Blog by Lisa Hilton Your Local Contact for Real Estate in Whistler and Pemberton

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Property Tax Notice Explained

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Whistler Real Estate Co Ltd, #137- 4370 Lorimer Road, Whistler, BC V0N 1B4

Sometimes it can be hard to figure out the information on a property tax notice. In this sample, we've provided explanations to help you understand what your notice means.

 1. Owner's Names and Address - all owner's names appear. If there is more than one owner, then each name is listed. Where a single notice was mailed in the past, now each owner receives a copy.

2. Folio Number - a unique property identification number that belongs to the property and not the owner.

3. Access - a code used to epost tax payments or to apply for the online Home Owner Grant.

4. Land description - written method to delineate a specific property under the land title system

5. Total Net Assessed Value for Taxation Purposes - BC Assessment's classification of property, eg residential, business, farm and the assessed values for different tax purposes.

6. PID - parcel identifier used to cross reference to Land Title and BC Assessment.

7. Net School Taxes - total school taxes after the Home Owner Grant is deducted.

8. BC Assessment - funds BC Assessment operations

9. Metro Vancouver - funds shared operations and services such as sewer and water.

10. MFA - funds the Municiple Financing Authority which provides capital financing and financial services to local governments.

11. TransLink - funds TransLink

12. Net Other Government Taxes - total owing to other taxing authorities.

13. General Municipal - the "municiple tax".

14. City Policing - funds policing

15. Fire Rescue - funds fire services.

16. Storm Drainage/Dyking - funds local storm drainages and dyking

17. Net Municple Taxes - municipal tax less any unused Home Owner Grant

18. Installements - total tax installments made

19. Total Taxes Payable - what you owe.

 

 

 

Home Owners Grant Program

 

What is the Home Owner Grant?

 The home owner grant is a grant to help home owners reduce their property taxes. There are two categories of grants:

  • The regular grant may reduce your taxes up to $570
  • The additional grant may reduce your taxes up to $845

A home owner may qualify for either the regular grant or the additonal grant, but not both. To receive the grant, both the owner and the property must meet the qualification requirements.

 

The grant does not apply to deliquent taxes or to any penalties, interest or fees. The grant is reduced by $5 for each $1,000 of assessed value over $780,000. This means the regular grant is eliminated on homes assessed at $894,000 or more. The additional grant is eliminated on homes assessed at $949,000 or more.

 

Do I qualify for the regular home owner grant?

To qualify for the regular grant:

  • you must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant and a permanent resident of British Columbia; and
  • you must own the home on which the grant is being claimed; and
  • the home must be your principal residence. 

Principal residence is the property where you live and from where you conduct your daily affairs. It is the address where you reside when the grant is submitted and the property taxes are paid. A person can only have one principal residence.

 

For more information on the Home Owners Grant program please visit their website at: www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/hog 

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Did you Know?

You have 3 options of how you pay property taxes

 1) Directly with the municipality each year

2) Automatic payment on a monthly basis to the municipality

3) Through your mortgage payment (with participating lenders) Please

     note this service must be arranged beforehand.