City of Ottawa looking to write off uncollectable back taxes [Video]

The City of Ottawa has found more than $564,000 in back taxes are no longer able to be recovered and staff are recommending councillors approve writing it off.

A report prepared for the Oct. 1 Finance and Corporate Services Committee meeting says around 99 per cent of billed property taxes in Ottawa are collected and paid in the same year, with the outstanding 1 per cent being paid in following years through various collection methods, such as legislated notices, phone calls, and tax sales.

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Some taxes, however, are never recovered for a variety of reasons.

The report says that there is an outstanding balance of $564,254 that cannot be collected and should be written off the tax roll.

“Staff have determined that taxes billed on 190 properties are uncollectible or no longer payable and should …