This page covers the following topics:

• Claim Your Home Owner Grant Online **NEW**
• Home Owner Grant Information
• Important Dates 2010
• How Do You Pay?
• Pre-Authorized Debit Plan (PAD)
• Tax Deferments
• Change of Address
• Tax Brochure
• Tax Rates
• Where Your Property Tax Goes
• Minimum Tax Payable
• Taxing Authorities
• Assessments
• Local Area Service Levy
• Annual Operating Budget
• Separate Billing for Water & Sewer Charges
• Tax Sale Information
• Tax Certificates

Claim Your Home Owner Grant Online

Effective late May 2009, electronic Home Owner Grant will be available at the City of Burnaby website to provide residents the ability to submit their home owner grants online.

You will need your Roll Number and Access Code (both numbers are located on the front of your Tax Statement) to access your account and submit your home owner grant online.

Click here   to claim your Home Owner Grant online.

NOTE: This service is only available from late May to December 31st each year.

Home Owner Grant - Due Date: July 5

The Home Owner Grant is a property tax assistance program offered by the province. This program is intended to help homeowners reduce the amount of taxes they pay on their homes.

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 statement), you must complete the application for the grant and forward it to the Tax Office by the July Due Date to receive credit for the grant amount and avoid penalties.

1. You are responsible for the proper completion of the grant.
2. You must claim the grant every year.
3. You can claim the grant even if you are not making a payment at the time.
4. Grant amount:

• Basic Grant $570.
• Basic and Additional Grant $845: 65 years of age or over OR if you meet the eligibility criteria (see the Additional Grant section below).

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 sign the application.

Additional Grant

To be eligible for the Additional Grant, you must meet the criteria for the Basic Grant, plus one of the eligibility criteria for the Additional Grant.

For more details, visit this website: http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/individuals/Property_Taxes/Home_Owner_Grant/hog.htm

NOTE: If you are applying for the Additional Grant, you do not need to apply separately for the Basic Grant. The two amounts will be calculated together.

Grant Reduction

The grant is reduced by $5 for every $1,000 of residential assessed value in excess of $1,050,000. It is eliminated at $1,164,000 for the Basic Grant and at $1,219,000 for the Basic and Additional Grant.

For more details, visit this website: http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/individuals/Property_Taxes/Home_Owner_Grant/hog.htm

If you have any questions, contact City of Burnaby Tax Office at 604-294-7350 (Press 0).

For the Home Owner Grant Explanatory Notes, click here - [pdf 47KB]

Important Dates 2010

March 15

• Utility payments due (flat water and sewer charges)

July 5

• Tax Due Day
• Tax Payments Due
• Home Owner Grants due
• Local Improvement payments due
• Tax Deferment applications due
• Last day for payment to avoid first 5% penalty
• Prepay year 2010 taxes & earn interest

August 1

• Pre-authorized Debit Plan (PAD) deductions start

September 2

• Last day for payment to avoid a further 5% penalty

September 27

• Tax Sale

How Do You Pay? Due March 15 (Utilities) and July 5 (Property Taxes)

You can pay your utilities and property taxes at the following locations:

Post Dated Cheques are Accepted up to the July Tax Due Date!
Avoid the Last Minute Rush!

Deliver to Tax Office early. Payment and grant application will be checked and receipted. Credit cards are not accepted.

1. City Hall Tax Office: 4949 Canada Way

8:00am - 4:45pm Monday to Friday, and
8:00am - 8:00pm Thursday

2. After Hours letter drop box: Located at both entrance doors of City Hall. These drop boxes are cleared daily and also at the end of March 15 and July 5 (MIDNIGHT).

3. Mail: Insert your cheque and your completed grant (grant for property taxes only) into the enclosed envelope, add postage and mail. Postdate your cheque and mail early. Phone the Tax Office to confirm receipt. Please note if this option is chosen, mail lost or delayed by the Post Office will be subject to penalties.

4. Internet/Phone Banking: Contact your financial institution. NOTE: For property taxes - if you pay via internet/phone banking, you must forward your completed grant application to the Burnaby Tax Office by July 5 to avoid penalties.

5. Financial Institutions: Most chartered banks and credit unions.

6. ATM: Pay your bill through the Automated Bank Machine

Warning: AUTOMATED BANK MACHINE (ATM), Internet/Phone Banking:
will be subject to penalties if rejected by your financial institution or if you pay AFTER your financial institution's local cut off time on the due date. These payments will be processed with a "payment date" equal to the next business day.

• Note: Owners Paying at a Financial Institution or Mailing: If eligible, must remember to complete in full in the homeowner grant application to avoid penalties.
• Keep your receipts - Proof of date paid may be required.
• Utilities payments not received by March 15 (MIDNIGHT) will not be eligible for utility discounts.
• Property taxes payments and completed grant applications not received by July 5 (MIDNIGHT) will be subject to penalties.

Pre-Authorized Debit Plan (PAD)

Effective immediately, Pre-Authorized Payment plan (PAP) has now been named as Pre-Authorized Debit plan (PAD). Existing PAP enrollment will not be affected unless there is a change of bank accounts.

Owners who prepaid their 2010 taxes earned interest at the prime rate less 2.5% (with minimum 0.5%).

Pre-authorized debit are applied to utility charges (due March 15) and the balance to property taxes (due July 5).

Pre-Authorized Debit (PAD) Form - for Enrollment, Changes or Cancellation - [ PDF 128KB ]

Enrollment

If you choose pre-authorized debit, please complete and return the form in full with signature along with a copy of a VOID cheque.

NOTE: Application must be received by the 22nd of the month to take effect in the following month.

Changes or Cancellation on Existing PAD

To change or cancel pre-authorized debit, please complete and return the form in full with signature. If there is a change of bank accounts, please include a copy of a VOID cheque.

NOTE: Changes or cancellations must be received by the 22nd of the month to take effect the following month.


Please send the form and/or the void cheques to the Tax Office by fax at 604.294.7153 or mail to 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 1M2.


REMEMBER ... If you are eligible, you must forward your completed Home Owner Grant application ON OR BEFORE July 5 even if taxes are paid by pre-authorized debit plan (PAD), PC/Telebanking or your mortgage company to avoid penalty. Also, owners who made pre-payments must also pay tax balance on line 24 of their statement.

For information on the prepayment plan, phone the Tax Office at 604.294.7350.

Tax Deferments

Over Age of 55
If you are 55 or over, a widow or widower, or handicapped as defined in the Disability Benefits Program Act - [ NEW WINDOW ] , and residing in your home, you may apply to have your taxes deferred. This allows you to defer payment - [ NEW WINDOW ] of the current taxes on your home until the property is sold or otherwise disposed of.

Under Age of 55
If you are under 55, you may qualify for Financial Hardship Deferment Program.  

The Financial Hardship Property Tax Deferment Program is available for the 2009 and 2010 annual property taxes.  This program is different than the Property Tax Deferment Program .  Please ensure you apply for the deferment program that provides you with the greatest benefit.

For more information and FAQ, click here - [PDF 211KB]

To apply, pick up a Financial Hardship Property Tax Deferment Program application form from Burnaby Tax Office or Service BC Centre website - [ NEW WINDOW ]

Owners who are on the deferment program MUST apply each year. To avoid penalities, tax deferment applications and completed grant applications must be received by the Burnaby Tax Office by July 5.
 

(Utility Statements - Instructions to Property Owners who Want to Defer Tax Payments)

If you are deferring your property taxes:

1. You do not have to pay the sewer parcel charge.  This charge can be deferred.
2. You have to pay all other charges.  These charges cannot be deferred.
3. If submitting stub portion with the payment, please write: “Taxes to be deferred”.
     
   

(Property Tax Statements - Instructions to Property Owners who are Already Registered for Tax Deferments)

Complete and return the following forms to the City of Burnaby Tax Office by the Property Tax due date to avoid penalties:

1. Completed Home Owner Grant Application
2. Completed Renewal Application for Property Tax Deferment
3. Payment of unpaid utilities

(1) Home Owner Grant Application:

Complete the Home Owner Grant application in full, including your date of birth if you are age 65 or over.

(2) Renewal Application for Property Tax Deferment:

This form was sent to you by the Tax Deferment office in Victoria. Complete the section marked "AGREEMENT HOLDER SIGNATURE" – Line is marked with an "X"” (signature, phone number, and date).

(3) Outstanding Utility Charges:

1. You do not have to pay the sewer parcel charge.  This charge can be deferred.
2. You have to pay all other charges.  These charges cannot be deferred. 

If you repaid Victoria for all previous years' deferred taxes, you need to reapply. If you require further information, please contact the TAX OFFICE at 604.294.7350.

Apply Early - Avoid The Rush - Pay By Due Date - Avoid Penalties

Change of Address

If the mailing address on your Tax Statement is incorrect, please complete and return this form - [ PDF 63KB ] with your tax payment and/or completed Home Owner Grant application. It is important to keep your address current for property assessment and taxation purposes.

Tax Brochure

2009 Tax Brochure - [ PDF 220KB ]

Tax Rates

Where Your 2009 Tax Dollars Go

Minimum Tax Payable

• Home owners qualifying for the Basic grant of $570 must pay a minimum tax of $350 plus water and sewer use charges.
  
• Home owners qualifying for the Basic and Added grant totalling $845 must pay a minimum tax of $100 plus water and sewer charges.

Taxing Authorities

• School Taxes (Provincial) - 250.356.0907
  www.sbr.gov.bc.ca  - [ NEW WINDOW ]

• Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (Translink) - 604.453.4507
  www.translink.bc.ca - [ NEW WINDOW ]

• Metro Vancouver (GVRD) - 604.432.6200
  www.metrovancouver.org - [ NEW WINDOW ]

• Municipal Finance Authority - 250.383.1181
  www.mfa.bc.ca - [ NEW WINDOW ]

• B.C. Assessment - 604.294.6441
  www.bcassessment.ca - [ NEW WINDOW ]

Assessments

B.C. Assessment - [ NEW WINDOW ] determines the assessed value of properties for taxation purposes.

For information regarding the assessed values on your property, call B.C. Assessment at 604.294.6441.

Local Area Service Levy

(Sidewalks, streetlights, road paving, etc..)

The annual charge for local area services completed on your street by 2010 May 31 will appear on line 10 of your tax statement. You may pay for your portion of these improvements in one of three ways:

• a) Pay the annual Local Area Service Levy charge each year over the repayment term of the improvement (5, 10 or 15 years), or
• b) Pay Local Area Service Levy charges in full the first year the annual charge appears on your tax statement to realize the greatest interest saving, or
• c) Pay Local Area Service Levy charges outstanding in any subsequent year and realize an interest saving that is reduced with each succeeding year.

In order to realize the maximum interest saving, payments must be received in the Tax Office by 2010 July 5.

2009 Annual Operating Budget

Separate Billing For Water & Sewer Charges

Utility Statements will get mailed out in February and are due on March 15, 2010. These charges are shown on lines 11, 13 and 14 of your tax statement. Utility payments and discounts are shown on lines 17 and 18.

Tax Sale Information

The following notes are intended to provide a general outline of the tax sale process.  For complete information, prospective purchasers should consult the Local Government Act, in particular (but not limited to) Sections 403 to 428.

• The City 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 + Lane Title Office fees.
• All property sales are "as is" without warrantee or guarantee by the City of Burnaby.

Advertising

• The Local Government Act requires municipalities to advertise in a local paper not less than 3, or more than 10 days prior to the Tax Sale.
• The legal description and street address must be published.
• To avoid your property being listed in this ad in the newspaper, your delinquent taxes must be paid approximately 3 weeks prior to the Tax Sale date.

Tax Sale

• A public auction will be held at 10:00am, on the last Monday in September each year in Council Chambers, Burnaby City Hall.
• Bidding is accepted on all properties.
• Prospective bidders are advised that it is their responsibility to search the title of the property in advance to determine if there are any charges registered against the property.
• The minimum bid is the amount of the Upset Price.
• If no bidding takes place within 3 calls by the Collector (auctioneer), the City is declared the purchaser at the Upset Price.

Purchasing Property

• The successful bidder is required to have their SIN or BN, your corporate seal if required.
• Payment is to be in the form of cash or certified cheque for at least the upset price amount at the close of the Tax Sale.
• If full payment is not received immediately, the Collector will again offer the property for sale.

Notifying Charge Holders

• The Collector is required by law to search all property titles and within 90 days after Tax Sale notify all registered charge holders shown on each property.

Redemption

• The original owner has one year after the property is sold at Tax Sale to pay the taxes and buy back their property.  This is called redemption.
• All registered charge holders have full right to redeem the property.
• To redeem the property, the charge holder must remit the full upset price, plus interest on the purchase price at a rate set by the Province, within one year of the Tax Sale.
• As soon as the property is redeemed, the Collector will refund to the Tax Sale purchaser the purchase price, plus interest to the date of redemption.

Property Not Redeemed

• If the property is not redeemed during the one year period, the Collector registers the new owner at the Land Titles Office in VIctoria, thus cancelling all previous registered charges, except for those matters set out in Section 276(1) (c) to (g) of the Land Title Act and any lien of the Crown, an improvement district or a local district.
• The new owners are required to pay the property sales tax to the Provincial Sales Tax Administrator after application has been made to register in the Land Titles Office.

Tax Certificates

(1) Online Tax Certificates through BC OnLine

Online Tax Certificates are now available through BC OnLine - [ NEW WINDOW ]. If you are already a registered customer of BC OnLine, log onto their website at: www.bconline.gov.bc.ca - [ NEW WINDOW ] and select Tax Certificates Online on the main menu page.

For more information about BC OnLine, or to become a registered customer, please visit their website or call 1-800-663-6102.

For Technical Support using Tax Certificates Online, call 1-800-663-6102 or email at bcolhelp@accessbc.com

(2) Fax or Mail Tax Certificates (for Non-Prepaid Account Holders)

Mail in your written request along with your cheque or pay in person at City Hall Tax Office.  Fee = $40 per tax certificate.