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Tax Installment Payment Plan (TIPP) Pre‐Authorized Bank Debit

Pre‐Authorized TIPP Payments

Pre‐authorized TIPP payments are available to holders of a property tax account that give written authority to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to collect payment of their property taxes through monthly direct debits from their bank accounts.

Important Information about Pre‐Authorized Variable TIPP Payments

Why should you register for Pre‐Authorized Property TIPP Payments?

The added convenience of not needing to remember to pay your property tax bill will save you time and money. All payments are automatically debited from your bank account on the first of each month, which prevents added penalties.

Who qualifies for the TIPP Program?

Any taxpayer can qualify to participate in the TIPP program for the taxation year provided:

1. their tax account is not in arrears,
2. they have chequing privileges at a financial institution, and
3. they give written authorization for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to automatically debit their bank account for the purpose of bringing about payment of the tax instalments.

How Do I Apply for the TIPP program?

To apply for the TIPP program, complete the application form following ensuring you attach a “VOID” cheque with the application. Alternatively complete and sign the TIPP Application Form and return it with a “VOID” cheque to Assessment.Taxation@rmwb.ca or mail to:

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Taxation Department
3rd Floor – 9909 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray, AB
T9H 2K4

Additional brochures may be obtained from the Municipal Taxation Department at the location above or by contacting Pulse by telephone at 780‐743‐7000 or toll free at 1‐800‐973‐9663 to request a copy.

How do I change to TIPP from making tax payments through my mortgage company?

• You must contact your mortgage company to resolve your property tax account in their system and to have them stop collecting your property taxes.
• You must complete the TIPP application form and send it to us.

Questions?

If you have additional questions about the TIPP program, please call Pulse at 780‐743‐7000 or toll free at 1‐800‐973‐9663 to be connected to the taxation department. Taxation department office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Terms & Conditions

Definitions:

• “The Municipality” means “The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo”.
• “TIPP” refers to the “Tax Instalment Payment Plan” for payment of property taxes.
• “Financial Institution” means an institution recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency as a financial institution, which may include a bank, trust company, treasury branch or credit union.

You qualify for Pre‐Authorized TIPP if:

• You have a chequing account with a Canadian Financial Institution (bank, trust company, treasury branch or credit union). Savings or international accounts cannot be used.
• Your tax account is not in arrears,
• You have given written authorization for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo to automatically debit your bank account for the purpose of bringing about payment of the tax instalments.

What are you authorizing:

• You are authorizing the Municipality to automatically withdraw taxation payments from your chequing account on the first banking day of each month until your taxes are paid in full each year. The withdrawals will continue until you cancel your authorization. These withdrawals are “pre‐authorized variable withdrawals”.
• This authorization does not affect any other contract between the Municipality and yourself.

Who are you authorizing:

You are authorizing both the Municipality and your Financial Institution to debit your chequing account in the amount of the advised property tax payments. When you give this authorization to the Municipality, it is the same as giving authorization to your Financial Institution.

To authorize the Municipality to automatically withdraw TIPP payments you must include:

• A void cheque from a chequing account registered with a Canadian Financial Institution.
• The appropriate information to allow the Municipality to verify you are authorized to make decisions on the property tax account. This information may include the name of the account holder, civic address, mailing address, postal code and phone number of the account holder.
• The missed taxation instalments for each month that year, if joining TIPPs after January 1st. The taxation department will contact you to advise of this amount and to confirm method of its payment when processing your application.
• The next month’s taxation instalment, if received after the 15th of the month. Authorizations received on or before the 15th of the month will begin the next month.
• Acceptance of all terms and conditions outlined in this document.

What your Financial Institution will do:

Your Financial Institution will withdraw payment from your chequing account according to the rules of the Canadian Payments Association. Your Financial Institution is not required to verify that:

• A pre‐authorization withdrawal has occurred according to your authorization; or
• If a pre‐authorization withdrawal has occurred, the money was used to pay your property taxes.

How do I sign up for Pre‐Authorized TIPP Payments?

Visit our website at https://pay.rmwb.ca, download the TIPP Application Form, or apply in person at:

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Taxation Department, 3rd Floor Jubilee Center,
9909 Franklin Ave, Fort McMurray AB

After you complete your online or paper application form, you will need to provide a void cheque or pre‐authorized debit form from your Financial Institution. This may be emailed to Assessment.Taxation@rmwb.ca, attached to this application, provided in person at the above location or mailed to Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Taxation Department, 3rd Floor Jubilee Center, 9909 Franklin Ave, Fort McMurray AB, T9H 2K5. Once your banking details are verified, your enrolment and payment amount will be confirmed by a representative from the taxation department.

Applications made after the 15th of each month may not be processed for the following month’s TIPP payment cycle. If you have not received written confirmation of your enrolment, please make alternative arrangements to pay any outstanding amounts to avoid penalties.

How do you cancel your Pre‐Authorized TIPP Payments?

You may cancel your pre‐authorized variable property TIPP payments online at https://pay.rmwb.ca and choosing the ‘Cancellation’ option or a written cancellation notice can be submitted in in person, mailed or emailed to Assessment.Taxation@rmwb.ca. You must provide at least 10 business days’ notice if you wish to cancel.

Please note:

• Pre‐authorized variable withdrawals are neither refundable nor transferrable to another owner if you sell your property without informing the Municipality.
• If you cancel your authorization, all your unpaid taxes become due immediately and are subject to penalties in accordance with Municipal penalty bylaws.
• Cancelling your authorization does not cancel any other contract between you and the Municipality.

Your emailed cancellation notice should include the following information:

• Name on the property tax account;
• Property tax account number;
• Your phone number;
• The civic address;
• Mailing address if different than the civic address;
• Name of person requesting the cancellation;
• Effective date of the cancellation.

Your cancellation notice may read:

TO: RMWB Property Tax Department
DATE: (date)
I/We, (name), cancel my/our authorization to issue personal pre‐authorized debits in the amount of my /our TIPPs payments against my/our bank account. This cancellation notice is effective on (date). I/We acknowledge that this cancellation does not terminate any other obligation that I/we may have with the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Signed: (name of account holders)
Property Tax Account Number:
Phone Number:
Civic Address:
Mailing Address:

You will receive a confirmation email confirming that your cancellation request has been processed. If you have any further questions following a cancellation request, you may contact the taxation department by calling Pulse at 780‐743‐7000 or toll free at 1‐800‐973‐9663 or emailing Assessment.Taxation@rmwb.ca.

If my property taxes change during the year:

• As a result of the annual tax levy, the Municipality will provide written notice of the new amount of your pre‐authorized withdrawal on your tax notice.
• When the calendar year changes, the Municipality will provide written notice of the new amount of your pre‐authorized withdrawal 10 business days before changing your preauthorized withdrawal.
• For any other reason, the Municipality will provide written notice 10 business days before changing your pre‐authorized withdrawal.

If you sell your property:

• If you sell your property, you must inform the Municipality’s Taxation Department in writing at least 10 business days before the next pre‐authorized withdrawal is due.
• Your property tax account ownership will be updated after the land title has been transferred from your name.
• Pre‐authorized withdrawals are neither refundable nor transferrable to another owner without informing the municipality.

Non‐payment and non‐sufficient fund fees:

Any returned or rejected payments (from the Municipality’s Financial Institution) will result in a non‐sufficient fund fee (NSF) as per the Municipality’s User Fees and Charges Bylaw. This fee is in addition to any fee charged by your Financial Institution. It is your responsibility to notify us if your banking information changes.

Upon receiving a notice of a rejected payment, the Municipality’s taxation department will notify you in writing of any declined payments within 30 days. After three declined payments, you may be removed from the program at the Municipality’s discretion and you will be notified in writing.

If the Municipality removes you from the program, all your unpaid taxes become due immediately, and are subject to penalties in accordance with the Municipal penalty bylaws.

Notification of withdrawal amounts:

You will be notified in writing of the withdrawal amount for your monthly TIPP. Should you not receive this notification, please contact Assessment.Taxation@rmwb.ca to verify your withdrawal amount. The debit will be completed on the first business day of each month.

If your bank account changes:

• If your bank account changes, you must inform the Municipality in writing and provide a new voided cheque at least 10 business days before the next pre‐authorized withdrawal is due.
• Your banking information may be updated by visiting https://pay.rmwb.ca and selecting the ‘Change’ option and then re‐enrolling using your new banking information. You will be required to provide verification of the new bank account by emailing Assessment.Taxation@rmwb.ca or by visiting the Municipal department listed above.
• Alternatively, you may contact Assessment.Taxation@rmwb.ca or call Pulse at 780‐743‐7000 or toll free at 1‐800‐973‐9663 to be connected to the taxation department to update your information.

The Municipality can cancel Pre‐Authorized TIPP Payments if insufficient funds

• If your chequing account does not contain sufficient funds for a pre‐authorized withdrawal, the Municipality may cancel your pre‐authorized TIPP after 3 missed payments or if the bank account is closed or if a payment is stopped and will notify you in writing. You will also be responsible to pay any NSF fees as outlined in the Municipality’s User Fees and Charges Bylaw for each occurrence, in addition to any fees charged by your institution.
• If pre‐authorized TIPP is cancelled on your account, all your unpaid taxes become due immediately, and are subject to penalties in accordance with the Municipal penalty bylaws.

You may dispute a withdrawal if:

• The withdrawal did not occur in accordance with your authorization.
• You had revoked the authorization at least 10 business days before the withdrawal had occurred.
• Your property taxes changed because of the annual tax levy, but the Municipality did not provide written notice of the new amount of my pre‐authorized withdrawal.
• Your property taxes changed for another reason, but the Municipality did not provide written notice 10 business days before changing your pre‐authorized withdrawal.

To be reimbursed for a disputed withdrawal, you must:

• Request a refund in writing to Assessment.Taxation@rmwb.ca.
• Notify your Financial Institution to discuss disputes within the following time limits:
• 90 calendar days (including the 90th day), if your bank account is classified as personal.
• 10 calendar days (including the 10th day), if your bank account is classified as commercial/business.
• If you dispute a withdrawal after these time limits, the dispute will be resolved between you and the Municipality. Your financial institution will not be involved.

You have certain recourse rights if any debit does not comply with this agreement. For example, you have the right to receive reimbursement for any debit that is not authorized or is not consistent with the pre‐authorized TIPP agreement. To obtain more information on your recourse rights, contact your Financial Institution or visit www.cdnpay.ca.

Liability for Accuracy

We shall be solely responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all information furnished to you and you shall not be responsible in any way for errors resulting from the inaccuracy or incompleteness of any information furnished to you by us or any other officer, employee or agent of ours.

We undertake and agree to indemnify you for all amounts that may be erroneously paid by you and/or any Processing Member in respect of any pre‐authorized debit erroneously credited or debited by you and/or any Processing Member pursuant to any such direction from us whatsoever.

Privacy

The personal information on this form is collected under the authority of Section 33 (c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The personal information will be used for billing purposes only. If you have any questions regarding the collection or use of this information contact the Supervisor, Taxation Department, 3rd Floor Jubilee Centre, 9909 Franklin Avenue, Fort McMurray, AB T9H 2K4 or call Pulse at 780‐743‐7000 or toll free at 1‐800‐973‐9663 to be connected to the taxation department supervisor.