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The following list of frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is meant to provide answers to questions that are commonly asked of our Tax staff.
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Hours & Location
Appeals & Penalties
Budget
Change of Address
Payment Options
Hours & Location
What are your hours?
- City Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday through Friday.
Where is City Hall located?
City of Kelowna
1435 Water St
Kelowna, BC V1Y 1J4
Are there any other payment location(s) available? The Parkinson Recreation Centre has a drop box located inside the building at their front counter. There are also two night deposit boxes at City Hall. The first is just to the right of the main doors and the second is at the parking lot exit on Doyle Avenue. Payments, via cheque or money order, can be left in these deposit boxes.
REMEMBER TO:
- Include the remittance portion of your tax notice, especially if you are applying for the Provincial Home Owner Grant.
- Record your roll number
 on the face of your cheque so that we can ensure that your account is properly credited.
Appeals & Penalties
Are penalties discretionary?
- No. Penalties are mandated by Provincial legislation and are not discretionary.
I think my taxes are too high. Can I appeal them?
What is the penalty for paying taxes late?
- 5% late payment penalty for taxes outstanding after the first working day after July 1.
- An additional 5% late payment penalty for taxes outstanding after the first working day after the Civic Holiday in August.
Why is the grant amount subject to penalties?
- You can reduce your taxes owing by claiming grants you are eligible for; until you claim the grant the total bill is taxes outstanding.
Budget
Can I determine what I owe on my Property Tax from the website?
Can I estimate what my Property Tax Bill will be from the website?
What am I paying for with my Property Tax Payment?
- Property taxation is the most important single source of municipal revenue. For an overview on Property Taxes, view our Understanding Property Taxes handout.
- For more information on where your property tax money is spent, view the City of Kelowna Budget
 .
The newspapers said my Property Tax increase would be 0.11%, why is my tax increase higher?
- For the owner of a single family home assessed at $468,700 in 2012, municipal taxes would rise approximately $1.79. Those with properties assessed at a higher value (e.g. any changes in a property's condition or use and any new construction or development) will pay more in the municipal share of their property tax bill, those with property assessed at a lower value will pay less. It is important to note that the 0.11% is only the Municipal tax portion. All other taxing authorities such as Regional Districts, Hospitals, Libraries and Schools set their own rates. The City of Kelowna does not control their rates; we only collect this money on their behalf.
Why are Kelowna Residents paying for some Regional District taxes?
- The City of Kelowna and some of the neighbouring local governments share the costs of some “region wide” services. Examples of region-wide services are:
- Police and fire protection
- Street lighting
- Road and drainage maintenance
- Operations of regional parks and recreational facilities.
Why do I pay a School Tax?
- All property owners in the province are required to pay school taxes, unless the property is used for an exempt
 purpose and is exempt from this taxation.
- The school tax is not based on the property owner's use of the school system. It is a suitable way to pay for part of public education costs given everyone benefits from a good school system.
Change of Address
My mailing address has changed. Will you change my address so that future tax notices are mailed to my new address?
- You can contact BC Assessment directly: by telephone 250 763-8300; in writing, by online log onto BC Assessment Change of Address Notification or by fax 250 861-6136. Include the roll number of the property, the previous mailing address, the new mailing address, your printed name and a signature.
Important: This refers to change in mailing address only. If a taxpayer no longer owns a specific property, the change in ownership will be picked up when BC Assessment is provided information from the Land Titles office.
Note: BC Assessment will register an address change in the City of Kelowna's property tax system monthly.
I just got a tax notice for a house I sold. What should I do?
- If possible, please give it to the new owner, or return to us with a note that you sold the property.
Payment Options
Can I pay by credit card?
- No, we do not accept credit card payments; however, we do accept cheques from credit card companies. City Hall cashiers accept debit cards, money orders and cheques (current or post-dated to the appropriate due date) and cash.
Can I pay my taxes and claim my Provincial Home Owner Grant online?
- Yes, you can pay your taxes using your bank’s web site through payment options. Make payment to your property Roll Number - not including decimal. For instructions on setting City of Kelowna up as an online bill payment, please view the Online Services Guide.
Important: To avoid a penalty, an owner should apply for a grant with the City of Kelowna prior to the tax due date even if you are not paying taxes that are due at that time or your financial institution pays the taxes on your behalf.
Can I pay my taxes at my bank?
- Yes, in person or online. Banking institutions do not accept post-dated cheques. Remember to take the entire remittance portion of the original tax notice (not a photocopy or reprint) with you. This remittance portion is returned to us by the banks.
- If you are applying for the Provincial Home Owner Grant, you should apply online (see below) or complete the application that is part of the remittance portion of the tax notice.
- Some banks will also allow for the telephone payment of City of Kelowna Property Taxes; call your bank to determine if this option is available to you. Remember to claim your Provincial Home Owner Grant online or mail to City Hall separately. This application should reach us before the tax due date to ensure that no penalty is incurred on the grant amount. DO NOT mail the Home Owner Grant application to the bank.
- When paying online or by telephone banking, ensure that you are paying "City of Kelowna Taxes" NOT "City of Kelowna Utilities". To better understand the online banking process, please view the Online Services Guide.
- To claim your Home Owner Grant online log onto Property Tax eServices. You will need to know your Roll Number and Access Code; both are located on the top right hand corner of your Property Tax Notice.
Important: The City of Kelowna is not responsible for errors made by financial institutions.
Can I pay my taxes using a post-dated cheque?
- Yes, but in order to avoid any penalty on outstanding taxes, your cheque should not be post-dated beyond the initial due date. In 2012 the initial due date is July 3. After this date, current outstanding taxes are subject to a 5% penalty.
- The second due date is August 7. After this date current outstanding taxes are subject to an additional 5% penalty. Check your tax notices for the exact dates involved each year.
- Cheques that are not negotiable due to errors made by the payer will be considered returned cheques. All returned cheques are subject to a City of Kelowna Administrative fee of $20.00, possible service fee from your bank, and a City of Kelowna late penalty if they are not replaced by the tax due dates.
Important: Due to high volume of post-dated cheques during tax season, City of Kelowna cannot pull any cheques for customers. If customers wish to re-write a cheque, they can do so, and put a stop payment on the original. If original cheque is returned by the bank, our Administrative fee of $20.00 is still applicable as well as a possible service fee from your bank.
I can only pay part of my taxes, what should I do?
- Claim your home owner grant, if applicable, and send it in with the partial payment. You will receive a penalty on the outstanding balance, (July 4th - 5%, August 8th - 5%) then there will be no more charges until January 1st, 2013, so you have time to pay off the balance without further charges.
If the bill for my property is not in my name; who pays the tax bill?
- If you recently purchased the property, you are responsible for the property taxes; therefore, you must pay the full amount on the bill and apply for the grant (if eligible) by the due date. Attorneys for buyers and sellers of property normally adjust the purchase/sale price to account for the property taxes that are the responsibility of either the buyer or seller.
- If you are the new owner, and are going to claim the home owner grant, you will need to provide a copy of your Form A showing your name on title.
Is there a Payment Plan available for Property Taxes?
- The City of Kelowna does have a Property Tax Prepayment plan called the Pre-Authorized Withdrawal SystemPAWS. This plan enables taxpayers to prepay their next year's property taxes. Current year's taxes must be paid before the City can accept prepayments on the next year's taxes.
- The plan pays simple interest at a rate of 3% below the City’s Bank prime rate. This interest is considered a tax discount by Canada Revenue Agency and is not subject to income tax.
- The plan calls for deductions from your bank account, on the 10th of the month, for every month except June. June is used as a catch-up month where the taxpayer applies for the Provincial Home Owner Grant (where eligible) and pays the remaining tax amount still outstanding.
- The minimum monthly installment is $25.00. The maximum is dependent on the prior year's levy for that property.
- Tax prepayments are prepaid to the tax account of the property and will not be reversed if you move or sell your home. Your attorney will adjust your sales costs to account for any prepayments you have made.
- To authorize your final PAWS payment online log onto Property Tax eServices. You will need to know your Roll Number and Access Code; both are located on the top right hand corner of your Property Tax Notice.
Note: Your final payment (if authorized) will be withdrawn from your bank account on the property tax due date.
OR
- Your final PAWS payment can be made at most financial institutions in Canada (in person, by Telephone banking, or Internet banking) credit unions, by mail or in person at City Hall. Mail early to avoid penalty. Post-dated cheques are accepted.
Random Payments:
- Taxpayers may make random prepayments on their next year's taxes at any time before the current tax notices are mailed. The City will pay the same interest as on the monthly installment plan starting July 10th.
- For more information please contact the Revenue Branch at 250 469-8757.
My bank pays my taxes. Should I send my Provincial Home Owner Grant application to my bank?
- No, grant applications should be sent to City Hall. Your bank will send the payment portion separately.
- To claim your Home Owner Grant online log onto Property Tax eServices. You will need to know your Roll Number and Access Code; both are located on the top right hand corner of your Property Tax Notice.
Important: City of Kelowna is not responsible for errors made by financial institutions. You will be charged a 5% penalty on the grant amount if the application form is not received at City Hall by the first penalty date in early July. Check your tax notice for the exact date. You will be charged an additional 5% penalty on the grant amount if the application form is not received at City Hall by the second penalty date in early August. Check your tax notice for the exact date.
My bank pays my taxes. Why do I still receive a tax bill?
- All property owners are notified of tax levies.
- If you are eligible for the Provincial Home Owner Grant, use the remittance stub to apply and send to City Hall.
OR
Myself and another person own the property and both of us received a tax notice. Do we both pay?
- If the tax roll number is the same, then you make one (1) payment for one (1) physical property. Each owner receives a bill for notification purposes only.
- The owner who resides on the property should use the tax notice with his name on it to claim the Provincial Home Owner Grant if eligible.
- Mail in the remittance stub to apply.
OR
The property taxes were paid by the lawyer. What do I need to do?
- Ask your lawyer if you are responsible for applying for the Provincial Home Owner Grant.
- If you are the new owner you will need to attach a copy of your Registered Form A Freehold Title Transfer form to the grant application.
- Please ensure that your grant application is at City Hall before the initial penalty date to avoid penalties.
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