PITT MEADOWS, BC – City Council voted unanimously last night to delay the property tax payment penalty date to October 1, 2020 for all property classes, including Class 1 Residential and Class 9 Farm.
“We understand that this is a challenging time for individuals, families and businesses in our community” said Mayor Bill Dingwall. “Extending the late payment penalty date is an additional way that we are helping community members to ease the financial burden caused by COVID-19.”
Extension of the property tax payment penalty date to October 1 for residential and farming properties aligns with the Province of B.C.’s decision to extend the property tax payment penalty date for commercial properties.
“Council and staff are committed to maintaining essential services, managing the municipal finances prudently and helping community members during this trying time” said Chief Administrative Officer Mark Roberts. “Municipal property taxes are due on July 2 and we encourage citizens to try to pay their taxes by the due date to ensure that the City has sufficient cash flow to operate without borrowing from reserves.”
“We are all in this together,” said Mayor Dingwall. “We announced the COVID-19 Financial Relief Grant Program last week to help offset some of the costs of property taxes for residential property owners and we are working steadfastly on the Economic Resiliency Task Force to support economic recovery of the community, while supporting vulnerable citizens with the Community Check-in Task Force. We also encourage citizens to access provincial and federal relief programs.”
Municipal property taxes are due July 2. A late tax payment penalty of 10 per cent will be applied to all property taxes not paid before October 1.
The City is mandated by the Province to apply a 10 per cent late tax payment penalty. Normally, a five per cent penalty is applied to unpaid taxes the day after the taxes are due and an additional five-per cent penalty is applied to unpaid taxes on August 1. This year a single 10 per cent late payment penalty will be applied for any taxes not paid by October 1.
Property tax payment and deferment
Each year property owners over the age of 55 or families with children have the option of applying for the property tax deferment program through the Province. This is a low interest loan program to help homeowners pay their property taxes on their principle residence. Details are available online through the Province or by calling 1-888-355-2700. In 2019, approximately 290 Pitt Meadows property owners deferred their property taxes.
The City offers a monthly pre-payment plan for next year’s property taxes which may be started at any time. Approximately 900 or 12 per cent of property owners are currently registered in this program.
Learn more about property tax payment options.
Contacting the City
While City Hall is closed to the public, we are still open for business. Our eServices provide online access to City accounts and services 24 hours per day, seven days per week at mypittmeadows.com. Customer Services can also be reached by email info@pitteadows.ca or phone 604-465-5454 during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Visit pittmeadows.ca/COVID19 to find out more.
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For more information please contact:
Carolyn Baldridge
Manager of Communications & Community Engagement
City of Pitt Meadows
cbaldridge@pittmeadows.ca