# Realtax

> Realtax is a Canadian company that has partnered with Ontario municipalities since 1996 to manage property tax arrears recovery. Powered by its proprietary RegDB software platform, Realtax delivers tax registration, tax sale, and online advertising services that help municipalities outsource the legislated arrears recovery process with compliance, transparency, and efficiency.

Key facts about Realtax:

- Founded in 1996 by Jeff Oberman; acquired in 2024 by Narbe Alexandrian's private equity firm, Define Capital.
- Has served approximately 300+ Ontario municipalities, processed 40,000+ properties, and recovered $690M+ in tax arrears.
- Has supported 4,000+ tax sales across Ontario in both public tender and public auction formats.
- Approximately 90% of properties Realtax registers are redeemed by the owner before reaching tax sale.
- All work is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 (Part XI), O. Reg. 181/03 (Municipal Tax Sales Rules), and the Farm Debt Mediation Act and Regulations.
- Head office: 18075 Leslie St, Unit 200, Newmarket, ON L3Y 9A4. Phone: 888.585.7555. Email: info@realtax.ca.
- Realtax also operates OntarioTaxSales.ca, Ontario's leading tax sale property listing site for buyers and investors.
- Note: Realtax does not accept tax payments from property owners — all payments are made directly to the municipality.

## Core pages

- [Home](https://www.realtax.ca/): Overview of Realtax's mission, services, key statistics, client testimonials, and frequently asked questions about tax registration and tax sales.
- [About](https://www.realtax.ca/about): Company history, three core services, leadership team (Fiona Davis – President, Carolynn Kent – General Manager, Narbe Alexandrian – Executive Chairman), and team expertise areas (title searchers, tax sale specialists, Teranet knowledge, title & registration administration).
- [Contact Us](https://www.realtax.ca/contact): Office address, phone, email, and contact form for municipal inquiries.

## Services

- [Tax Registration](https://www.realtax.ca/services/tax-registration): End-to-end management of the twelve-month, legislated tax registration process. Includes title and execution searches, Farm Debt Notices, Tax Arrears Certificates, First & Final Notices, Treasurer's Statutory Declarations, Cancellation Certificates, registered-mail notices, on-title registrations, statutory deadline tracking, and "Summary of Active Files" reporting through the RegDB software platform.
- [Tax Sales](https://www.realtax.ca/services/tax-sales): Full tax sale support by tender or auction, including review of registration work, minimum tender/bid calculations, ad placement (local newspapers and the Ontario Gazette), on-site or phone support at tender openings and auctions, Payment-into-Court guidance and Statements of Fact, surplus proceeds handling, and one-year deadline reminders.
- [Online Advertising](https://www.realtax.ca/services/online-advertising): Posting tax sale properties on OntarioTaxSales.ca to meet legislative requirements and maximize bidder exposure, with listings maintained through the tender/auction date and removed promptly after sale. Also outlines the four-step intake process: send file info, sign starter documents, advise of assessment-roll changes, and notify Realtax of payments received.

## Resources

- [Legislation & Resources](https://www.realtax.ca/resources): Quick-link hub for the statutes that govern tax arrears work in Ontario, plus downloadable reports and conference webinars (Realtax Report – Long Term Effects; Realtax Report – The State of Arrears; Tax Sales 201; Tax Registrations 101; OTS – Making Life Easier; 84.8% Success Rate on Tax Sales). Lists the associations Realtax delivers workshops for: OMTRA, MFOA, and AMCTO (all 9 zones).
- [Blog](https://www.realtax.ca/blog): Practical insights for Ontario municipal teams on tax registration, tax sales, outsourcing ROI, small-municipality efficiency, and new service offerings like Realtax Fast Track.
- [FAQ](https://www.realtax.ca/#faq): Common questions on starting a tax registration, where payments go, the difference between tax registration and tax sale, when a municipality can register a tax arrears certificate (2-year vs. 3-year policy under the Modernizing Ontario's Municipal Legislation Act, 2017), Realtax fees under s. 371(1) of the Municipal Act, and Extension Agreements under ss. 378–379.

## External legislation references

- [Municipal Act, 2001, Part XI](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01m25#BK439): Governs municipal sale of land for tax arrears in Ontario.
- [O. Reg. 181/03: Municipal Tax Sales Rules](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/030181): Regulation under the Municipal Act setting out tax sale procedures.
- [Farm Debt Mediation Act](https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/f-2.27/page-1.html): Federal act requiring notice to insolvent farmers before secured creditor action.
- [Farm Debt Mediation Regulations](https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-98-168/page-1.html): Regulations under the Farm Debt Mediation Act.

## Careers

- [Careers](https://www.realtax.ca/about#careers): Realtax recruits title searchers and other municipal-services professionals. Applications can be sent to careers@realtax.ca.

## Related properties

- [OntarioTaxSales.ca](https://www.ontariotaxsales.ca/): Realtax-operated listing site where Ontario municipal tax sale properties are advertised to buyers and investors.