Apply for or renew a property tax deferment program application

Eligible property owners may defer the property taxes they owe

Eligibility

The Tax Deferment program is a low interest loan program available to eligible B.C. homeowners. It allows you to defer your current year property taxes.

Note: You must apply each year to continue with the program.

You can apply online through eTaxBC to renew the deferment of your property taxes or you can renew your application by selecting the automatic renewal process. If you choose not to renew each year, you must pay your property taxes to your rural or municipal tax office. You must do this before the property tax due date for the year that you have not applied for renewal. 

You may be able to defer your property taxes if you qualify for one of the following property tax deferment programs:

  • Regular Program
  • Families with Children Program

Regular Program

To apply for the Regular Program you must be one of the of the following: 

  • 55 or older during the current year
  • A surviving spouse of any age
  • A person with disabilities

For the Regular program you must meet the applicant, property and equity qualifications.

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Applicant qualifications

To qualify for this program, you must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
  • Be a registered owner of the property
  • Have lived in B.C. for at least one year prior to applying
  • Pay property taxes for the residence to a municipality or the province
  • Have paid all previous years' property taxes, utility user fees, penalties and interest

You must also be either:

  • Aged 55 or older this calendar year (only one registered owner must be 55 or older any time during the current calendar year)
  • A surviving spouse of any age who isn't currently the spouse of another person
  • Designated as a person with disabilities under the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act
  • A person with disabilities and, in the opinion of a physician, your severe mental or physical impairment:
    • Is likely to continue for at least two years
    • Directly and significantly restricts your ability to perform daily living activities, either continuously or periodically for extended periods, and
    • As a result of those restrictions, requires you to have an assistive device, the significant help or supervision of another person, or the services of an assistance animal to perform those activities
 

Property qualifications

To qualify for this program, your property must:

  • Be your principal residence (where you live and conduct your daily activities)
  • Be taxed as residential (class 1) or residential and farm (class 1 and 9)
 

Equity requirements

You must have and maintain a minimum equity of 25% of the property's assessed value. This means that all charges registered against your property plus the amount of taxes you want to defer can’t be more than 75% of the BC Assessment value of your property in the year you apply.

If you have a secured debt on your property, such as a mortgage or a line of credit, contact your lender before you apply. You need to ensure your approval into the tax deferment program doesn't conflict with the terms of your loan. Some lenders may not allow you to enrol into the tax deferment program with the type of loan you have.

Find out how your equity is calculated.

Note: Even if you meet all the above criteria, you still might not be eligible for this program. See the other eligible criteria below for more information.

Families with Children Program

To apply for the Families with Children Program you must be one of the following:

  • A parent
  • A stepparent, or
  • Are financially supporting a child

For the Families with Children program you must meet applicant, property and equity qualifications. 

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Applicant qualifications

To qualify for this program you must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada
  • Be a registered owner of the property
  • Have lived in B.C. for at least one year prior to applying
  • Pay property taxes for the residence to a municipality or the province, and
  • Have paid all previous years' property taxes, utility user fees, penalties and interest

You must also be financially supporting one of the following:

  • A child under the age of 18 who either:
    • Lives with you full time or part time, or
    • Doesn't live with you but you pay child support for
  • Your own child or stepchild of any age who is attending an educational institution (such as college or university)
  • Your own child or stepchild of any age who is a designated person with a disability under the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act
  • Your own child or stepchild of any age who, in the opinion of a physician, has a severe mental or physical impairment that:
    • Is likely to continue for at least two years 
    • Directly and significantly restricts their ability to perform daily living activities, either continuously or periodically for extended periods, and
    • As a result of those restrictions, they require an assistive device, the significant help or supervision of another person, or the services of an assistance animal to help perform those activities

You will need to show proof that you're financially supporting a child under the age of 18 who doesn’t live with you.

 

Property qualifications

To qualify for this program, your property must:

  • Be your principal residence (where you live and conduct your daily activities)
  • Be taxed as residential (class 1) or residential and farm (class 1 and 9)
 

Equity requirements

You must have and maintain a minimum equity of 15% of the property's assessed value. This means that all charges registered against your property plus the amount of taxes you want to defer can’t be more than 85% of the BC Assessment value of your property in the year you apply.

If you have a secured debt on your property, such as a mortgage or a line of credit, contact your lender before you apply. You need to ensure your approval into the tax deferment program doesn't conflict with the terms of your loan. Some lenders may not allow you to enrol into the tax deferment program with the type of loan you have.

Find out how your equity is calculated.

Note: Even if you meet all the above criteria, you still might not be eligible for this program. See the other eligible criteria below for more information

Other eligibility criteria

 

Instances where you may not be able to defer your property taxes

You will not be eligible for the property tax deferment program if:

  • Your current year property taxes have already been paid in full
  • You have any debt owing from the previous taxation year, such as unpaid property taxes, penalties, utility fees, unclaimed home owner grant (if eligible) or interest
  • Not all registered owners consented on the application within 28 days (step 4)
  • You have a Duplicate Indefeasible Title on your property title
  • The property is not your principal residence and it's a second home like a cottage, summer home or rental home
  • Your residence isn't taxed as a residential (class 1) or residential (class 1) and farm (class 9) improvement
    • Only property taxes for classes 2 - 8 cannot be deferred and must be paid directly to your property tax office by the tax due date
  • You pay the property taxes for the residence to a First Nation or your property is leased from a First Nation, Municipality, or the Crown
  • The property’s parcel identifier number (PID) starts with 9
  • Your manufactured home does not have a current year fire insurance policy and you do not own land
  • You are not the registered owner of the manufactured home in the Manufactured Home Registry
  • Deceased owner(s) have not been removed from the property title or Personal Property Registry
  • The property title is entirely in the name of the executor/executrix, or an administrator of the deceased owner's estate
  • The property title is entirely in trust. If the property title is partially in trust, contact our office to confirm eligibility before applying
  • The property title is entirely in the name of a corporation
  • The residence is a float home or a home on stilts that doesn't have a property title registered with the Land Title Office
  • It has a Caveat other than Public Guardian and Trustee
  • There is a Certificate of Pending Litigation or an Injunction against your property
  • A judgment is registered on title (judgments expire two years after registration or renewal unless they are non-expiring)
  • You are currently in the process of subdividing your property or the subdivision was recently completed
    • Note: Property updates between April and November may be reflected in the next calendar assessment year. For example, if you subdivided your property in June, 2023, you will not be able to defer your 2023 taxes. The new roll number and PID will only be available in May 2024 and you can apply to defer taxes for the 2024 year. Contact BC Assessment to see wat year your subdivision will be applied to. 

If there's an option to purchase on the property title, the property may not qualify for deferment. Contact us for more information before you apply.

If you're thinking of selling your home or your home is listed for sale, contact us to find out if you're eligible to defer your property taxes.

Overview

When to apply

If you qualify for the program, you can submit an application to defer your unpaid current year property taxes between early May and December 31. We recommend you apply after you receive your property tax notice and before your property taxes due date. If you haven't receive your tax notice by the end of June, contact your property tax office.

Instructions for City of Vancouver residents

If you’re a City of Vancouver resident with two property tax billing periods, you can do one of the following: 

  1. Pay your advance tax notice amount before the designated tax due date to avoid any penalties. Wait until you receive your main tax notice and apply to defer only that portion, or

  2. Pay the late filing penalty fee (5%) to the City of Vancouver for not paying the advance tax notice amount. Wait until you receive your main tax notice and apply to defer the advance and main tax notice amounts

In subsequent years, your November advance tax notice will indicate you have a zero balance and your June tax notice will include the advance and main tax notice amounts. You may defer both portions without being penalized as long as you continue to qualify for tax deferment and you renew your application on or before the July tax due date. 

If you chose to automatically renew your tax deferment application, your deferral will be processed automatically for the July tax due date. Each year in May you'll receive a Statement of Account. If you are eligible, each year before the property tax due date you should apply for your home owner grant.

Deferment applications for the current year are not accepted past December 31. We do not accept early applications for the following year.

If you apply outside of the recommended application time

Applications are only open from May to December 31 each year. Applications received between January 1 and April 30 for the current tax year are cancelled.

Below is what you can expect if you apply outside of the recommended application time.

You applied before receiving your property tax notice

If you applied in May, but before you received your property tax notice, your application will be held until the current year’s property tax information is available from your municipality.

You applied after the property tax due date

If you applied after your property taxes are due, you must pay any late payment penalties to your municipality. Only your current year’s taxes classed as residential (class 1) and residential and farm (class 1 and 9) can be deferred. Property taxes for classes 2 to 8 must be paid directly to your property tax office and cannot be deferred.

You applied before the property tax due date but your application was approved after the due date

Applications are processed in the order they are received. They may take several months to be reviewed. To check your application status refer to step 6.

If you applied before the property tax due date and your application was approved after the due date, you won't be charged late payment penalties on the deferred taxes. 

Late payment penalties

Your property tax office may charge you a late payment penalty if:

  • Your application was denied and it’s past the property tax due date
  • You withdraw your application or your application is rejected for any reason by the Tax Deferment Office after the tax due date
  • Your home owner grant (if applicable) was claimed after the property tax due date
  • You have unpaid current year utility fees on the property tax due date
  • You have taxes unpaid from property classes that are not deferrable. Property classes 02-08 must be paid to your property tax office each year before the property taxes due date

Late payment penalties are applied after the tax due date and are legislative and cannot be waived or removed.

Resources for more information

You can read the following resources for more details about the property tax deferment program:

Application Steps

1

Before you apply or renew

Before you apply or renew your deferment application read all the information below to make sure you're ready and to avoid late payment penalties.

 

What you need to do or verify

  1. Make sure you meet all applicant, property and equity qualifications
  2. Remove deceased registered owners from the property title
  3. Make sure all registered owners agree to defer property taxes. Once you complete your application you will need them to enter into an agreement within 28 days
  4. Pay debt owing from previous taxation years:
    • Unpaid property taxes
    • Penalties
    • Utility fees
    • Interest
  5. Don't pay your current year property taxes in full or you will not be able to defer this year
    • Note: You can only defer property taxes assessed for property class 1 (residential) or class 1 and class 9 (residential and farm). Property taxes for all other property classifications (class 2-8) must be paid to your property tax office prior to the tax due date.
  6. Pay any current year utility fees that are listed on your property tax notice by the due date to avoid late payment penalties
  7. Claim your home owner grant, if eligible, when you receive your annual property tax notice. If you did not apply for the grant last year and qualify, you can apply retroactively. Applications must be submitted by December 31 of the current year to claim last year's home owner grant
  8. Cancel any automatic payments being made to your property tax account so your current year taxes remain unpaid at the time of deferment
  9. If you have a mortgage or a line of credit, ensure your approval into the program doesn't conflict with the terms of your loan
  10. Contact all registered owners to provide their authorization for the program once you submit your online application. Online authorization must be done within 28 days of application. Refer to Step 4 below
2

Information and documents you'll need

 

Information you'll need

  • Your jurisdiction and roll number (also called a folio number or account number) found on your annual property tax notice or your BC Assessment notice issued in January
  • Your social insurance number (SIN)
  • Your date of birth
  • Digital copies of supporting documentation, if applicable
  • Your PTD number (renewals only)

We verify your citizenship, equity and residence with your SIN and date of birth. The property tax deferment is a loan program very similar to the process of asking for a loan at your financial institution.
Your personal information is encrypted to ensure that it's kept secure

 

Documents you may need to refer to

The application has a built-in equity calculator to confirm your eligibility. Having the following documents available may help you answer the equity questions: 

  • This year's BC Assessment notice
  • Current mortgage statement
  • Line of credit statement indicating the credit limit (not the amount owning)
  • Home insurance documents
3

Apply through eTaxBC

You can apply for tax deferment or renew your application with eTaxBC between May and December 31 each year. 

Ensure you meet all eligibility requirements and have the information you need ready before you apply or renew an application.

You may need to submit supporting documentation with your application if you’re applying:

  • On behalf of a registered owner
  • As a surviving spouse (Regular Program only)
  • As a person with a disability
  • As a parent or stepparent of a person with a disability

When you apply, you may set up automatic renewal for subsequent years.

 

If you have automatic renewal set up already

If your automatic renewal is set up, you don't need to submit an application. Our office will determine if you meet the program requirements and may contact you by email or mail requesting additional information. 

Requested information is due 30 days from the date the email request was sent or when the letter was issued. If the requested information isn't received by the due date, your application will be cancelled and late penalties will apply if it's after your property tax due date.

Note: Approved renewals are not issued an approval letter. You can verify your renewal status online, or if you have an eTaxBC logon.

Renewal applications will be cancelled and our office won't pay your property taxes if we verify the applicant is no longer eligible for the program. Some examples include:

  • Your current year taxes were paid by you, or your lender
  • The applicant has moved off the property
  • The applicant has passed away

Find out more about:

Important: If there are multiple registered owners, complete Step 4 below after you apply.

Switching programs: Before doing so, familiarize yourself with the program eligibility, equity requirement, interest rates and fees (if applicable). If approved, your original program will be placed on hold and will accrue monthly interest until paid in full. Refer to Interest and fees for each program.

Apply or renew

4

Make sure all registered owners agree to defer property taxes

If there’s more than one registered owner of the property, each owner or their authorized representative (for example, a power of attorney) must agree to the application’s terms and conditions.

Each registered owner(or authorized representative) must enter into an agreement and agree to the terms and conditions within 28 days of the application date.

As the main applicant, you must share the following information with them:

Enter agreement

Your application will not be processed until all owners enter into the agreement.

If the owners have not entered into the agreement within 14 days from the application date, a reminder letter will be mailed to the address you provided on your application.

Your application will be cancelled if each owner does not enter into the agreement within the 28 days from the application date. You will receive a cancellation letter by mail. This letter will not be emailed.

If a registered owner is deceased, you must contact the Land Title Office or the Personal Property Registry (for manufactured homes) to remove their name from the property or manufactured home title. 

If your application is cancelled, you can re-apply for tax deferment up to December 31 for the current year, but late payment penalties will apply after your property tax due date. ​

Important: An application will not be processed or considered complete until all owners provide their authorization. Applications are reviewed and processed in the order they are received. The review of applications may take up to several months. To check your application status, refer to Step 6. 

 

5

Submit further information (if requested)

We may request additional information by mail or email to support your application and confirm your eligibility under the program.

You must submit the requested additional information within 30 days from the date of the email or the letter requesting it. If the requested information is not received by the due date, your application will be cancelled and late payment penalties will apply if it’s after your property tax due date.

Important: Late payment penalties are legislated and cannot be waived or removed.

6

Check your application status

You can check your application status online using:

  • Your confirmation number, or
  • Your jurisdiction, roll number and last name

Check your application status

Important: Some applications may take over 24 hours to be updated in the system.

Applications are reviewed and processed in the order they are received and it may take several months to review and process. 

7

When your application is approved

If you applied for the first time on your property and your application is approved:

  1. We'll pay your property taxes on your behalf and place a restrictive lien on your property. This means you're limited in the types of changes you can make to your property title while you're in the tax deferment program.
  2. You’ll receive an approval letter by mail. This letter will also indicate whether you have selected the auto renewal option and include other important information.
  3. An annual statement of account showing your account balance as of March 31 will be mailed to you each year. 

If you renewed your application:

  • You will not receive an approval letter

You can check your application status online at any time.

Fees

If you applied for or renewed the Regular Program, a fee is added to your account. This fee is not required to be paid at the time of your application.

  • $60 for new applications
  • $10 for renewals

There are no fees for the Families with Children Program.

Interest

Simple interest is charged on the deferred tax amount starting from the date your property taxes are due or the date you applied to defer, whichever is later. Find out how interest is applied to your tax deferment loan.

8

When your application is denied

If your application is denied, you may try applying again next year.

If your application is denied after the tax due date, you'll be charged a late payment penalty for any unpaid taxes by your property tax office.

 

Reasons your application could be denied

Your application may have been denied if:

  • You paid your current year’s property taxes in full
  • You sold your home
  • You refinanced your mortgage for a higher amount and, as a result, you no longer have sufficient equity
  • Your lender does not allow you to register in the program because of the type of loan you have with them
  • You had debt owing from the previous tax year such as unpaid property taxes, penalties, utility fees, unclaimed home owner grant (if eligible) or interest
  • You failed to provide the requested information to support your application by the letter due date
  • You changed owner information on the property title or you have not removed deceased owners
  • The property is no longer your principal residence
  • You added a restrictive lien to your property title
  • You recently subdivided or you are currently in the process of subdividing your property
  • You are in arrears for child or spousal support that's secured by a registered charge on your property title
  • There is legal action taken against your property, such as a foreclosure
  • You entered bankruptcy or consumer proposal proceedings
  • You have a Duplicate Indefeasible Title on your property title

Important: Late payment penalties are legislated and cannot be waived or removed.

9

Enrol for eTaxBC (Optional)

If you've been approved for the program, you can enrol for an eTaxBC logon to manage your property tax deferment account online.

Creating an eTaxBC logon to view your property tax deferment account allows you to:

  • See your account balance
  • Request a payout letter or balance of account letter
  • Make a payment using pre-authorized debit
  • Send us a message
  • Update your mailing address
  • Check the status of your application or renewal if you have automatic renewal set up

If you need to update your name, you must first update it with the Land Title Office and the BC Assessment Office. Our records must match their records.

To enrol, you'll need your:

  • Account type: Property Tax - Deferment
  • Account number
  • Letter ID

You can find your account number and letter ID on your Statement of Account.

Enrol for eTaxBC

Repay your loan

You can repay all or part of your tax deferment loan any time during the year. Monthly interest will be added to your account balance on the 23rd of each month until it is paid in full.  

If you would like to pay your loan and keep your account open, leave a minimum balance of $25.00. However, if you’re selling your home or adding someone who's not a spouse to your property title, your account must be paid in full.

If you plan on refinancing, check with your lender to see if they require you to pay out your loan.

Before you make a payment to your tax deferment account, confirm your balance:

 

About your payout letter

Your payout letter will include:

  • Your PTD account number
  • The current amount outstanding, plus the next two months with interest calculated
  • Payment instructions

The letter will also indicate whether the balance due includes the current year taxes or not.

Payout letters are calculated on the date they are created.  We cannot backdate the payout letter for a date of death of an agreement holder or provide the per diem. 

Interest rates may change on April 1st and October 1st each year and depending on when the payout letter is created, the balance owing may differ.

Note: If you request a payout letter, your account will freeze. This means if you submit a renewal or have signed up for automatic renewal, and our office has not approved and paid your property tax office, the current year taxes may not be applied to your account balance. This information will be reflected in the letter. Your renewal will be cancelled. If you want to defer the current year taxes and have it reflected in your payout letter, contact us.

You can repay your deferred property taxes using any of the available payment methods.

If a lawyer, notary or another party is paying your loan on your behalf, see lawyer, notary or other party for more information.

When you've paid your loan in full

If you pay your account in full, your agreement will close. The Land Title Office or Personal Property Registry (for manufactured homes) will release the tax deferment lien when they receive a Notice of Satisfaction from our office.

We’ll send the Notice of Satisfaction once your payment has been processed or cleared.

If you repay your loan in full using non-guaranteed funds, such as a personal cheque, it will take at least 30 days to clear your payment. We can’t change this clearing time. We'll mail your confirmation when your payment has been processed.

It may take several weeks for the lien to be removed after your tax deferment account is paid in full. Contact the Land Title Office to follow up on the status of your lien. 

To defer your property taxes in the future you must submit a new application. Renewal applications will not be accepted on a closed account. 

If you payout and close your account we will not accept a new application for the same property for that same year. You must wait until May the following year.

Contact information

Contact us with your questions about deferring your property taxes.

Toll Free
1-888-355-2700
Office
250-387-0555