File Municipal Tax Complaint in London, Ontario

Taxation and Finance Ontario 4 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of Ontario

In London, Ontario, municipal tax disputes are handled by the City of London Finance Office for billing and collection matters and by provincial assessment authorities for property assessment issues. This guide explains how to report billing errors, late charges, or account disputes to the City, when to contact MPAC or the Assessment Review Board for assessment appeals, and what documentation and timelines to expect. Follow the steps below to prepare your case, submit a formal complaint, and escalate if needed. Use the City of London finance contact channels to start an official review or request account reconciliation.[1]

Start by reviewing your tax bill and recent payment history before filing a complaint.

Penalties & Enforcement

The City of London enforces municipal tax collection through its Finance Division. Specific penalty amounts, interest rates, and daily or monthly rates for overdue taxes are not specified on the cited City pages; consult the City Finance pages or your tax bill for the exact rates applicable to your account.[1] For assessment-related disputes, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) and the Assessment Review Board provide appeal pathways; penalty or adjustment rules for assessments are described on MPAC pages and provincial materials.[3]

Penalty rates and interest schedules appear on official tax notices or the City finance pages; check those documents first.
  • Fines and interest: not specified on the cited City page; review your tax bill or contact Finance for amounts and calculation method.[1]
  • Escalation: first notices, arrears notices and eventual collections processes are handled by the City; specific timelines or progressive fines are not specified on the cited pages.[1]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: municipal orders, liens on property, or registration of arrears against title may occur; confirm procedure with Finance or legal services if threatened with lien or tax sale.[1]
  • Enforcer: City of London Finance Division (Taxation & Revenue) handles billing, collections and account reviews. For assessment disputes, MPAC and the Assessment Review Board are the enforcers/adjudicators for assessed values.[1][3]

Applications & Forms

Where available, the City publishes instructions for tax payments, tax account inquiries and any required forms on the Finance pages. A specific single complaint form for municipal tax disputes is not published on the cited City page; contact Finance for the current submission method (email, online form, postal mail or in-person). For assessment appeals, MPAC offers procedures to request reconsideration and formal appeal instructions on its site.[1][3]

How to File a Complaint

Follow these action steps to file a municipal tax complaint in London, Ontario. If your dispute concerns assessed value rather than tax billing, begin with MPAC's reconsideration process or the Assessment Review Board appeal pathway.[3]

  1. Gather documents: recent tax bill, receipts, assessment notice, correspondence and proof of payment.
  2. Contact City Finance: call or submit an inquiry through the City Finance contact channels to request an account review and formal complaint instructions.[1]
  3. Submit complaint: follow the City’s process (email, online form or mail) and include documentation, account number and desired outcome.
  4. Await response: the City will investigate and respond; if the matter is an assessment issue, follow MPAC’s reconsideration steps or file an appeal to the Assessment Review Board as directed.[3]
  5. Escalate if needed: if unsatisfied, request a review, seek internal appeals channels, or pursue statutory appeals where available within prescribed time limits.
Keep clear records and written confirmations of all communications to support appeals or review requests.

FAQ

How do I start a tax complaint with the City of London?
Contact the City of London Finance Division with your account number and documentation; the Finance page lists contact options and next steps.[1]
Can I appeal my property assessment instead of the tax bill?
Yes. Assessment disputes start with MPAC for reconsideration and may proceed to the Assessment Review Board; follow MPAC’s published procedures.[3]
Will filing a complaint stop collection or penalties?
Filing a complaint does not automatically stop collection activity or interest; ask Finance about holds or temporary measures when you submit your complaint.

How-To

  1. Identify whether the issue is billing (City) or assessment (MPAC).
  2. Contact the City Finance Division to open a formal complaint or request account reconciliation.[1]
  3. Provide supporting documents and request written confirmation of receipt and next steps.
  4. If unresolved, pursue MPAC reconsideration or an appeal to the Assessment Review Board for assessed value disputes.[3]
If your dispute involves assessed value, start with MPAC’s reconsideration process before formal appeal.

Key Takeaways

  • City Finance handles billing and collections; MPAC handles assessments.
  • Contact Finance early and keep written records of all communications.
  • Use MPAC’s reconsideration and ARB appeal routes for assessment disputes.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of London — Property taxes and payment information
  2. [2] City of London — Finance Division contact
  3. [3] MPAC — How to appeal your assessment

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