Property tax notices are set to arrive in mailboxes for all property owners in British Columbia, with the deadline to pay this year falling on July 2, 2024.
“The RDEK is not a taxing authority, so for all rural properties in the East Kootenay, your tax notices are sent from the Surveyor of Taxes in Victoria,” explains RDEK Chief Financial Officer Holly Ronnquist. “The Province collects the provincial-rural, school, and regional district taxes and then sends the regional district its portion on behalf of the rural residents.”
Municipalities within the East Kootenay, unlike regional districts, act as their own taxing authorities. Property owners within an incorporated municipality should contact their respective city hall, district, or village office for property tax information, except when the question pertains to the RDEK Local Services section of their tax notice.
For residents of the City of Fernie, property taxes are due by July 2, 2024, at 5:00 PM MDT. A 10% penalty will be applied to any unpaid taxes after this deadline. Non-receipt of the Property Tax Notice does not exempt property owners from taxation or penalties. Payments can be made in person at City Hall, by mail, through online banking, or at most financial institutions. Credit card payments are accepted via OptionPay at City Hall or online, though third-party fees apply. Postdated cheques are accepted, but postmarks on mailed remittances are not considered the date of payment. All eligible property owners must complete the Homeowner Grant application each year. Payments or grant claims not received by July 2, 2024, at 5:00 PM MDT will incur a 10% penalty. Homeowner grant applications are processed directly by the province, either online at www.gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant or by phone at 1-888-355-2700.
Rural property owners in East Kootenay pay their property taxes directly to the Province, not the RDEK. This can be done through any Service BC location or online. Homeowner grants are also claimed online, with instructions provided in each tax notice or available on the Provincial government’s website by searching for “property taxes in rural areas.”
The RDEK’s portion of the tax notice for rural property owners appears in the local services section and accounts for only part of the overall tax bill. The specific amount varies based on the number of local RDEK services received, such as fire protection, water, or sewer, which are only charged to residents within the service area receiving that service. These individual services are listed separately on the tax notice. All RDEK rural property owners will see a line item on their tax notice for general services, which include 9-1-1 service, libraries, building inspection, solid waste, and recycling. This item is named slightly differently for each area but is generally something similar to “AREA A – East Kootenay.”
“If people have questions about how much they are paying for a specific RDEK service, such as their water or recycling, we are happy to answer those questions; however, questions about the provincial services on their tax notice should be directed to the Province,” says Ronnquist. Rural property owners with questions about their property tax bill and homeowner grant should contact the Surveyor of Taxes at 1-888-355-2700. For inquiries about property assessment, contact the BC Assessment Authority at 1-866-825-8322.
The Province anticipates that rural property tax notices will be mailed out by May 31.
