Tax Bill
Property tax bills are generated at the end of May with payment due on July 31st of each year. Interest is applied to outstanding balances each month at a rate of 1.16% per month (14% per annum). Our tax year runs from April 1st- March 31st annually.
2022-23 Area Rates
Residential and Resource Property | $0.97/$100 of Assessment |
Commercial Property | $2.28/$100 of Assessment |
Sewer Maintenance rate/unit | $220 |
Universal Haul Area Rate/dwelling unit | $110.82 |
Street Lights Area Rate | $81.70 |
2022-23 Fire Tax Levy
Please note that Fire Tax Levies are determined by each local Fire Department.
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East River St. Mary's Volunteer Fire Department | $0.14/$100 of assessment |
Ecum Secum Fire Department | $50.00 |
Eureka & District Volunteer Fire Department | $0.14/$100 of assessment |
Goshen Volunteer Fire Department | $65.00 |
Liscomb Volunteer Fire Department | $40.00 |
St. Mary's Firemen's Association | $50.00 |
Sea Shore Volunteer Fire Department | $50.00 |
Sherbrooke & Area Volunteer Fire Department | $65.00 Residential, $70.00 Commercial |
District 50 (Pipeline) | $.16/$100 of assessment |
Municipal Tax Payment Options
- In person at the Municipal Office, 8296 Hwy #7, Sherbrooke. Accepted payment methods include cash, cheque, money order or debit.
- Mailing a cheque or money order (payable to the Municipality of St. Mary’s) to P.O. Box 296 Sherbrooke, NS B0J 3C0.
- At a bank listed below you may pay online, by telephone or in branch.
Reference the Municipal Assessment Account number (8 digits) when making payment.
Our payee names for the banks are:
- Royal Bank of Canada: Municipality of St Mary's - Taxes
- Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotia Bank): Mun District St Mary's Taxes
- Credit Union: St. Mary's, Municipality - Property Tax
- TD Bank: St. Mary's (Nova Scotia) Taxes
- Bank of Montreal (BMO): M ST. MARY'S - TA
- CIBC: St. Mary's (Nova Scota) Tax
- By credit card (Visa or MasterCard) through our bill payment partner, Paymentus Corporation.
You will need:
- The account number of your tax or utility bill (located on your invoice)
- The balance owed on your bill
- Your credit card
Go to the Paymentus Corporation secure web page to pay online. Payment can also be made over the phone by calling 1-855-990-9627.
You will be asked to confirm to pay a convenience fee of 2.5%.
You will be provided with a confirmation number if the transaction is successful.
Address and Name Changes
Be sure to receive your assessment notice and tax bill by keeping by keeping your mailing address up to date with the pdf Mailing Address Change Form (34 KB) . Mail the completed form to the Municipal Office at P.O. Box 296 Sherbrooke, NS B0J 3C0 or by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Name changes (marriage, divorce, death, etc.) to accounts must be made in writing and supporting documentation must accompany the request. The information may be dropped off at the Municipal Office (8296 Hwy #7, Sherbrooke) or mailed to P.O. Box 296 Sherbrooke, NS B0J 3C0.
If a property has been migrated you must notify Land Registration Office by calling 902-563-2280 and submitting the following forms:
- pdf Property Interest Holders Change of Name (149 KB)
- pdf Property Interest Holders Change of Address (137 KB)
Property Valuation and Assessment Information
Your Property Assessment Notice was mailed in January from Property Value Services Corporation (PVSC).
You may appeal your assessment if you feel that your assessment is not a reasonable estimate of market value two years prior to the date of your notice. Each property owner has 21 days from the date on the notice to appeal the assessed value; the detachable appeal form may be found on the front of your notice. Please contact PVSC if you have any questions about your assessment or if you're considering filing an appeal.
For any additional information on property assessment, you can contact the PVSC Service Centre in Truro toll-free at 1-800-380-7775 or by visiting Property Value Services Corporation.
Capped Assessment Program (CAP)
In Nova Scotia, there is provincial legislation that places a 'cap' on the amount that residential property assessments can increase each year. Usually, the amount 'capped' is based on the percentage change in the Nova Scotia Consumer Price Index. If you are eligible for the CAP it will be reflected on your property notice. If you purchase a home and the property does not stay within your family (transferred to a spouse, child, grandchild, great-grandchild, parent, grandparent, brother or sister) your property assessment will not be capped.
The eligibility criteria for CAP are as follows:
- At least 50% owned by a Nova Scotia resident
- Residential property with less than four dwelling units or vacant resource
- Annual increase in market value greater than the Nova Scotia Consumer Price Index
- Ownership remained within the family
- Owner occupied condominium
- Manufactured home
- Manufactured home park, co-operative housing, residential or resource portions of commercial farm
Non-Eligible Properties include:
- Majority owned by an out of province resident
- Commercial property
- New construction
- Transfer in ownership during the year unless to a close family member
- Non-owner occupied condominium