Frequently Asked Questions - General
Questions:
Answers:
Can anyone sign the grant application on my behalf? |
No, you must appoint a person by Power of Attorney and/or Representation Agreement to sign for you. The Power of Attorney form does not need to notarized, but must be witnessed. You may limit this Power of Attorney and/or Representation Agreement to the signing of the Home Owner Grant application.
Our property is registered in joint ownership. Do we both have to sign the grant application? |
No, only one registered owner needs to sign the grant application, providing it is his/her principal residence.
The property is registered in my spouse's name only. Can I sign the grant application on his or her behalf? |
No, the person registered on title must sign the grant application, unless they appoint a person by Power of Attorney to sign for them (see above). The exception to this is in the case of a deceased owner.
My parents are elderly and unable to take care of their affairs. What can I do to ensure they receive their Home Owner Grant? |
We recommend you obtain Power of Attorney for your parents. This will enable you to complete and sign a Home Owner Grant application on their behalf.
Does my application have to be signed in the presence of a property tax clerk, or may I sign it and mail it in? |
You do not have to sign the application in front of a property tax clerk. You may mail the application directly to the municipal office, Surveyor of Taxes office or nearest Service BC-Government Agent office, whichever is responsible for collecting your property taxes.
If I submit my application by mail, is the date of my payment determined by the postmark date or by when it is received in the tax office? |
The payment date is usually determined by when it is received in the tax office. However, some municipalities may consider the postmark date. You may want to check with the municipal office, Surveyor of Taxes' office or nearest Service BC - Government Agent office, whichever is responsible for collecting your property taxes.
Can I fax the grant application or submit it electronically? |
Yes, local governments can accept a faxed application; however, be sure to include your folio number since your application is separated from your property tax notice.
Some property owners can file electronically using an online application form. Please refer to your tax notice and check with the municipal or rural tax authority responsible for collecting your taxes.
Do I have to pay my taxes to be eligible for the Home Owner Grant? |
No, but by claiming the grant prior to the due date, you will avoid being charged penalty on the amount of the grant. Penalty for late payment of tax will be charged on the outstanding balance after the grant has been deducted. This advice is printed on your property tax notice or on the insert which accompanies it.
I paid the full amount of my taxes by the due date, but didn't claim the Home Owner Grant. It is now October - can I still claim the grant and get a refund? |
Yes, as long as the property is your principal residence and you did not claim the grant on another property for the current tax year. Claims can be filed until December 31.
My bank/mortgage company is responsible for paying my property taxes. Where do I send my application? |
You must send the application directly to the municipal office, Surveyor of Taxes office or nearest Service BC - Government Agent office, whichever is responsible for collecting your property taxes.
I am the owner of the property. I recently got married and changed my name. How should I sign my application? |
You should sign your new name and then print below your signature "Formerly (your former name)."
We also recommend you contact the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia where your property is registered to have the change made to their records. If you own a manufactured home, you should advise the Manufactured Home Registry in Victoria of your name change.
I recently separated from my spouse and bought a new home. Can I claim the grant on my new home, and my spouse claim it on our former shared residence which is in both of our names? |
Yes. If you have a written separation agreement in place at the time you are claiming the grant, and your new home is your principal residence, you can claim the grant on your new home. Your spouse may claim the grant on the home you own jointly if it remains his/her principal residence.
Why must I apply for the grant every year? |
Under Section 8 of the Home Owner Grant Act, you are required to apply each year to claim the grant, after receiving your property tax notice.
I am not going to be here when the tax notices are mailed. Can I claim my grant before I receive my notice? |
Yes, you can use an Application for Home Owner Grant (FIN 78) and mail it prior to tax time if you are going to be away on vacation. The property must not be rented or for sale.
Your application will be held until the tax notices are mailed, and then it will be processed. Send your application to your municipal office, Surveyor of Taxes' office or nearest Service BC - Government Agent office, whichever is responsible for collecting your property taxes.
I just received my property tax notice, and the amount owing under all the columns is the same. Am I not eligible for the Home Owner Grant? |
Your taxes may be too low or your property assessment too high for you to be eligible for the grant. A person eligible for the basic grant must pay a minimum of $350 after the grant is applied; for the additional grant, the minimum payment is $100. For 2011 the basic grant will be eliminated on homes assessed at $1,264,000 or more, and the additional grant on homes at $1,319,000 or more.
My property has been assessed as vacant land but there is a building on the property in which I live. Am I eligible for the grant? |
If your property has been assessed as vacant land, it has also been taxed as vacant land and does not qualify for a Home Owner Grant. You must contact your local assessor with BC Assessment, who will determine if a supplementary assessment can be made to include the value of the dwelling in your current year property taxes. If so, the grant may be claimed. In the meantime, we suggest you pay your taxes in full by the due date to avoid a penalty.
My brother and I are the registered owners of a property. He paid the full amount of the property taxes but I am the one living there. When I claim the grant, who will get the refund? |
You must contact your municipal office, Surveyor of Taxes office, or nearest
Service BC - Government Agent office, whichever is responsible for collecting your property taxes, to discuss this. It is our responsibility to ensure the applicant is eligible for the grant, but we do not have the authority to determine who should receive the refund.
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