# Halton Property Tax Deferral Options | ReverseMortgageBurlington.ca

> The Halton property tax deferral postpones the whole bill, interest free, for owners 65+. When it is enough and when it isn't. Free estimate, no sales pressure.

URL: https://reversemortgageburlington.ca/guide/halton-property-tax-deferral/

Decision Guide: Property tax

# Halton Property Tax Deferral or a Reverse Mortgage: Which Fits?

Halton's deferral and a reverse mortgage cannot run together. One covers the tax bill only; the other can cover the tax bill and everything else.

Published by Dominion Lending Centres Homestead Financial. Updated October 15, 2026. About 6 minutes to read.

## In short

-   **The whole bill, interest free:** Halton defers the full yearly property tax for owners 65+ with combined income under $69,500 ([Halton Region](https://www.halton.ca/the-region/finance-and-transparency/property-taxes/older-adults-property-tax-deferral-program)).
-   **$200 one-time fee,** added to the deferred balance; the total can't pass 50% of the assessed value ([Halton By-law 20-16, as amended](https://www.halton.ca/getmedia/9f386698-e6a2-4059-b6b5-8f441f2ad9cd/FN-By-law-20-16-Older-Adults-Property-Tax-Consolidated.pdf)).
-   **Two Ontario benefits stop** while you are in it: the Ontario property tax credit and the Senior Homeowners' Property Tax Grant ([Halton information sheet](https://www.halton.ca/repository/older-adults-property-tax-deferral-general-informa)).
-   **The 2026 window has closed.** Halton expects a new application form in spring 2027, and renewals were due September 30 ([Halton Region](https://www.halton.ca/the-region/finance-and-transparency/property-taxes/older-adults-property-tax-deferral-program)).

The Halton property tax deferral lets Burlington owners 65 and older postpone their whole yearly tax bill, interest free, if combined income is under $69,500 and they have lived in the home four years. It is repaid when the home is sold or after you stop qualifying. It cannot run alongside a reverse mortgage, so it is one route or the other.

[See what your own Burlington home could provide](https://reversemortgagebroker.ca/estimate/?utm_source=reversemortgageburlington&utm_medium=satellite&utm_campaign=halton-property-tax-deferral). The estimate is free and comes with no sales pressure.

**Why you can trust this page**

This page comes from Dominion Lending Centres Homestead Financial, which holds Ontario mortgage brokerage licence #11711. For Burlington homeowners, Richard Hopkins, Mortgage Broker (licence M16000896), compares every reverse mortgage lender in Canada.

Each number below links to where it came from, and the full source list sits at the bottom. The figures were last checked October 15, 2026. Lenders have no say in this page and pay nothing toward it.

On this page

1.  [What is the Halton property tax deferral?](#what-is-the-halton-property-tax-deferral)
2.  [Who qualifies for the Halton deferral?](#who-qualifies-for-the-halton-deferral)
3.  [Can you have the Halton deferral and a reverse mortgage at the same time?](#can-you-have-the-halton-deferral-and-a-reverse-mortgage-at-the-same-time)
4.  [When is the Halton deferral alone enough?](#when-is-the-halton-deferral-alone-enough)
5.  [When are the taxes one bill among many?](#when-are-the-taxes-one-bill-among-many)
6.  [How do you decide which route fits?](#how-do-you-decide-which-route-fits)

Burlington homeowners 65 and older who find the yearly tax bill hard to cover can start by looking at the Halton property tax deferral.

The challenge is not usually qualifying, since the rules are clear. It is knowing whether postponing the taxes solves the real problem, or only one bill among several.

The things to weigh are your income, any other debts or payments, the Ontario benefits the deferral switches off, and what each route leaves for your family. This page compares the deferral and a reverse mortgage plainly, without picking a winner.

[ReverseMortgageBurlington.ca](/) is a Burlington reverse mortgage information website, and it covers the deferral because the two cannot be used together.

## What is the Halton property tax deferral?

The Halton Older Adults Property Tax Deferral postpones your entire yearly property tax bill, interest free. Halton Region runs it and the City of Burlington handles it locally. The deferred taxes become a lien on the home and are repaid when the home is sold or transferred, or after you stop qualifying.

There is no fee to apply or renew. A one-time $200 administration fee is added to the deferred balance. The total deferred, including that fee, cannot pass 50% of the home’s assessed value ([Halton Region](https://www.halton.ca/the-region/finance-and-transparency/property-taxes/older-adults-property-tax-deferral-program)).

### Interest free while you stay eligible

Interest does build on paper, but Halton pays it as a grant you never repay, as long as you stay in the program. After a grace period ends, or once the home is sold, the City’s usual tax interest applies to anything still owing.

You can repay part or all of the balance at any time.

## Who qualifies for the Halton deferral?

You qualify if you are 65 or older, own your home in Halton, and at least one registered owner has lived there as a principal residence for the last four years. Combined gross income of all owners must be under $69,500. From 2026, new applicants can own only that one property in Halton.

You also cannot be in any other deferral or rebate program, and earlier years’ taxes must be paid ([Halton Region](https://www.halton.ca/the-region/finance-and-transparency/property-taxes/older-adults-property-tax-deferral-program)).

The 2026 application window has closed, and Halton expects a new form in spring 2027. Renewal notices go out each May and are due September 30. If you miss a renewal, a one-year grace period keeps taxes deferred interest free.

| Rule | Halton deferral | Reverse mortgage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Age | 65 or older | 55 or older, every owner |
| Income limit | Under $69,500 combined | None |
| What it pays | The tax bill only | Existing mortgage first, then any use |
| Interest | Paid by Halton while eligible | 6.23% to 6.94% advertised, added to the balance |
| Up-front cost | $200 fee, added to the balance | About $2,000 to $3,500, legal advice included |
| Upper limit | 50% of the 2016 assessed value | Up to about 46% to 60% of today’s value, by age |

Reverse mortgage rates are the advertised 5-year fixed rates of the four lenders, checked September 17, 2026. A reverse mortgage costs roughly $2,000 to $3,500 to set up, and that includes your own lawyer’s advice at about $800 to $1,200.

## Can you have the Halton deferral and a reverse mortgage at the same time?

No. The deferred taxes are a lien on the home, and every reverse mortgage pays off liens at closing. Keeping property taxes paid is also a condition of every reverse mortgage. So the deferral ends the day a reverse mortgage starts, and the deferred balance comes out of the mortgage money.

Halton’s own information sheet also warns that being in the program may affect current or future lending on the home ([Halton information sheet](https://www.halton.ca/repository/older-adults-property-tax-deferral-general-informa)). That is why the choice is one route or the other, and why it is worth looking at both before you sign up for either.

## When is the Halton deferral alone enough?

The deferral alone is often enough when property tax is the only bill that doesn’t fit. If your home is paid off, you have no other debts, and your income covers everything except the taxes, an interest-free postponement is very hard to beat with any loan.

For example, an illustrative widow of 78 has a paid-off home assessed at $500,000 and an income of $38,000. Her 2026 bill is about $5,076 ([City of Burlington](https://www.burlington.ca/en/property-taxes/how-your-taxes-are-used.aspx)).

Deferring $5,076 a year for 10 years, plus the $200 fee, comes to about $50,960 before any tax increases. That is far below the 50% limit of $250,000 on a $500,000 assessment.

She should count what she gives up. While she is in the program, she cannot claim the Ontario property tax credit or the Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant of up to $500 a year. The guide to [Burlington property tax for seniors](/guide/burlington-property-tax-seniors/) explains both.

## When are the taxes one bill among many?

The taxes are one bill among many when a deferral would still leave you short each month. A mortgage or HELOC (home equity line of credit) payment, credit card balances, a needed repair or the cost of help at home all stay in place after the taxes are postponed.

For example, an illustrative couple of 70 and 73 owns a home worth $905,500, the same as Burlington’s September 2026 median sale price ([Cornerstone Association of REALTORS](https://cdn.agentbook.com/accounts/ZjLJD68FI0/assets/documents/September%202026%20Burlington%20Monthly%20Indicators.pdf?timestamp=1791230513932)). They owe $95,000 on a HELOC and earn $62,000 a year.

They qualify for the deferral, but the HELOC payment stays. At age 70, the most they could borrow with a reverse mortgage is about 53% of $905,500, or about $479,000. Paying off the $95,000 HELOC first leaves about $384,000 available, and they choose how much to take.

With a reverse mortgage they have no required monthly mortgage payments. The couple still pays the property taxes, the home insurance and the upkeep. Their balance grows with interest, though a rise in the home’s price often makes up for part or all of that, and Canadian borrowers end up keeping about half of their equity on average.

Their debt also has a limit. Provided the couple keeps the taxes, insurance and upkeep up to date, the amount repaid can’t go past what the house would fetch at fair market value at the time the mortgage becomes due. It’s typically called the no negative equity guarantee, and all four lenders offer it.

## How do you decide which route fits?

You decide by looking at your whole budget, not the tax bill alone. Write down every monthly cost, any debts, the work the house needs, and how long you plan to stay. Then compare the deferral, a payment plan, a reverse mortgage and a move using real numbers.

Richard Hopkins, Mortgage Broker, compares every reverse mortgage lender in Canada, and sometimes the right answer for a household is the deferral. You pay nothing for the broker: the brokerage’s fee comes from the lender, and only once the mortgage has funded. The work is done by email, phone and video call, with family copied on the emails if you like.

The [reverse mortgage cost guide for Burlington](/guide/reverse-mortgage-cost-burlington/) lists every one-time cost, and the [Burlington reverse mortgage calculator](/tools/reverse-mortgage-calculator-burlington/) shows the most you could get at your age and how your home’s value, the loan and your equity could change over 15 years. If selling is on the table, see the guide to [downsizing in Burlington](/guide/downsizing-in-burlington-cost/), and for current values, [Burlington home prices](/guide/burlington-home-prices/).

## The bottom line

If the property tax bill is the only thing that doesn't fit your budget and you meet Halton's rules, the deferral is interest-free help that is hard to match. If the taxes are one bill among several, a deferral alone leaves the rest in place, and the whole picture needs comparing before you choose a route.

For figures based on your own house, [ask for a free Burlington estimate](https://reversemortgagebroker.ca/estimate/?utm_source=reversemortgageburlington&utm_medium=satellite&utm_campaign=halton-property-tax-deferral). There's no charge and no sales pressure.

## Questions people also ask

**Can you apply for the Halton property tax deferral now?**

No. The 2026 application window has closed. Halton expects a new form in spring 2027. If you are already in the program and missed the September 30 renewal, a one-year grace period keeps your taxes deferred interest free.

**What happens to deferred taxes when the owner dies?**

The deferred amount is a lien on the home and is repaid from the estate. If the home goes into probate as part of an estate, repayment falls due on January 1 after the grace period, or on closing if the home is sold first.

**Do you lose the Ontario senior grant with the deferral?**

Yes. Halton's information sheet says participants cannot claim the Ontario property tax credit or the **Senior Homeowners' Property Tax Grant** (up to $500 a year) while they are in the program. See [Burlington property tax for seniors](/guide/burlington-property-tax-seniors/) for both benefits.

[

Related service

Reverse mortgages in Burlington

How a reverse mortgage works on a Burlington home, what it costs, and how every lender in Canada is compared for you at no cost.

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## More guides for Burlington homeowners

-   [Burlington Property Tax for Seniors: What Helps in 2026](/guide/burlington-property-tax-seniors/)
-   [What does a reverse mortgage cost in Burlington?](/guide/reverse-mortgage-cost-burlington/)
-   [What are Burlington home prices in 2026?](/guide/burlington-home-prices/)
-   [How much does downsizing in Burlington cost?](/guide/downsizing-in-burlington-cost/)
-   [Long-term care in Burlington: costs, waiting lists and your home](/guide/long-term-care-burlington/)

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## Sources

Figures checked October 15, 2026.

1.  [Halton Region: Older Adults Property Tax Deferral Program](https://www.halton.ca/the-region/finance-and-transparency/property-taxes/older-adults-property-tax-deferral-program)
2.  [Halton Region: Older Adults Property Tax Deferral general information sheet](https://www.halton.ca/repository/older-adults-property-tax-deferral-general-informa)
3.  [Halton Region: By-law 20-16, office consolidation (amended to 22-26)](https://www.halton.ca/getmedia/9f386698-e6a2-4059-b6b5-8f441f2ad9cd/FN-By-law-20-16-Older-Adults-Property-Tax-Consolidated.pdf)
4.  [Halton Region: By-law 22-26 (April 15, 2026)](https://www.halton.ca/getmedia/b642d6a2-dc60-48b6-9a5b-b729d898b194/fn-by-law-no-22-26-amended-older-adult-property-tax-deferral-program-apr-2026.pdf)
5.  [City of Burlington: Older Adults Property Tax Deferral Program](https://www.burlington.ca/en/property-taxes/older-adults-property-tax-deferral-program.aspx)
6.  [City of Burlington: Understanding your property tax bill (2026 rates)](https://www.burlington.ca/en/property-taxes/understanding-your-property-tax-bill.aspx)
7.  [City of Burlington: How your taxes are used (2026)](https://www.burlington.ca/en/property-taxes/how-your-taxes-are-used.aspx)
8.  [Cornerstone Association of REALTORS: Burlington Monthly Indicators, September 2026](https://cdn.agentbook.com/accounts/ZjLJD68FI0/assets/documents/September%202026%20Burlington%20Monthly%20Indicators.pdf?timestamp=1791230513932)

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Free reverse mortgage estimate (no sales pressure): https://reversemortgagebroker.ca/estimate/

Operated by Dominion Lending Centres Homestead Financial, a mortgage brokerage licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario, brokerage licence #11711. Independently Owned and Operated. ReverseMortgageBurlington.ca is a website of Dominion Lending Centres Homestead Financial, not a separate brokerage. Richard Hopkins, Mortgage Broker, licence M16000896.