Manitoba Tax Assistance Office — Contact, Hours and Services

What the Tax Assistance Office Does

The Manitoba Tax Assistance Office — usually called the TAO — is the provincial body that administers the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit, the Seniors School Tax Rebate, and other Manitoba tax credits. It sits within the Department of Finance and acts as the policy authority on provincial property tax relief.

The TAO doesn't process your income tax return (that's the CRA) and it doesn't manage your municipal tax bill (that's your local tax office). What it does is set the rules, resolve disputes about provincial credit eligibility, and provide guidance when a credit has been denied or miscalculated.

How to Contact the TAO

Manitoba Tax Assistance Office 110A – 401 York Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0P8

• Phone: 204-948-2115
• Toll-free: 1-800-782-0771
• Email: [email protected]

The TAO operates during standard Manitoba government business hours — weekdays, excluding provincial statutory holidays. If you're calling toll-free from outside Winnipeg, the 1-800 number connects you to the same office.

When to Call the TAO vs. Your Municipality vs. the CRA

One of the most common frustrations is being bounced between offices. Here's which calls go where:

Call the TAO when:

• Your HATC eligibility was denied and you don't understand why
• You need a ruling on whether your property qualifies as a principal residence
• You have questions about the Seniors School Tax Rebate policy
• You need clarification on how provincial credits interact (HATC + SSTR)

Call your municipal tax office when:

• The HATC advance is missing from your property tax bill
• You need to submit a principal residence self-declaration
• You have questions about your assessment, mill rate, or payment deadline

Call the CRA (1-800-959-8281) when:

• You're filing or amending Form MB479
• You need to make a retroactive adjustment via T1-ADJ
• Your refundable credit hasn't appeared in your notice of assessment

Other Free Support Services

If the TAO can't help with your particular situation — or if you need broader support — these organizations serve Manitoba seniors at no cost:

• A & O: Support Services for Older Adults — 204-956-6440 or 1-888-333-3121. Hosts CVITP free tax clinics and provides senior advocacy.
• Community Financial Counselling Services (CFCS) — 204-989-1913 or 1-833-215-3359. Non-profit credit counselling and tax filing help for low-income households.
• CVITP tax clinics — Free tax preparation for eligible low-income seniors through community partners across Manitoba.
• Manitoba 211 — Dial 2-1-1 for a confidential directory connecting to local financial, legal, and housing services.

The TAO is the starting point for provincial credit questions, but you don't have to navigate the system alone. For a structured walkthrough of every credit, deadline, and filing route available to Manitoba homeowners, see the complete property tax credits guide.

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