Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Pickering’s 2026 residential property tax rate is 1.337288% of your MPAC assessment, up 3.81% from 2025. A home assessed at $586,000 pays about $7,837 a year. Taxes are paid in four instalments; in 2026 the interim ones were due February 24 and April 24, and the final dates are printed on the final bill.
This guide is for Pickering homeowners and buyers who want plain numbers on property tax: the 2026 rate, what common assessments pay, when the 2027 instalments are likely to fall, and how to avoid penalties. Everything comes from the City of Pickering’s own tax pages and budget, with TRREB sales data for context.
What is the Pickering property tax rate for 2026?
Pickering’s 2026 residential tax rate is 1.337288% of your MPAC assessment. That is $1,337.29 for every $100,000 of assessed value. It is made up of three parts:
| Residential rate | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| City of Pickering | 0.390371% | 0.403528% |
| Durham Region | 0.744869% | 0.780760% |
| Education (set by the Province) | 0.153000% | 0.153000% |
| Total | 1.288240% | 1.337288% |
Source: City of Pickering 2026 tax rates; 2025 rates from the City’s property tax page and 2025 rate schedule.
The City’s 2026 budget shows where a residential tax dollar goes: about 30% to the City, 58% to Durham Region and 12% to school boards. So most of your bill pays for regional services such as police, transit, waste and major roads, not City services.
How much property tax will I pay on a Pickering home?
Multiply your MPAC assessment by 1.337288%. The City’s own example uses a home assessed at $586,000. Here is what that home and other common assessments pay at the 2026 rate:
| MPAC assessment | 2026 tax per year | Per month | Change vs 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $400,000 | $5,349 | $446 | +$196 |
| $500,000 | $6,686 | $557 | +$245 |
| $586,000 | $7,837 | $653 | +$287 |
| $700,000 | $9,361 | $780 | +$343 |
| $800,000 | $10,698 | $892 | +$392 |
| $1,000,000 | $13,373 | $1,114 | +$490 |
Source: my calculations from the City of Pickering’s 2025 and 2026 residential rates. Assumes the assessment did not change. Rounded to the dollar.
Should I use my purchase price or my assessment?
Use your assessment. The City suggests a rule of thumb of assessed value or recent purchase price, but your real bill is based on MPAC’s number. The last province-wide assessment update used values as of January 1, 2016, so most homes are assessed well below what they would sell for today. If you bought at $1 million, multiplying by the rate would suggest about $13,373, while a 2016 assessment could be far lower. Ask the seller for the last final tax bill before you firm up. My guide to Ontario’s 2016 assessments explains why the values are frozen.
How much did Pickering property taxes go up in 2026?
The total residential rate rose 3.81%, from 1.288240% to 1.337288%, by my calculation. If your assessment did not change, your total bill rose by the same 3.81%. On the City’s $586,000 example, that is about $287 more for the year.
The City’s own share was the smaller piece. Pickering’s 2026 budget carried a 3.49% increase in the City levy, which the City says equals about 1.06% on the total tax bill. The rest came from Durham Region. When the City published its budget, it estimated a 4.82% total increase based on a 6.5% Region estimate. The final rates came in lower.
For context, the City said the average total residential increase in 2025 was about 5.26%: 3.75% on the City’s portion and a 7.40% Durham Region levy increase.
Why did my Pickering tax payment jump in the middle of the year?
Because the whole year’s increase lands on the second half of the year. The City explained this in June 2025 after residents reported increases of 10% to 16% that were not real:
- Monthly plan (12 payments): the yearly increase is spread only over the remaining payments starting in July, so each of those payments rises by more than the yearly percentage.
- Instalment plan (4 payments): only the two final instalments reflect the new rates, so they look much larger than the interim ones.
- Renovated or changed homes: a new MPAC value applies to the final bill and can add a real increase.
Compare the full year’s taxes, not one payment with another. The explanation section on your final bill breaks the change into City, Region, education and assessment.
When are Pickering property taxes due in 2027?
Pickering bills four instalments a year: two on the interim bill and two on the final bill. Recent dates were:
| Bill | 2026 due dates | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Interim | February 24 and April 24, 2026 | Based on the previous year’s taxes |
| Final | Printed on your final bill; the City’s grant page puts the last instalment in late September | The new year’s rates, less what you paid on the interim bill |
Source: City of Pickering property tax page and tax grant page (2026); City of Pickering news release, June 2025.
Watch the final dates closely. In 2025 the City moved the final instalments from June and September to July and October to give residents more time. The 2027 dates will be printed on your bills, so add them to your calendar as soon as the interim bill arrives early in the year.
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How do I pay property tax in Pickering?
- Online or telephone banking. Enter your property roll number exactly as it appears on your bill, with no dashes or spaces. Your account is credited when the City receives the money, not the day it leaves your bank, so pay a few days early.
- At a bank or trust company. Most chartered banks accept property tax payments.
- By mail. Make the cheque payable to the City of Pickering and send it to City Hall at One The Esplanade. Post-dated cheques are fine; write the roll number on each one and include the stubs.
- In person. The cashier on the second floor of the Civic Complex takes cheque or debit, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The City does not take credit cards.
- After hours. A drop box sits in the tower between the library and City Hall. Do not put cash in it.
- Through your mortgage lender. If your lender pays your taxes, forward the bill to them right away.
Can I pay Pickering property tax monthly?
Yes. The monthly payment plan takes 12 automatic withdrawals, on the 1st, 8th or 16th of each month, and you stay enrolled from year to year. The due date plan withdraws each of the four instalments on its due date. Your account must be up to date to join either one. Send the authorization form with a void cheque to the City’s taxation section.
What is the penalty for paying Pickering property tax late?
Pickering charges a 1.25% late payment penalty on the first day of default, and another 1.25% on the first day of every calendar month the taxes stay unpaid. Over a full year that is about 15%. Payments must be received and processed by the due date. The City also charges a service fee for payments your bank does not honour and for correcting electronic payments made to the wrong account.
When you buy in Pickering, your new roll number is printed on the bill. If you leave an old payee set up from a previous home, your payment can land on the wrong account while the new one builds penalties. Update online banking right after closing. On a purchase, your lawyer adjusts the year’s taxes with the seller. My guide to property tax clauses and the tax holdback explains how that works.
Is there property tax help for low-income seniors in Pickering?
Yes, two programs:
- Tax grant: $620 for 2026. You qualify if you are 65 or older and receive or qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement, or you receive or qualify for the Ontario Disability Support Program. The home must be in the residential class and your principal residence for at least a year. Apply by August 19. The grant is credited against the final instalment, and you must reapply every year.
- Tax deferral. Eligible low-income seniors and people with disabilities can defer the part of an assessment-related increase above 5% or $100, whichever is greater. The deferred amount is a lien on the home and is repaid when it is sold or ownership changes.
Every registered owner must meet the rules, or be the spouse of an owner who does. My GTA seniors tax relief guide compares programs across the region.
Is Pickering property tax higher than Ajax?
No. Pickering’s 2026 residential rate is a little lower than its eastern neighbour’s:
| 2026 residential rate | Pickering | Ajax |
|---|---|---|
| Local municipality | 0.403528% | 0.454904% |
| Durham Region | 0.780760% | 0.780760% |
| Education | 0.153000% | 0.153000% |
| Total | 1.337288% | 1.388664% |
| Tax on a $500,000 assessment | About $6,686 | About $6,943 |
Source: City of Pickering and Town of Ajax 2026 tax rates. Dollar amounts are my calculations.
Both towns pay the same Durham Region rate, so the gap comes from the local share. A lower rate does not always mean a lower bill, though, because the assessment matters as much as the rate. My Pickering vs Ajax comparison covers prices and commute as well.
Here is what Pickering homes actually sold for this year, which is a reminder of how far market prices sit above 2016 assessments:
| Pickering home type | Median sold price, Jan to Oct 2026 | Change vs same period 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Detached | $1,039,999 | -8.0% |
| Semi-detached | $826,499 | -3.4% |
| Freehold townhouse | $789,000 | -7.2% |
| Condo townhouse | $608,000 | -6.5% |
| Condo apartment | $470,000 | -13.6% |
Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January to October 2026 vs the same period of 2025. City-wide medians.
When I work with buyers in Pickering, I never estimate taxes from the list price. I ask for the seller’s last final bill and the MPAC assessment, because two similar homes can carry very different bills. For owners, the monthly plan is the easiest way to avoid four large payments, as long as you expect the July payments to rise when the new rates kick in. Plan on 2027 rates arriving with the final bill, and budget a few per cent higher than 2026 until then.
What to do next
- Find your MPAC assessment on your last bill, multiply it by 1.337288%, and divide by 12 for a monthly figure.
- When your 2027 interim bill arrives, put all four due dates in your calendar, and check the final dates when that bill comes.
- Confirm your online banking payee uses your current roll number, with no dashes or spaces.
- If you are 65 or older and receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement, apply for the $620 grant before the August deadline.
- See what your home would sell for today with the estimator on this page before you plan a move.
Need help with this? Talk to me.
I’m Jatin Dua, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quantum Realty, and I’m the best agent to do this kind of work for you in Toronto and across the GTA. Over $100 million in GTA sales and 100+ families helped sell. Feel free to contact me any time: call or text 833-330-1925 or email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
What is the property tax rate in Pickering, Ontario?
Pickering’s 2026 residential property tax rate is 1.337288% of your MPAC assessment, or $1,337.29 per $100,000. That includes 0.403528% for the City, 0.780760% for Durham Region and 0.153% for education. The 2025 rate was 1.288240%, so the total rate rose 3.81%. 2027 rates are set during 2027 and appear on the final bill.
How much is property tax on a $1 million house in Pickering?
A Pickering home assessed at $1,000,000 pays about $13,373 a year in 2026 property tax, or about $1,114 a month. But most homes that sell for $1 million today are assessed much lower, because MPAC still uses January 1, 2016 values. Use the assessment on your bill or the seller’s last final tax bill, not the purchase price.
When are Pickering property taxes due?
Pickering property tax is paid in four instalments: two interim and two final. In 2026 the interim instalments were due February 24 and April 24. The final dates are printed on the final bill; in 2025 the City moved them to July and October, and its 2026 grant page refers to the last instalment in late September. Check each bill for 2027.
Why did my Pickering property tax go up so much in July?
Because the whole year’s increase is collected in the second half. On Pickering’s 12-payment monthly plan, the new rates apply only to the payments from July, so each one rises more than the yearly percentage. On the instalment plan, only the two final payments reflect the new rates. The City says to compare full-year totals instead.
How much did Pickering property taxes increase in 2026?
Pickering’s total residential tax rate rose 3.81% in 2026, from 1.288240% to 1.337288%, so a home with an unchanged assessment paid 3.81% more. The City’s own budget levy rose 3.49%, which the City says equals about 1.06% on the total bill. On a $586,000 assessment, the increase is about $287 for the year.
Can I pay Pickering property tax with a credit card?
No. The City of Pickering does not accept credit cards for property tax payments. You can pay by online or telephone banking, at a bank, by cheque or post-dated cheque, by debit at the City Hall cashier, or through an automatic monthly or due date plan. Payments count only when the City receives them.
What is the late payment penalty for Pickering property tax?
Pickering adds a 1.25% penalty on the first day an instalment is late, then another 1.25% on the first day of each calendar month the taxes stay unpaid. Over a year that adds up to about 15%. Payments must be received and processed by the due date, so allow a few days for online banking.
Does Pickering have a property tax grant for seniors?
Yes. For 2026 the City of Pickering offers a $620 property tax grant to owners 65 or older who receive or qualify for the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and to owners on the Ontario Disability Support Program. The home must be your principal residence for at least a year. Apply by August 19; the grant reduces the final instalment.
Is Pickering property tax lower than Ajax?
Yes. Pickering’s 2026 residential rate is 1.337288%, compared with 1.388664% in Ajax. Both pay the same Durham Region rate; Pickering’s local share is lower. On a $500,000 assessment, that is about $6,686 a year in Pickering and $6,943 in Ajax. Your actual bill also depends on your MPAC assessment.
Sources
- City of Pickering: Property Taxes
- City of Pickering: 2026 Tax Rates
- City of Pickering: Paying Property Taxes
- City of Pickering: Tax Deferrals, Grants and Rebates
- City of Pickering: Property Assessments
- City of Pickering: Clearing Up Confusion on the 2025 Property Tax Increase
- City of Pickering: 2026 Budget Highlights
- Town of Ajax: 2026 Final Tax Rates
Related reading
- Average Property Tax in Toronto for 2027: Per Year, Per Month, by Home Value
- Toronto Property Tax Due Dates and Payment Options Explained
- GTA Property Tax Rates Compared: Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan and More
- Property Tax on Vacant Land in Ontario: How It Works
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.