ReverseMortgageWhitby.ca gathers the 2026 Whitby property tax figures for homeowners 55 and older in one place. Every number below comes from the Town of Whitby, Durham Region or the Province of Ontario, with a link to each source.
How much is Whitby property tax in 2026?
Whitby’s 2026 residential tax rate is 1.382491% of your home’s assessed value. That rate covers three bills in one: the Town of Whitby, Durham Region (including police, transit and waste) and the province’s education tax. On the average Whitby assessment of $503,000, the total is about $6,954 for 2026.
The Town sets the rates each year (Town of Whitby 2026 tax rates). Here is how the bill splits on the average assessment.
| Part of the bill | 2026 rate | On a $503,000 assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Town of Whitby | 0.468163% | about $2,355 |
| Durham Region, incl. police, transit, waste | 0.761328% | about $3,829 |
| Education | 0.153000% | about $770 |
| Total | 1.382491% | about $6,954 |
These dollar figures are an estimate worked out from the Town’s published rates. Your own bill depends on your own assessment. Police alone accounts for about $1,300 of the Region’s part.
Why are Whitby assessments based on 2016 values?
Ontario has not done a province-wide reassessment since 2016. Whitby assessments are still based on what homes were worth on January 1, 2016. That is why the average assessment is $503,000 while homes now sell for much more (Town of Whitby, November 28, 2025).
A low assessment doesn’t mean a low tax bill. The rate is set so the Town and Region collect what their budgets need, whatever the assessed values are. Current selling prices are covered in the guide to Whitby house prices.
How much did Whitby property tax go up in 2026?
The Town of Whitby raised its own budget by 3.44% for 2026. Because the Town is only part of the bill, that works out to about 1.2% of the total residential bill, or about $78 a year for the average home. Durham Region approved a 4.8% increase, about $14 a month for the average homeowner.
Whitby Council adopted its budget on November 27, 2025 (Town of Whitby). Durham Regional Council approved its budget in January 2026, and about $10 of the $14 a month goes to police (Durham Region).
When is Whitby property tax due?
Whitby property tax is paid in four instalments. For 2026, the interim bill was due February 27 and April 30, and the final bill June 30 and September 29. Each due date falls on the last business day of February, April, June and September. A late balance is charged 1.25% on the first day it’s late and again each month.
Interim bills are mailed by the end of January and final bills by the end of May (Town of Whitby). The penalty rule appears in the Town’s June 2026 notice (Town of Whitby). The dates for the season ahead are listed in the post on Whitby dates for fall and winter 2026.
Three pre-authorized payment plans
The Town offers three plans that take payments from a chequing account (Town of Whitby):
- Monthly: 11 withdrawals on the 15th, January to November.
- Instalment due date: four withdrawals, one on each due date.
- Arrears plan: monthly withdrawals on the 15th that clear overdue tax within 36 months at most. Late charges still apply while a balance is owing.
What property tax relief can Whitby seniors get?
Whitby seniors can apply for the Town’s Low Income Seniors Tax Rebate if they are 65 or older and receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Homeowners on ODSP have a matching rebate. Ontario adds the Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant and the energy and property tax credit. The reassessment deferral is closed for now.
The Town’s Low Income Seniors Tax Rebate
You qualify if you are 65 or older, your income qualifies for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), and the Whitby home is your principal residence. You apply by December 31 each year with your current GIS letter, by email to [email protected] or by mail (Town of Whitby).
The rebate is $543 for 2026 (Town of Whitby, November 28, 2025). One rebate is paid per property each year.
The rebate for homeowners on ODSP
Homeowners who receive the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) can claim the Low Income Homeowner with Disabilities Rebate. It uses the same form and the same December 31 deadline (Town of Whitby).
The reassessment deferral is closed
Durham Region’s tax deferral program is closed until the next province-wide reassessment. When it is open, it only lets eligible seniors and ODSP recipients put off increases caused by a reassessment. It never covered the whole bill, and the deferred amount is a lien on the home, due in full when it is sold or ownership is transferred (Town of Whitby).
Ontario’s grant and tax credit
Ontario’s Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant is worth up to $500 a year. You qualify if you were 64 or older on December 31 of the previous year, and the full grant goes to single seniors with adjusted family net income up to $35,000, or couples up to $45,000. You claim it with your income tax return (Ontario).
The Ontario energy and property tax credit is separate. It is also claimed through your tax return and paid by the Canada Revenue Agency (Canada Revenue Agency).
Heritage homes in Brooklin and Downtown Whitby
The Town’s Heritage Property Tax Rebate returns 40% of the Town and education taxes on the heritage part of an eligible property. It applies to designated properties and “Contributing” properties in the Brooklin and Werden’s Plan heritage districts, covering parts of Brooklin and Downtown Whitby. New applications run August 1 to September 15 (Town of Whitby).
The rebate requires a Heritage Conservation Easement Agreement with the Town. Any mortgage lender must agree that the Town’s agreement ranks ahead of its mortgage. If you have this rebate, tell Richard Hopkins, Mortgage Broker, at the start, so the lender’s lawyer can plan for it.
How does a reverse mortgage fit with property tax?
A reverse mortgage doesn’t replace your property tax bill. You keep paying the tax, home insurance and upkeep, and lenders check that the tax stays paid. There are no required monthly mortgage payments, which frees up money in your monthly budget. Any overdue property tax is paid off at closing from the mortgage money.
Some Whitby homeowners take enough to cover several years of tax and keep it in the bank. Others take regular monthly deposits. With the Region’s deferral closed, this is one way some seniors keep their tax bills current.
The money from a reverse mortgage is a loan, not income. It doesn’t count toward the GIS, so it doesn’t change your eligibility for the Town’s seniors’ rebate. Interest you earn on money left in savings does count as income, though.
Besides comparing every reverse mortgage lender in Canada, Richard sets up home equity lines of credit, refinances and regular mortgages. With every choice weighed, you get a recommendation based on your situation, even if it’s not a reverse mortgage. For fees and interest, the guide to reverse mortgage costs in Whitby explains the fees and interest, and the Whitby reverse mortgage calculator shows a rough figure for your age and home.
What this means for you
Whitby property tax for an average home is close to $7,000 in 2026, and it stays your bill whatever else changes. Claim every rebate and grant you qualify for. Richard Hopkins, Mortgage Broker, compares every reverse mortgage lender in Canada and other ways to borrow. With them all weighed, you get a recommendation based on your situation, even if it's not a reverse mortgage.
To see the figures for your own home, get your free Whitby estimate. There's no cost and no sales pressure.