Property tax due dates are fast approaching in most municipalities in our area.  If you have recently purchased or sold a property, you will want to pay special attention to property taxes to ensure the appropriate steps are being taken for the current year.  You should also ensure you clarify and confirm with your lender if there are any unusual circumstances surrounding your tax responsibility so that you don’t over pay the tax bill, or underpay and inadvertently run into a penalty. If you’re unsure, confirm with your lender what taxes they will be remitting if they have been collecting from you and what you are expected to pay or do for the 2021 year.

If you recently purchased or sold your property, the 2021 property tax bill was likely adjusted between the parties by the lawyers/notaries acting on the transaction. It is important to note whether you received a credit for property taxes (such that you would then pay the full 2021 bill in most cases) or a debit, in which case the other party would generally be responsible for payment.  When in doubt, seek clarification and ask for assistance.

The Homeowner Grant process has also changed for 2021 and has transitioned to a provincially run program.  These applications are no longer accepted by the municipalities and can be submitted through the provincial website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/home-owner-grant. The Homeowner Grant is an annual reduction of your property for qualified owner occupied homes, as well as some additional circumstances. Note, if your lender is collecting property taxes from you or you pay monthly through the applicable municipality, you should ensure you claim the Homeowner Grant if you are eligible to do so as the collected amounts may be calculated net of that amount.

Due dates may vary by municipality but some of the common ones we deal with on a regular basis are posted below for your convenience:

• City of Kelowna due July 2, 2021: https://www.kelowna.ca/city-hall/property-taxes/property-tax-info-and-payments
• West Kelowna due July 2, 2021: https://www.westkelownacity.ca/en/city-hall/property-taxes.aspx
• Lake Country due July 2, 2021: https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/en/living-in-our-community/taxes.aspx
• Peachland due July 2, 2021: https://www.peachland.ca/property-taxes
• Merritt due July 2, 2021: https://www.merritt.ca/property-tax/
• Rural property taxes due July 2, 2021: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/rural-area

If your property is located in a municipality not listed above you should confirm the due dates with them directly or from your property tax notice if you received one.

Author: Una Kuzio

This information is general in nature only. You should consult a lawyer before acting on any of this information. This information should not be considered as legal advice. To learn more about your legal needs, please contact our office at (250)448-2637 or any of our lawyers practicing in the area of real estate at the following:

• Una Kuzio: una@touchstone.law
• Jane Otterstrom: jane@touchstone.law