ReverseMortgageHamilton.ca put together this list of Hamilton property tax dates for 2026 and early 2027 so homeowners 65 and older can see every deadline in one place. Each date comes from the City of Hamilton, the Government of Ontario or the Bank of Canada.
The checklist
| Date | What happens | Who it’s for |
|---|---|---|
| July 2 and September 30, 2026 | 2026 final tax instalments were due | Every Hamilton homeowner |
| October 7, 2026 (passed), or 120 days from your bill date | First appeal deadline for a 2025 Vacant Unit Tax bill | Owners who got a Vacant Unit Tax bill |
| October 28, 2026 | Bank of Canada interest rate decision | Anyone with a variable rate |
| November 1, 2026 | Snow clearing subsidy applications open | 65+, income limits apply |
| December 9, 2026 | Bank of Canada interest rate decision | Anyone with a variable rate |
| December 31, 2026 | Late appeal deadline for the 2024 Vacant Unit Tax, with a $500 fee | Owners who missed the 2024 deadline |
| Not yet announced | Vacant Unit Tax declarations open for 2026; last year’s opened December 17, 2025 | Every residential owner |
| Spring 2027, with your 2026 tax return | Claim the Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant | 64+, income limits apply |
| Friday, February 26, 2027 | Last day to apply for the 2026 tax increase deferral and the seniors rebate | 65+, income limit applies |
| March 31, 2027 | Snow clearing subsidy applications close | 65+, income limits apply |
| September 30, 2027, if the 2026 rule continues | Expected last day to apply for the 2027 full tax deferral | 65+, income limit applies |
What each date means
The 2026 final tax bill
The City’s 2026 final tax instalments were due July 2 and September 30, 2026 (City of Hamilton, By-law 26-064). If either one is still unpaid, contact the City’s tax office soon, because late payments collect penalties and interest.
The Vacant Unit Tax
The Vacant Unit Tax is 1% of a home’s assessed value, charged when a home sat empty more than 183 days in the year before. The first appeal deadline for the 2025 tax year was October 7, 2026, or 120 days from the billing date on your bill (City of Hamilton, Vacant Unit Tax).
For the 2024 tax year, a late appeal is open until December 31, 2026, with a $500 late appeal fee.
Every residential owner must declare each year. For the 2025 tax year, the City mailed a Notice to Declare in early December, and declarations opened December 17, 2025. The tax doesn’t apply for the time the principal resident lives in a hospital, long-term care or supportive care facility. The guide to the Vacant Unit Tax and long-term care explains how to declare it.
The snow clearing subsidy
The City pays $450 a season, in two $225 instalments, toward clearing the sidewalk and the way to your front door. It’s for homeowners 65 or older, or with a physical disability, who meet the income limits. Applications run November 1 to March 31 (City of Hamilton, Snow Clearing Subsidy).
The seniors deferral and rebate
Homeowners 65 and older with a combined income of $44,568 or less can defer the 2026 tax increase, interest-free while they stay eligible. The same income limit applies to the $241 seniors tax rebate, for homes assessed at or below $505,694, plus a $175 seniors utility rebate with an active metered water account (City of Hamilton, Tax Assistance Programs).
The deadline for both is the last business day of February 2027, which is Friday, February 26, 2027.
The City also offers a full deferral of the whole tax bill. In 2026 it charged 4.45% interest plus an application fee. The City has published only the 2026 program so far. If the 2027 program keeps the same rule, the deadline will be the last day of September, September 30, 2027. The guide to the Hamilton property tax deferral for seniors compares both kinds.
The Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant
Ontario pays up to $500 a year to homeowners aged 64 or older who meet its income limits (Government of Ontario). You claim it with your 2026 income tax return, filed in spring 2027.
Bank of Canada decisions
Two more Bank of Canada rate announcements are scheduled, on October 28 and December 9, 2026 (Bank of Canada). Advertised 5-year fixed reverse mortgage rates ran 6.23% to 6.94% when checked on September 17, 2026.
Curious what your home could provide alongside these programs?
A deferral and a reverse mortgage are one route or the other, not both. A reverse mortgage has no required monthly mortgage payments, while property taxes, insurance and upkeep stay yours. The guide to what a reverse mortgage costs in Hamilton lists every one-time cost.
The Hamilton reverse mortgage calculator gives a first estimate. Richard Hopkins, Mortgage Broker, compares every reverse mortgage lender in Canada, by email, phone and video call, and the service is free to you.