How to Apply for Property Tax Deferment

Before applying for Property Tax Deferment, please review the Eligibility Criteria.

1. Receive your property tax notice.
2. Complete the Application and Agreement for Deferment of Property Taxes
   (FIN 51). The forms can be completed on screen and then printed out. Forms are also available at local municipal or Service BC–Government Agent offices. All registered owners must sign the deferment agreement.
3. Return the completed application and agreement to your municipal or Service BC–Government Agent office for processing before the property tax due date. If you miss the due date, you have until December 31 of the current tax year to apply. Before applying, you must pay all penalties, interest, previous years' property taxes, utility user fees, as these cannot
   be deferred.
4. The municipal or Service–BC Government Agent office will complete the Collector portion and forward the application/agreement to the Tax Deferment Program.
5. We will acknowledge receipt and determine your eligibility. Please note, because of the volume of applications, you may not be notified about your application status for several months.
6. If your application is approved, it becomes a signed agreement and a certified copy is registered as a lien* in the Land Title Office or, if your home is a manufactured home, in the Personal Property Registry. The lien remains in effect until the account is paid in full. Once the lien is registered, the deferment program pays your current property taxes for you.

You must pay late payment penalty charges if, after the property tax due date, you:

• are found ineligible for the program
• cancel or withdraw your application for any reason before deferment program pays the taxes on your behalf
• apply for deferment after the property tax due date
• sell your home before the taxes have been paid on your behalf

Once you have been approved and enrolled in the tax deferment program, you will be sent a statement of account and a renewal application the following year.

*Note: Tax deferment liens are restrictive. This means that title changes after deferment (other than to a surviving spouse) require repayment of your deferment account. Please ensure you have completed all changes to the titled ownership (such as adding or removing owners, subdivisions, or refinancing) before applying for the deferment program.

There is a one-time administration fee of $60 for a new approved agreement and a $10 annual renewal fee for approved renewals. You do not need to send payment with your application - these fees are added to the deferment account.