Lacombe County - Where People Are The Key

In person at the County Office during regular office hours.
Deposited in the envelope mail box located at the road entrance to the County Office.
By post dated cheque dated no later than August 31st of the current year.
By bill payment through internet banking (available through most financial institutions. Contact our office at 403-782-6601 if yours is not currently available).
ATB branch in Mirror accepts cheques or cash and will forward payment to Lacombe County.
By TIPP (Tax Instalment Payment Plan). For TIPP forms please see the TIPP section under Taxes on the website or contact the County office at 403-782-6601.

We are now set up to accept electronic payments for property tax and utilities. Payments can be made with the following financial institutions:

ATB (Alberta Treasury Branch)
BMO (Bank of Montreal)
COMMUNITY SAVINGS
CREDIT UNION (Telepay)
RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)
SCOTIA BANK

You can pay your bills through the teller service, bank machine, internet or telephone.

Please Note:
Utility Bills - To set up your electronic utility bill payment system, enter your 7 digit utility account number only to ensure payment is applied to Lacombe County. Property Tax Payments - Please use your tax roll number. If you are paying by cheque, please make it payable to Lacombe County.

Why has my property assessment changed?
Assessments are prepared annually to reflect physical changes to real property and to take into account fluctuations in market conditions. Assessment values can either be based on Provincially Regulated valuation Rates, such as Farmland or Machinery and Equipment; or the Market Value Standard, where sales of similar properties are reviewed and reflected in the assessed value of your property.

What if I have a concern about my assessment?
If you have a concern about your assessment, please contact the Assessor. The Assessment Roll, which lists the assessment values for the municipality, can be viewed at the County Office during regular business hours.

What should I do if I want to file a complaint against my assessment?
If your concerns are not satisfied after you have reviewed your assessment with an assessor, you may file a complaint against your assessment to the Assessment Review Board. Complaints must be filed within 30 days of the mailing date shown on the property assessment and tax notice.

To file a complaint, you must state the reasons why you feel the assessment is not correct. Complaints must be in writing and must be accompanied by payment of an appeal fee of for each parcel being appealed. If the Assessment Review Board makes a decision in your favor the appeal fee will be refunded. REMEMBER, complaints can only be filed against assessments, not against taxes or tax rates.

For more information regarding Assessment complaints see "Filing a Complaint" If you have other questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact an Assessor at 782-6601 or in person at the County Office.

Filing a Complaint
Please review the information on your Assessment and Tax notice carefully. You will receive a single notice for each property that you own. If you have any questions, please contact the assessment department at 403-782-6601. If your concerns about your assessment are not satisfied after reviewing it with an Assessor, you may file a complaint against your assessment to the Assessment Review Board.

The complaint must:

Be filed in writing,
Be received by the county, on or before the final date of complaint shown on the front of the Assessment and Tax Notice (such date can not be less than 30 days of the mailing date shown on the Assessment and Tax Notice),
Be filed against assessments - not taxes,
Explain why the complainant believes the information shown on the Assessment and Tax Notice is incorrect, and
Be accompanied by the per parcel appeal fee (if the Assessment Review Board makes a decision in your favor the appeal fee will be refunded).
Appeal Fees
- Residential and Farm Properties - $20.00 per parcel
- Non-Residential, Linear and M&E Properties:
  - With less than $500,000 Assessment - $100.00 per Parcel
  - With $500,000 to $1,000,000 Assessment - $300.00 per parcel
  - With $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 Assessment - $500.00 per parcel
  - With over $5,000,000 Assessment - $800.00 per parcel

The Assessment Review Board does not have the jurisdiction to hear a complaint if any one of these conditions are not met.

The Assessment Complaints and Appeals Regulation (AR 238/2000) came into effect in 2000. This regulation sets out the procedures and guidelines to be followed by the complainant and the respondent, as well as the board hearing the appeal.

It is now a requirement that full disclosure of evidence to be presented at the hearing be exchanged between the complainant and the respondent (an assessor) within a reasonable period of time prior to the hearing date. It is also required that this exchange of evidence be provided to the clerk of the court prior to the hearing. Failure to disclose evidence to be presented can result in the board not allowing any new evidence.

The requirements for non-residential properties, with assessed values over $250,000 are: the complainant is to provide an issue statement and full disclosure of evidence (to the clerk of the court and the respondent) 21 days prior to the hearing; the respondent is to provide full disclosure of evidence (to the clerk of the court and the complainant) 7 days prior to the hearing date; if the complainant wishes to rebut, it must be 3 days prior to the hearing.