Home Owner Grant Information
The Home Owner Grant is a property tax assistance program offered by the province. The program helps homeowners reduce the amount of taxes they pay on their homes.
Visit gov.bc.ca or download the Home Owner Grant Program brochure for more details.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the home owner grant, you must be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant and ordinarily reside in Burnaby, British Columbia. You must be the owner and occupant of an eligible residence and live in it as your principal residence. You must qualify at the time you submit the application form.
If you are eligible for the home owner grant (column B or C on your Tax Notice), you must complete the application for the grant and forward it to the Tax Office by the July due date annually to receive credit for the grant amount and avoid penalties.
2012 Grant Amounts
Basic Grant
- The Basic Grant can reduce your property tax by as much as $570
- The minimum tax payable ($350)
Example: If your gross property taxes is $850 for the year, after claiming the $570 basic Home Owner Grant you still have to pay the minimum tax payable amount of $350 (and not $280)
Additional Grant
- In addition to the Basic Grant, the Additional Grant can reduce your property tax by a further $275, for a total of up to $845.
- It cannot reduce the amount payable to below $100.
- To be eligible for the Additional Grant, you must meet the criteria for the Basic Grant, plus one of the eligibility criteria below:
- Senior Grant: if you are or will be 65 or over during this calendar year
- Other Additional Grants: visit gov.bc.ca website for more details
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If you’re applying for the Additional Grant, you do not need to apply separately for the Basic Grant. The two amounts will be calculated together.
Over 65 years old? Remember to enter your birth date to ensure you receive credit for the correct Home Owner Grant amount.
Note
Any one of the joint owners, if eligible, may complete the application for the Basic Grant. However, if claiming the Additional Grant, the owner eligible for the Additional Grant must submit/sign the application.
2012 Grant Reduction
Basic Grant
- Reduced by $5 for each $1,000 of assessed value over $1,285,000, and is eliminated on homes assessed at $1,399,000 or more
Additional Grant
- Reduced by $5 for each $1,000 of assessed value over $1,285,000, and is eliminated on homes assessed at $1,454,000 or more
Reduction Examples
- If your property assessed value is $1,356,000. It is $71,000 over the $1,285,000 limit. For every $1,000 of this $71,000, $5 will be deducted. Therefore, your Basic Grant will no longer be $570, but $215
- If your property assessed value is $1,399,000 or more, no Basic Grant can be claimed; If assessed value is $1,454,000 or more, no Additional Grant can be claimed
Other Useful Information
- Avoid penalties by completing the grant application and submitting before the Tax due date
- DO NOT complete the application if you are not Eligible for the Home Owners Grant
- Complete the grant application correctly
- Claim the grant every year (even if your taxes are paid by a mortgage company OR if you are enrolled in our Pre-authorized Debit Plan, PAD)
- Claim the grant even if you are not making a payment at the time
- Pay the tax balance on line 24 of the Tax Notice for owners who made pre-payments
Additional Home Owner Grant Information
- Visit the Government of British Columbia website for a list of Frequently Asked Questions
- Download Home Owner Grant Explanatory Notes
IT IS AN OFFENCE (SUBJECT TO A PENALTY OF UP TO $10,000) TO MAKE A FALSE APPLICATION FOR A HOME OWNER GRANT
