Frequently Asked Questions

Each year, property assessors investigate and analyze all real estate sales and exclude sales that do not meet various criteria from any adjustments. While some homes this year have been selling well above the asking price, one sale does not make a market. Assessors are qualified individuals that use appraisal industry best practices in determining real and true (market) value of all properties.

A Spike Protection Mechanism is in place for most owner-occupied properties with a greater than 10 percent increase in their assessment. Properties that have sold in the previous year and all new construction and/or major improvements made to a property are excluded.

Property owners can call 1-888-762-8600 and ask to speak with a Service New Brunswick representative or are encouraged to visit www.myNBpropertyassessment.ca to learn more about property assessment.

Property owners have until Nov. 1, 2021 to file a Request for Review if they do not agree with the assessment.

Assessments are based on market value – the price that a property would likely sell for on the open real estate market at a given point in time, January 1st of each tax year.

Market values are used because they are transparent (real estate prices are public knowledge), easy to understand and a fair and realistic measure of a property's value. Market value assessments are the most common method of property assessment used in North America today.

Our assessors do not determine market value; they are simply reflecting the values that have been established by buyers and sellers in local real estate markets across the province.
 

Property assessment, based on market value, plays a valuable and important role in paying for local and provincial services across the province. The assessed value of homes and other properties within a municipality or rural area make up what is known as the tax base.

As part of their annual municipal budget process, municipalities use their tax base to determine what tax rate they need to use to cover their spending for the following year.

For most homeowners within a municipality, your tax bill is largely a result of the following equation:

Owner-occupied properties are protected from unexpected assessment spikes. Any increase greater than 10 per cent will be phased in over time, making assessment growth much more stable and predictable. Properties that have sold in the previous year and new construction and/or major improvements are excluded from this protection.

In most cases, assessors can evaluate market factors and determine market values by October of each year for existing properties.

However, properties that are under construction or had major renovations in the fall may not receive their notice of assessment until January. This gives Property Assessment Services additional time to provide a more accurate property value as a result of the recent changes.

Property owners will be notified in October if their Property Assessment Notice is to be held and issued in January.

For properties that sell after the October assessment notice is mailed and before December 31, the new property owner will receive their assessment notice in January.

Property owners have until November 1, 2021, 30 days after the mailing of Property Assessment Notices, to request a review. This can be done online at www.myNBpropertyassessment.ca or by calling a Service New Brunswick representative at 1-888-762-8600.

With over 470,000 properties in New Brunswick, assessors work diligently to determine assessment values prior to the effective date of January 1. This means performing on-site inspections to collect new construction information, complete outstanding re-inspection activities and validate all transfers or changes in ownership until the end of the year.

Considering a higher than usual volume of transactions in 2021 and to meet year end requirements, the assessor will contact you directly when he or she begins to process your Request for Review. Following the review, the assessor will send you a notice of the decision.

While every effort is made to provide a decision prior to the mailing of the property tax notice, property owners are responsible to pay the amount indicated on the property tax notice in full to avoid penalties. Any reduction in assessment after full payment has been made will result in a credit balance, which will remain in the account as a prepayment towards next year's taxes unless a written request for a refund is received.

If you haven’t received your notice it may be one of the many ‘return to sender’ notices at our office. You can update your address online www.myNBpropertyassessment.ca or by calling a Service New Brunswick representative at 1-888-762-8600.

To change your mailing address online, please visit www.myNBpropertyassessment.ca  and select “Update Your Mailing Address”. Your Property Account Number (PAN), old postal code, new postal code, contact name, a phone number and email address will be required. If you are unable to provide the required information, please call 1 888-762-8600.

Property Taxes are administered by Finance and Treasury Board.

Your Property Tax Notice (bill) will be mailed out separately in March.  The amount owing presented on your tax notice must be paid in full by May 31, 2022 to avoid penalties. For more information, please visit NB Property Tax (gnb.ca)