5 days to process.

I recently built a new home and have not received a property tax bill. When can I expect a bill?

New homes are typically sent a supplementary tax bill. Supplementary tax bills are mailed out the first week of August and due the last business day in November. Depending on the completion date of your home and/or if the home has been assessed, you may receive a tax bill for both the previous and current years.

How do I change my name on my property tax bill?

If you would like to change your name or mailing address on your tax bill or assessment notice, please forward the information to the City of Portage la Prairie. Please note, the actual registered name will not change until the title to the property is changed at the Portage la Prairie Land Titles Office (PLTO). Portage la Prairie Titles Office is located at: 25 Tupper St. N., Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 3K1 Phone: (204) 239-3306.

I recently purchased my home and never received a property tax bill. Am I responsible for the property taxes?

New property owners are responsible for payment of property taxes whether or not they received a notice. Any property owner who does not receive a tax statement should contact the City Tax Clerk by calling(204) 239-8308 or by emailing taxclerk@city-plap.com. Failure to receive a tax notice is not sufficient reason for late payment or non-payment; penalties will be applied.

I am paying for my property taxes through my mortgage. How do I know that my bank/mortgage company received notification of the amount owing?

If your property tax account shows a recorded interest amount from your bank/mortgage company, they received the amount owing in May.

I received a tax bill for a property I no longer own. What should I do?

If you no longer own the property, please forward the tax notice to the current property owner or advise the City of Portage la Prairie office at (204) 239-8308 or by e-mail at taxclerk@city-plap.com.

Contact Us

City Hall
97 Saskatchewan Ave E
Portage la Prairie, MB
R1N 0L8
Phone: 204-239-8309
info@city-plap.com

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