The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, like other Alberta Municipalities, holds an annual property tax sale to recover unpaid property taxes.
What is a property tax sale?
- A property tax sale is a public auction of properties that have a Tax Notification (lien) registered as a result of unpaid taxes for more than one year, in accordance with the Municipal Government Act, Chapter M-26 RSA 2000, Part 10, Division 8.
- The properties offered for sale have a reserve bid representing fair market value. The assessed value for the year preceding the auction is used for the reserve bids on each property.
- Prior to the property tax sale date, the Municipality follows an extensive notification process. Properties are only placed up for public auction if the Municipality has a lien on the property and the taxes are not paid in full.
How to remove your property from the tax sale auction
- If your property is included on the Public Auction Listing, you must pay the balance in full on your property tax account or have a formal a payment arrangement in place and in good standing, before the auction date to be removed from the sale.
- Liens will only be discharged once the account has been paid in full.
- Please contact Pulse to connect with taxation to discuss your payment options.
How to purchase a property at the tax sale auction
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All properties listed for public auction are privately owned. Please respect the owner and/or occupant’s privacy.
Timelines of the tax sale
- March (two years prior to tax sale) – Tax notification (lien) is registered on the property at the Alberta Land Titles Office.
- October/November (year prior to tax sale) – Reserve bids, based on appraisal values, are set by Council.
- October/November – Letters are sent to registered owners advising their property is on the auction listing.
- January (tax sale year) – Letters are sent to registered owners and interested parties on title advising the property is on the auction listing.
- February – The properties available for property tax sale via public auction are advertised in the Alberta Gazette (Part 1) and registered letters are sent to owners and interested parties with a copy of the notice shown in the Alberta Gazette.
- March – The properties available for property tax sale via public auction are advertised in Fort McMurray Today and registered letters are sent to owners and interested parties with a copy of the notice shown in Fort McMurray Today.
- March – Property tax sale public auction.