‘We’re all drowning’: Inside the chaos of Toronto’s vacant home tax rollout
Global News
Newly released internal emails are offering a glimpse of the chaos behind Toronto’s vacant home tax rollout that had staff and councillors scrambling for answers.
Newly released internal emails are offering a glimpse of the chaos behind Toronto’s vacant home tax rollout that had staff feeling like they were “drowning.”
The emails, obtained by Global News under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, show how public servants and city councillors worked not only to respond to thousands of complaints, but also to find reliable information during a “very fluid” time.
Councillors grilled staff over the botched rollout this spring, which saw many taxpayers erroneously billed, before voting in favour of an overhaul; the city has apologized for the implementation of this year’s program, and waived late fees related to it.
“I’d like to learn more about whether taxpayers will have to pay the late penalty fee. Most of my time wasn’t filing out their notice of complaint. It was answering their questions about the by-law … I’m sure I answered questions correctly yesterday – but now I hear the penalty will be waived???” one staffer wrote on the morning of April 5.
“I know things are up in the air right now about this and how it’s going to be handled in future, but any info about this program is appreciated.”
The city’s vacant home tax was brought in at the end of 2021 to try and push investors to either sell empty homes or put them on the rental market. If their home was deemed vacant, they would face an extra tax.
Administering it ran into issues this year. The city extended the deadline to declare from its original Feb. 29 date after 63 per cent of homes filled in the paperwork.
Many residents said they didn’t understand that the city required them to make a declaration every year, while others said they were billed even after making one.
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