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Property taxes due next week

Property taxes across the province are due, including the Elk Valley and rural property owners in the RDEK.

It’s bad timing for those dealing with a flooded basement, but property taxes across the province are due, including the Elk Valley and rural property owners in the RDEK.

The Fernie deadline is July 2 at 5 pm and Elkford taxes are due the same day at 4:30 pm.

The District of Sparwood deadline for property taxes and annual utilities is Thursday, July 4, 2013. Their office closes at 4 p.m. but there is a mailbox outside the front door where cheque payments will be received until midnight. Sparwood Director of Finance Barbara Nunes suggests that if you are a new resident or have recently changed your address you should contact your local government to obtain a copy of your tax notice.

All municipal and rural taxes can be paid in person at your district or municipal office. Bring your tax notice and completed Home Owner’s Grant form.

There is a 10 per cent penalty after the deadline on unpaid amounts for tax and utility bills. Payments must be received in offices by the deadlines. Payment can be made in person by cash, cheque and interact payments. Credit cards are not accepted. Mailed payments and Homeowner Grant Applications must be received on or before July 2 to avoid the late penalty. The Homeowner’s Grant must be re-applied for every year.

Electronic payments can be made if you are set-up for online banking through your financial institution.

Please note that postmarks will not be considered as date of payment for mailed remittances and electronic payments will be recorded as paid when they arrive in the city's bank account, not when they are transmitted by your financial institution.

You may also make payments through your mortgage. Your financial institution can pay your taxes on your behalf if you have made such an arrangement through your mortgage agreement.

The Provincial Surveyor of Taxes issues tax notices and collects payment for the rural areas. You can contact the Rural Property Tax branch at 250-387-0555 or ruraltax@gov.bc.ca for more details.

The due date for rural property owners is also July 2 and a homeowner grant applications need to be filled out if eligible.  It can be filled out online, or brought in to Service BC location (or mailed).

If you are a bona fide farmer in a rural area, you may apply for a penalty-free time extension for payment of your current year property taxes. The extension was developed to help farmers whose crops are not harvested and sold until fall.

First-time applicants must apply on or before the property tax due date. If your application is approved, your property tax due date will be extended to October 31. Please contact a Service BC Centre or see our website for program details at sbr.gov.bc.ca/business/Property_Taxes/Rural_Property_Tax /farm_extension_program.htm