1 presented by m. kim anderson robertson stromberg pedersen llp non-title tax enforcement in...
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Presented by M. Kim AndersonRobertson Stromberg Pedersen LLP
Non-Title Tax Enforcement
In Saskatchewan
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Tax Enforcement
• Method of choice – title proceedings
• Other methods available and may be preferable to title proceedings
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Non-Title Proceedings
Why take non-title Proceedings?
• Depressed resale market limits recovery on taxes
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Non-Title Proceedings
Why take non-title Proceedings?
• Depressed resale market limits recovery on taxes
• Resale unlikely – will deplete tax base
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Non-Title Proceedings
Why take non-title Proceedings?
• Depressed resale market limits recovery on taxes
• Resale unlikely – will deplete tax base
• Potential environmental problems with land
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Non-Title Proceedings
Why take non-title Proceedings?
• Depressed resale market limits recovery on taxes
• Resale unlikely – will deplete tax base
• Potential environmental problems with land
• Delay involved in taking title proceedings
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Current taxes or only arrears?
• Some remedies only permit collection of arrears
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Current taxes or only arrears?
• Some remedies only permit collection of arrears
• Some remedies permit collection of current taxes
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Current taxes or only arrears?
• Some remedies only permit collection of arrears
• Some remedies permit collection of current taxes
• If put to the expense of collecting arrears, why not collect current taxes as well?
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Taxes Due and Owing?
• If collecting current taxes, be sure they are owing
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Taxes Due and Owing?
• If collecting current taxes, be sure they are owing
• No express provision in Act
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Taxes Due and Owing?
• If collecting current taxes, be sure they are owing
• No express provision in Act
• Property taxes due upon mailing of notices
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Taxes Due and Owing?
• If collecting current taxes, be sure they are owing
• No express provision in Act
• Property taxes due upon mailing of notices
• Ensure you can prove confirmation of assessment roll
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Taxes Due and Owing?
• If collecting current taxes, be sure they are owing
• No express provision in Act
• Property taxes due upon mailing of notices
• Ensure you can prove confirmation of assessment roll
• Appeal pending – must wait appeal and confirmation on appealed properties only
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Items added to taxes
• Be sure you are entitled to collect
• Clear statutory authority to add to taxes
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Items added to taxes
• Be sure you are entitled to collect
• Clear statutory authority to add to taxes
• Enabling bylaws and resolutions all passed
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Items added to taxes
• Be sure you are entitled to collect
• Clear statutory authority to add to taxes
• Enabling bylaws and resolutions all passed
• Costs are properly documented
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Items added to taxes
• Be sure you are entitled to collect
• Clear statutory authority to add to taxes
• Enabling bylaws and resolutions all passed
• Costs are properly documented
• Necessary time frame has passed
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Demand for Payment?
• Not legally required
• May result in taxes being paid
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Prerequisites to Enforcement
Demand for Payment?
• Not legally required
• May result in taxes being paid
• Weigh advantage of having demand come from legal counsel
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Suing the Taxpayer
When should we sue?
• Taxpayer has funds, but simply won’t pay
• Don’t want to deplete dwindling tax base
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Suing the Taxpayer
Authority to Sue
• s. 320 - taxes due on any property are collectable by action in priority to every claim except that of the Crown
• s. 275 - taxes due to a municipality are collectable by action in priority to every claim except that of the Crown
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Suing the Taxpayer
Which Court
• Under $20,000.00 can go to Provincial Court
• Otherwise go to Queen’s Bench
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Suing the Taxpayer
Why choose Provincial Court?
• Circuit court location may be nearby
• Can present case without assistance of a lawyer
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Suing the Taxpayer
Why choose Queen’s Bench?
• May be able to obtain default judgment
• Use of summary procedure may limit need to attend court
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Suing the Taxpayer
Getting Underway in Provincial Court
• Prepare summary of claim with copies of all supporting documents
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Suing the Taxpayer
Getting Underway in Provincial Court
• Prepare summary of claim with copies of all supporting documents, and
• Transmit to nearest Provincial Court with a request to issue a summons at the nearest circuit court location
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Suing the Taxpayer
Getting Underway in Provincial Court
• Prepare summary of claim with copies of all supporting documents, and
• Transmit to nearest Provincial Court with a request to issue a summons at the nearest circuit court location, or
• Take to nearest Provincial Court office and meet with clerk
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Suing the Taxpayer
Getting Underway in Provincial Court
• Prepare summary of claim with copies of all supporting documents, and
• Transmit to nearest Provincial Court with a request to issue a summons at the nearest circuit court location, or
• Take to nearest Provincial Court office and meet with clerk
• Issue Summons and serve on Defendant
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Service of Documents
• Must serve at least ten days before return date
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Service of Documents
• Must serve at least ten days before return date
• May try to serve by registered mail, but taxpayer must sign acknowlegment card and return it
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Service of Documents
• Must serve at least ten days before return date
• May try to serve by registered mail, but taxpayer must sign acknowlegment card and return it
• Best to serve in person (use process server if you prefer)
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Procedure
• Case management conference usually held
• Defendant does not attend – judgment entered
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Procedure
• Case management conference usually held
• Defendant does not attend – judgment entered
• Defendant does attend – “privileged” settlement discussion with a judge
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Procedure
• Case management conference usually held
• Defendant does not attend – judgment entered
• Defendant does attend – “privileged” settlement discussion with a judge
• No settlement – trial date set
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Trial Preparation
• Prepare for possible objections by taxpayer
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Trial Preparation
• Prepare for possible objections by taxpayer
• Claiming the wrong amount
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Trial Preparation
• Prepare for possible objections by taxpayer
• Claiming the wrong amount
• Assessment is incorrect
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Trial Preparation
• Prepare for possible objections by taxpayer
• Claiming the wrong amount
• Assessment is incorrect
• Didn’t get notice
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Document Preparation
• Prepare certified copy of tax roll - s. 277 states it is proof of taxes owing
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Document Preparation
• Prepare certified copy of tax roll - s. 277 states it is proof of taxes owing
• Prepare certified copy of any ledger account associated with claim
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Document Preparation
• Prepare certified copy of tax roll - s. 277 states it is proof of taxes owing
• Prepare certified copy of any ledger account associated with claim
• Prepare certified copy of assessment roll and of confirmation
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Document Preparation
• Prepare certified copy of tax roll - s. 277 states it is proof of taxes owing
• Prepare certified copy of any ledger account associated with claim
• Prepare certified copy of assessment roll and of confirmation
• Prepare certified copy of tax notice and certificate of mailing under s. 258
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Document Preparation
• Prepare copy of any relevant correspondence
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Document Preparation
• Prepare copy of any relevant correspondence
• Review documents so you are fully familiar
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Document Preparation
• Prepare copy of any relevant correspondence
• Review documents so you are fully familiar
• Prepare three copies of each – one for each party and one for the Court
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Trial Procedure
• Appear early – advise the clerk you are present
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Trial Procedure
• Appear early – advise the clerk you are present
• Tell the judge the nature of your claim and the amount claimed
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Trial Procedure
• Appear early – advise the clerk you are present
• Tell the judge the nature of your claim and the amount claimed
• Take the stand and present the certified copy of the tax roll and any associated ledger account.
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Trial Procedure
• Appear early – advise the clerk you are present
• Tell the judge the nature of your claim and the amount claimed
• Take the stand and present the certified copy of the tax roll and any associated ledger account.
• Testify positively as to the amount owing
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Resources
• Review the information at www.sasklawcourts.ca
• Consider having legal counsel prepare and instruct you the first time you sue for taxes with a view to learning the “how-tos”
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Suing the Taxpayer
Provincial Court - Resources
• Review the information at www.sasklawcourts.ca
• Consider having legal counsel prepare and instruct you the first time you sue for taxes with a view to learning the “how-tos”
• If your comfort level requires – use your legal counsel
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Suing the Taxpayer
Queen’ Bench - Procedure
• No Defence filed within 20 days – enter default judgment
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Suing the Taxpayer
Queen’ Bench - Procedure
• No Defence filed within 20 days – enter default judgment
• Defence entered – proceed to meditation session
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Suing the Taxpayer
Queen’ Bench - Procedure
• No Defence filed within 20 days – enter default judgment
• Defence entered – proceed to meditation session
• Apply for summary judgment
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Suing the Taxpayer
Queen’ Bench - Procedure
• No Defence filed within 20 days – enter default judgment
• Defence entered – proceed to meditation session
• Apply for summary judgment
• If summary judgment not granted, prepare documents and move to trial
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Suing the Taxpayer
Judgment
• 30 days after judgment granted in Provincial Court – present to Queen’s Bench for Registration
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Suing the Taxpayer
Judgment
• 30 days after judgment granted in Provincial Court – present to Queen’s Bench for Registration
• No registration required if judgment granted in Queen’s Bench
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Suing the Taxpayer
Judgment
• 30 days after judgment granted in Provincial Court – present to Queen’s Bench for Registration
• No registration required if judgment granted in Queen’s Bench
• Appeal will Stay Judgment
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Suing the Taxpayer
Enforcement
• Garnishee Summons – attach debt owing or wages
• Seizure under Writ of Execution
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Suing the Taxpayer
Enforcement
• Garnishee Summons – attach debt owing or wages
• Seizure under Writ of Execution
• Process may change soon – The Enforcement of Money Judgments Act
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Direct Collection from Tenant
• s. 321(1) – Tenant occupies property on which taxes are owing – direct collection permitted
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Direct Collection from Tenant
• s. 321(1) – Tenant occupies property on which taxes are owing – direct collection permitted
• Send notice to owner of intention to proceed
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Direct Collection from Tenant
• s. 321(1) – Tenant occupies property on which taxes are owing – direct collection permitted
• Send notice to owner of intention to proceed
• After 14 days, send notice to tenant
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Direct Collection from Tenant
• s. 321(1) – Tenant occupies property on which taxes are owing – direct collection permitted
• Send notice to owner of intention to proceed
• After 14 days, send notice to tenant
• Municipality may pay for heat, insurance and other items.
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Direct Collection from Tenant
• s. 321(1) – Tenant occupies property on which taxes are owing – direct collection permitted
• Send notice to owner of intention to proceed
• After 14 days, send notice to tenant
• Municipality may pay for heat, insurance and other items.
• Tenant does not pay – municipality may distrain on tenant (does not apply to residential tenancy)
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Recovery from Insurance Proceeds
• s. 322(1) – improvements are damaged or destroyed and taxes unpaid – may collect from insurer
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Recovery from Insurance Proceeds
• s. 322(1) – improvements are damaged or destroyed and taxes unpaid – may collect from insurer
• Send notice to insurer and preserve proof of service
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Recovery from Insurance Proceeds
• s. 322(1) – improvements are damaged or destroyed and taxes unpaid – may collect from insurer
• Send notice to insurer and preserve proof of service
• Payment not made – may bring lawsuit against insurer
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Recovery from Insurance Proceeds
• s. 322(1) – improvements are damaged or destroyed and taxes unpaid – may collect from insurer
• Send notice to insurer and preserve proof of service
• Payment not made – may bring lawsuit against insurer
• Claim only sustainable for amount not used to rebuild or repair
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Recovery from Insurance Proceeds
• s. 322(1) – improvements are damaged or destroyed and taxes unpaid – may collect from insurer
• Send notice to insurer and preserve proof of service
• Payment not made – may bring lawsuit against insurer
• Claim only sustainable for amount not used to rebuild or repair
• Claim likely not sustainable against contents insurance, and likely cannot be made for taxes on land (only improvements)
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Distress
• s. 325 – taxes unpaid for 30 days after mailing of tax notice – municipality may issue warrant to bailiff
• S. 333 – may distrain for licence fees if unpaid for 14 days
• If there is reason to believe the goods to be seized will be removed from the municipality before 30/14 days expire, may apply to a justice of the peace for an order authorizing earlier seizure
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Distress
Under s. 324 – the municipality may distrain on the following:
• Goods belonging to the taxpayer, wherever those goods may be found within the municipality;
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Distress
Under s. 324 – the municipality may distrain on the following:
• Goods belonging to the taxpayer, wherever those goods may be found within the municipality;
• Goods in the possession of the taxpayer, wherever those goods may be found within the municipality; and
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Distress
Under s. 324 – the municipality may distrain on the following:
• Goods belonging to the taxpayer, wherever those goods may be found within the municipality;
• Goods in the possession of the taxpayer, wherever those goods may be found within the municipality; and
• Goods found on the property with respect to which the tax has been levied and that are owned by or in the possession of any occupant of the premises, other than a tenant.
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Distress
The municipality may not distrain on the following:
• Goods that are the subject of a valid and subsisting lien in favor of a vendor (the interest of the taxpayer, or other occupant may still be seized subject to the vendor's interest)
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Distress
The municipality may not distrain on the following:
• Goods that are the subject of a valid and subsisting lien in favor of a vendor (the interest of the taxpayer, or other occupant may still be seized subject to the vendor's interest)
• The vendor's or lessor's share of a crop
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Distress
The municipality may not distrain on the following:
• Goods that are the subject of a valid and subsisting lien in favor of a vendor (the interest of the taxpayer, or other occupant may still be seized subject to the vendor's interest)
• The vendor's or lessor's share of a crop
• An animal not belonging to the taxpayer or to any occupant of the premises (unless the person is related)
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Distress
The municipality may not distrain on the following:
• Goods that are the subject of a valid and subsisting lien in favor of a vendor (the interest of the taxpayer, or other occupant may still be seized subject to the vendor's interest)
• The vendor's or lessor's share of a crop
• An animal not belonging to the taxpayer or to any occupant of the premises (unless the person is related)
• Goods in the possession of the taxpayer only for storing and warehousing, or for sale on commission
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Distress
Priorities -
• Municipal distress appears to have priority over a “chattel mortgage”
• Municipal distress appears to be subject to the priority of a “conditional sale”
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Distress
Priorities -
• Municipal distress appears to have priority over a “chattel mortgage”
• Municipal distress appears to be subject to the priority of a “conditional sale”
• Municipal distress has priority over distress by the landlord
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Distress
Priorities -
• Municipal distress appears to have priority over a “chattel mortgage”
• Municipal distress appears to be subject to the priority of a “conditional sale”
• Municipal distress has priority over distress by the landlord
• Search the PPR prior to seizing
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Distress
Notice and Sale:
• Must provide written notice of sale
• Sale governed by s. 330
• Costs recoverable only on tariff under The Distress Act
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Distress
Notice and Sale:
• Must provide written notice of sale
• Sale governed by s. 330
• Costs recoverable only on tariff under The Distress Act
• May release part of goods without compromising claim
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Distress
Following Hidden Goods:
• If goods have been fraudulently and clandstinely removed, may follow, break and enter in order to seize.
• Very technical remedy – get legal advice
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Goods in Hands of Others
• s. 355 – applies where goods have been seized by sheriff, bailiff, liquidator, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy
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Goods in Hands of Others
• s. 355 – applies where goods have been seized by sheriff, bailiff, liquidator, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy
• applies where goods or proceeds still in hands of third party
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Goods in Hands of Others
• s. 355 – applies where goods have been seized by sheriff, bailiff, liquidator, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy
• applies where goods or proceeds still in hands of third party
• Municipality may serve written notice
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Goods in Hands of Others
• s. 355 – applies where goods have been seized by sheriff, bailiff, liquidator, receiver, trustee in bankruptcy
• applies where goods or proceeds still in hands of third party
• Municipality may serve written notice
• Notice binds goods and proceeds – amount of taxes to be paid in priority to other claims except for fees of sheriff or bailiff, and amounts owing to the Crown
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Collection – Oil or Gas Wells
• s. 355 – tax unpaid after year end on resource production equipment of an oil or gas well – can collect from anyone who purchases oil or gas originating on that well
• Send written notice to purchaser and preserve proof of service
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Removed Improvements
• s. 356 – tax unpaid on land or improvements located thereon – improvements not to be removed from the municipality or demolished
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Removed Improvements
• s. 356 – tax unpaid on land or improvements located thereon – improvements not to be removed from the municipality or demolished
• If removed, may locate the improvement, sever from land and restore to its former location
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Removed Improvements
• s. 356 – tax unpaid on land or improvements located thereon – improvements not to be removed from the municipality or demolished
• If removed, may locate the improvement, sever from land and restore to its former location
• Alternatively, may distrain on improvement and sell for unpaid taxes and costs
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Sharing Expenses
• Subject to express limitations, may recover costs
• s. 309– if costs are not recoverable in full, reasonable costs may be apportioned between municipality and other taxing authorities
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Sharing Expenses
• Subject to express limitations, may recover costs
• s. 309– if costs are not recoverable in full, reasonable costs may be apportioned between municipality and other taxing authorities
• Apportionment to be on a pro-rata basis
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Sharing Expenses
• Subject to express limitations, may recover costs
• s. 309– if costs are not recoverable in full, reasonable costs may be apportioned between municipality and other taxing authorities
• Apportionment to be on a pro-rata basis
• Cannot include amounts paid to compensate municipal employee
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Non-Title Enforcement
• Select your remedy carefully
• Ensure that the sum sought is accurate
• Satisfy pre-conditions
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Non-Title Enforcement
• Select your remedy carefully
• Ensure that the sum sought is accurate
• Satisfy pre-conditions
• Prepare necessary documentation
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For information on non-title proceedings or other muncipal matters, contact M. Kim Anderson at [email protected]