March 02, 2021 (Translations: Traditional Chinese繁體中文, French, Punjabi, read HERE)

Property tax grant program streamlined for quicker service

Starting in 2021, B.C. homeowners will apply for their homeowner grant through the Province, not their municipality, which will make applying for the grant quicker and easier.

“By administering the grant centrally, we’ll make the process simpler for people and less of a burden for local governments,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance. “With this change, we can provide all British Columbians a secure online application and access to services, such as phone-based support, while removing the need for them to go to their municipal office.”

The homeowner grant program provides tax relief to B.C. homeowners each year. The change to provincial administration will streamline the process and ensure everyone who is eligible receives a reduction in their annual property taxes.

Prior to this change, local governments administered the program in municipalities and the Province administered the rural grant program. Budget 2020 announced the centralization of the program following discussions with municipalities that told government that administration of the yearly grant program was a burden.

“For decades, the homeowner grant was successfully administered through a partnership between the Province and local government partners, but as the program grew, it became a larger responsibility for our municipal partners,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “Streamlining this program will allow municipalities to focus on other critical municipal services that people rely on.”

Annual tax notices will continue to be sent by municipalities but will include a link to the Province’s online grant application. Homeowners should apply once they receive their property tax notice. If they have not yet applied for their 2020 grant, they can do so retroactively now at: https://gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant

“For more than a year, local government and Ministry of Finance staff have been working together to ensure the smooth transition of this program to the provincial government,” said Brian Frenkel, president, Union of BC Municipalities. “This change will provide administrative improvements requested by local government and supports the implementation of the provincial housing plan.”

B.C. municipalities have helped the Province administer the homeowner grant program following its introduction in 1957.

Learn More:

To learn more about the homeowner grant and to apply online, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant

B.C. homeowners can have questions about the program answered and get help applying with a call centre agent at 1 888 355-2700 (toll-free), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time), excluding statutory holidays.

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Home Owner Grant threshold set for 2021 tax year

January 05, 2021     (Translations: Traditional Chinese繁體中文, French, Punjabi, read HERE)

The 2021 Home Owner Grant threshold is set at $1.625 million, ensuring the same percentage of British Columbia homeowners continue to be eligible.

New in 2021, the Province is taking over full administration of the grant program to ease the burden on municipalities. The Province already administers the grant for rural homeowners. Homeowners in all municipalities will now submit their applications directly to the Province instead of through their municipal office. Similar to previous years, applications will open in May when a majority of property tax notices are received.

B.C. homeowners can have questions about the program answered and get help applying with a call centre agent at 1 888 355-2700 (toll-free), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific time), excluding statutory holidays.

As in previous years, homeowners are reminded to keep their property assessment notice from BC Assessment or property tax notice from their municipality. They will need their roll and jurisdiction number from their notice to apply for the Home Owner Grant with the Province.

The grant is reduced by $5 for every $1,000 of assessed value above the threshold. Some low-income seniors, veterans and people with disabilities can also apply for a supplement that replaces any grant amount they lose due to the value of their home being over the threshold.

The grant amounts for 2021 for homeowners in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley Regional District and Capital Regional District are:

• up to $570 for the basic Home Owner Grant; and
• up to $845 for homeowners who are 65 years or older, or the homeowner is a person with a disability or lives with a relative who has a disability.

The grant amounts for 2021 for homeowners located in a northern or rural area (outside Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley Regional District and the Capital Regional District) are:

• up to $770; and
• up to $1,045 for homes in northern or rural areas where the homeowner is 65 years or older, or the homeowner is a person with a disability.

Homeowners may also be eligible for property tax deferment if they are 55 years or older or are financially supporting a dependent child.

Learn More:

To find out more about Home Owner Grant centralization starting this year, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/home-owner-grant

To find out whether you qualify for property tax deferment, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/defer-taxes

People with questions about their assessed property values, including questions about challenging assessments, can contact BC Assessment: https://www.bcassessment.ca/