Could someone explain Taxe Scolaire (school tax?) in Montreal, Canada?

Question

Hi,

I own an apartment in central Montreal. I am a UK citizen living most of my time in the UK so I rent out my apartment most of the time.

I recently received an invoice from 'Comite de gestion de laTaxe Scolaire' totalling nearly CAD1000 for the last two and a half years.

I don't understand what this tax is for and where a) I should be paying it as a non-Canadian resident or b) if it should be me (the property owner) or my tenant (the resident) who is legally responsible for paying it?

Anyone with experience in this area able to help me out?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hello...okay, I'll try to explain that to you...
School tax is what makes Public School free in Montreal, here is some info:

School taxes are a significant portion 24% of the school board's annual budget. In an effort to maintain its educational objectives the council of commissioners has mandated the administration to collect all taxes which are in arrears.

The school tax invoice issuance date is in mid-August with payment due date for mid-September (for a precise date, please see date given on invoice). This will cover the period of July 1st to June 30th of the current year. The taxation rate is $0.35 per $100 of evaluation. All accounts in arrears carry an interest rate of 16% (calculated daily 0.0438%). Non payment could result in legal intervention.

Tax Sections:
School taxes are collected from property owners in accordance with the current Education Act.
Section 304 (In summary) An individual property owner with children in the Western Quebec School Board must pay school taxes to this board.
Section 305 (In summary) An individual property owners who resides on the school board's territory would be billed, either from the English (WQ) or the French school board, depending on which electoral list their names appears.
NOTE: The law permits an individual to choose on which electoral list he/she would have their name appear. Outside of a revision period for elections, one may request, in writing to the Director General of the School Board that their name be added to the current electoral list. Exact name in full, date of birth, gender, full domicile address and signature are necessary to fulfill the request. The school board has made a form available to facilitate this procedure.
Section 306 (In summary) An individual who resides outside of the school board's territory (non-elector) but who owns property within the territory may choose which school board they want to support.
Section 307 (In summary) Property owners not within the above three sections (companies, organizations, associations, clubs, etc.) are billed by both the English and the French school boards on a percentage basis. This percentage is determined by the ratio of children in attendance at school with the school boards who share the territory. The sum of the percentage from the English and the French board would be 100%.

Unfortunatelly for you, it is set up by districts, so the way people get charge is when they have a property a particular district they pay taxes there, even if you don't live there (that meens you get revenus from your property) you have to pay it.
Yes you have to pay your School taxes even if you are a non-resident, because you pay as an owner. The tax goes with the property and not the person living in it...the tenant as nothing to do with this tax. You may want to ajust your tenant's lease if you want it to absorb this bill, but you can't just boost a lease like that ...you may want to check out La Regie du Logement's Site at : http://www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca/en/outils/faq.asp?sujet=7
for that.

The way I see it is that School tax is there for us to pay for the education of the children as they will pay for us when we are elderly and they will be working...
Unfortunatelly you may not be here when you are elderly...but that the way it works...
I hope this will help you.

Answer 2

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