Attention Property Owners |
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2023 Property Taxes
2023 Property Taxes were due July 4, 2023. The property tax bill is provided mid-year for the full calendar year January to December 2023. Property tax notices for 2023 were mailed (or emailed) at the end of May 2023. A 10% penalty will be added to current taxes (including unclaimed home owner grants) remaining unpaid after 6:00pm, July 4, 2023.
Assessment Increase
A common misconception is that a significant change in your property assessment value will result in a proportionately significant change in your property taxes. The most important factor is NOT how much your assessed property value has
changed, but how your assessed value has changed relative to the average change for the same property class in the municipality. FIND OUT MORE.
Municipal Hall is open to the public and cashiers are available to assist with collecting payments however you can also pay property taxes online through your financial institution. Alternatively, the District of Lake Country has a secure drop box located to the right of the north entrance of Municipal Hall for property owners that would like to leave a post-dated cheque.
Property taxes are the District's largest revenue source and are critical to the health and livability of our municipality. Tax dollars help pay for many of our essential services such as police, fire fighting, public works, and water and sewer services.
Property tax revenue also helps support a vibrant, healthy community by funding recreational programs, parks and trails throughout the District.
2023 Building Our Community
Where Your Property Tax Dollars Go
Payment Options |
Municipal Hall remains open to the public and cashiers are available to assist with collecting payments however you can also pay property taxes online through your financial institution. Alternatively, the District of Lake Country has a secure drop box located to the right of the north entrance of Municipal Hall for property owners that would like to leave a post-dated cheque. A 10% penalty will be added to current taxes (including unclaimed home owner grants) remaining unpaid after 6:00pm, July 4, 2023. Payment options include:
New owners of a property who have not received a current property tax notice will be required to contact Municipal Hall to receive a copy of the tax notice. Non-receipt of a tax notice is not recognized as a valid reason for failure to pay the taxes by the due date. |
Penalties |
A 10% penalty will be added to current taxes (including unclaimed home owner grants) remaining unpaid after 6:00pm, July 4, 2023. Penalties are also applicable to the Home Owner Grant portion of your taxes. Until the Home Owner Grant is claimed, that portion of the balance on your tax account is considered taxes outstanding. These penalties are a requirement of the Community Charter and the District usually has no authority to either waive or modify the penalty amounts. |
BC Assessment |
BC Assessment's role is to determine the fair market value of properties. Search for your current property assessment.
The property assessment is used to determine your share of taxes. Council's role is to determine the amount of taxes required to operate the municipality and set the tax rate. The tax rate is set by bylaw and sets a rate for each class as defined on the BC Assessment Roll. This rate applies to each $1,000 of taxable value of land and improvements. Each year, Council, during its budgetary process, approves the amount of revenue required to operate the municipality. From this amount they subtract the known revenues, such as grants, licences, permits and so on. The remainder represents the amount of money to be raised by property taxes. Understanding the assessment process, from BC Assessment, is published as a resource to answer your questions. Find out more about agricultural uses and services that qualify land to be classified as a farm. |
Home Owner Grant |
The Provincial Home Owner Grant program helps to reduce the amount of residential property taxes that homeowners pay on their primary residence. All home owner grant applications are to be submitted directly to the Province. Residents in municipalities no longer apply through their municipal office. Lake Country is jurisdiction #331 (don't forget to input that when you claim your grant online through the provincial website). Find out if you qualify for the Home Owner Grant. If you qualify for the Home Owner Grant (HOG), you must apply each year to receive it. A payment does not have to be made to claim the grant. The homeowner grant may be available retroactively if you did not apply in the prior year. Retroactive home owner grant applications are being accepted online. Learn more about applying for a retroactive grant and about other information updates at gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant. |
Tax Deferment |
Tax deferment is a low-interest loan program administrated by the Government of B.C that helps qualified B.C. homeowners pay their annual property taxes on their principal residence. Read the April 2023 update: What’s new in B.C. property taxes - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca) Residential property owners can apply for property tax deferment on their principal residence online, quickly and easily. The program and eligibility requirements are not changing. To qualify for the regular program, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has lived in British Columbia for at least one year immediately prior to applying for tax deferment benefits and be:
Property owners needing help to understand the requirements and eligibility of the program can contact government agents by phoning 1 888 355 2700 (within Canada) or 250 387 0555 (outside of Canada). |
Tax Exemptions |
The Community Charter provides for tax exemptions under the following two circumstances - General statutory exemptions and Permissive exemptions. The onus is on the applicant to clearly demonstrate how you are eligible for a tax exemption from Council. Permissive tax exemption is available for qualifying registered non-profit organizations using property for municipal, recreational, religious, cultural or charitable purposes. Applications for tax exemptions must be made between June 30th and mid-July of each year to be considered by Council for the following taxation year. View the Tax Exemption Policy and Application Form. The application deadline is mid-July.
As per Permissive Tax Exemption Policy 204, organizations in receipt of a multi-year exemption are required to complete a Short Form Renewal on an annual basis to confirm that no changes in operation or location have taken place. If changes have occurred, as indicated in the Short Form Renewal, a new Long Form Application will be required.
Permissive Tax Exemption renewals and new applications for 2024 are due July 14, 2023. |
Tax Rates |
Council approves the Tax Rates Bylaw in May of each year. Tax notices are mailed to residents and are due the first working day in July annually. Because the District also serves as the collector for other taxing bodies, your tax notice will show the taxes collected for Provincial Schools, Okanagan Regional Library, Regional Hospital District, Regional District of Central Okanagan and BC Assessment. |
Parcel Tax |
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 204 of the Community Charter, the District of Lake Country will be holding a Review Panel in regard to parcel tax assessment rolls. Notices have been sent to registered owners of all properties being added to an assessment roll. The 2023 Parcel Tax Review Panel will sit in May 2023. You may only make a complaint to the Parcel Tax Review Panel on one or more of the following grounds; • there is an error or omission respecting a name or address on the parcel tax roll; • there is an error or omission respecting the inclusion of a parcel; • there is an error or omission respecting the taxable area or the taxable frontage of a parcel; OR • an exemption has been improperly allowed or disallowed. You or your agent must notify the District of Lake Country, in writing, of your complaint. Please address all your correspondence to the attention of the Collector. |
Tax Sale |
On the last Monday of September, the District is required by the Local Government Act to sell at Tax Sale all properties whose taxes have not been paid for 3 years. The Local Government Act gives the Collector authority to sell a property for the Upset Price which equals all outstanding taxes + penalties + interest + 5% tax sale costs + Land Title Office fees. |
Property Tax Prepayment Authorization for Plan Changes |
Authorize the District to make changes to your Tax Prepayment Account. |
Property Tax Prepayment Plan Form |
The Property Tax Prepayment Plan is an optional payment plan which allows you to make equal monthly prepayments towards next year's property taxes. Find the application form by clicking the link below. |
Property Tax Refund Request |
If you are on the Property Tax Prepayment plan, you may apply to receive a refund of your credit balance once your property taxes have been paid. |
Other
To update your mailing address for property taxes please modify your contact details directly through BC Assessment Authority using this link to the form on their website. Please complete the form for your Lake Country property specifying: Area 19, Jurisdiction 331 and use the 8 digit Roll Number (no dots, dashes or spaces; and if the roll number only has 7 digits then a zero should be added before the 7 digits).
If you input your address on this site (https://www.bcassessment.ca/) then the Area, Jurisdiction and Roll number will be displayed for you to enter on the form. For additional assistance call BCAA’s toll-free number at 1-866-825-8322.
The District of Lake Country receives a weekly update from BC Assessment to ensure records are consistent.
More Information/Resources
- Access Point Information Canada (Order a Tax Certificate online)
- BC Assessment Authority (search a property assessment)
- BC Online
- Speculation and Vacancy Tax (not applicable to Lake Country properties)
- Understanding your Taxes from the Province of BC