Provincial Education Property Taxes FAQ
- What is the provincial education property tax portion of my property tax bill?
- Does everyone pay education property taxes?
- What do my education property taxes pay for?
- Can I direct my school taxes toward a separate school board rather than a public school board?
- Can I direct my school taxes to a private school?
- How do I change the school support designation as shown on my property assessment notice?
- 1. What is the provincial education property tax portion of my property tax bill?
Each year, the Alberta Government determines the total amount of revenue that will be required for education purposes through the property taxation system across the province. The total assessment of all property in a municipality is used as the basis to calculate that municipality’s share of the total provincial amount. Each municipality’s share of the total provincial amount is called the education property tax requisition. Each year the Province sends out these requisitions to all municipalities in the province. Each municipality is required by provincial legislation to collect the revenue required to pay the requisition through the property assessment and tax system.
Your property assessment is used to calculate your share of the revenue required to pay the requisition for Edmonton. This part of your total property tax bill is collected by the City and sent to the Alberta Government. This is not additional revenue for the City.
- 2. Does everyone pay education property taxes?
Yes. All property owners in Edmonton, residential and non-residential, are required to pay education property taxes including those without children in school and senior citizens. However, if a senior citizen is eligible for the Alberta Seniors' Benefit, a portion of the money received from the Benefit is intended to assist with payment of property taxes. Questions concerning the Alberta Seniors' Benefit should be directed to the Government of Alberta at 780-427-7876.
For more information visit:
Government of Alberta Education Property Tax- 3. What do my education property taxes pay for?
Education taxes are not subject to control or review by the City of Edmonton. Under provincial legislation the City is required to administer and collect the education tax on behalf of the province for public and separate school boards.
The following information is provided by the Government of Alberta: "Education property taxes support public and separate school students in grades 1 to 12. Education property taxes are pooled and then distributed to all Alberta school boards on an equal per-student basis. The majority of these funds are for instruction, including teacher salaries, textbooks, and other classroom resources."
For further information, please see the Alberta Government Municipal Affairs website.
- 4. Can I direct my school taxes toward a separate school board rather than a public school board?
In accordance with the Provincial School Act, education taxes paid by Edmonton property owners declaring their faith as Catholic are directed by Alberta Learning to the Edmonton Roman Catholic Separate School District No. 7.
Education property taxes paid by property owners who are not of the Catholic faith or who have not submitted a declaration are directed to Alberta Learning for the public school system.
- 5. Can I direct my school taxes to a private school?
No. In accordance with provincial law, the money collected through property taxes may only be used to fund the public education system, which includes public and separate schools. Private school funding comes from three sources: provincial general revenues, tuition or instruction fees paid by parents and private fundraising.
- 6. How do I change the school support designation as shown on my property assessment notice?
For information on changing your declaration of school support, please contact the Customer Services Section at 780-496-6388 and a declaration form will be sent to you by mail or fax.
The Government of Alberta has provided the School Support Declaration form to all municipalities for use on property transfers and for requests from property owners. The reverse of the declaration form contains additional information about education taxes. Concerns regarding the requirements set out in the school support declaration form should be directed to Alberta Education at 780-427-3798.
