Property Tax Notices

Change address

To change your address, you must connect directly with the Land Title Office. The address on a title is where information about a property may be sent, such as assessment, property tax and speculation tax notices. Property owners are encouraged to ensure it is an address where they can receive mail. It does not have to be the address of the property.

To learn more, or start an application to change your address, visit ltsa.ca/changemailingaddress.

BC property owners can also update mailing addresses on land titles using the BC Services Card app.

You may also mail or deliver an application in person (by appointment) at a Land Title Office. 

Change name or title

Any changes related to title requires notifying the Kamloops Land Titles Office. You may contact a Land Title Corrections Officer or have these changes made by a notary or lawyer acting on your behalf.

Talk to a Land Title Corrections Officer at:

Land Title Office

114 - 455 Columbia Street

Kamloops, BC V2C 6K4

Tel: 1-877-577-5872

Fax: 1-250-371-3717

Website

Deferment of taxes

The Province of British Columbia offers two tax deferment programs and now fully administers them. City of West Kelowna staff are unable to assist with this program.

Please direct all new and renewal applications and inquiries through the provincial government.

To learn more about their requirements to qualify for the Regular and Families with Children Programs and to find provincial contact information, go to gov.bc.ca/propertytaxdeferment. 

Home owner grant

The BC Home Owner Grant must be claimed directly through the Province of BC, either online or by phone. Municipalities cannot accept any Home Owner Grant applications.

Claim your Home Owner Grant by 4:30 p.m. July 4. Home Owner Grants amounts not claimed by July 4, 2023 will also be subject to the 10 per cent penalty.

All registered owners, if eligible, are responsible for claiming the Home Owner Grant before the due date, including:

• Even if a mortgage company is paying their taxes or if the taxes are being deferred, homeowners must claim the grant.
• Those who make pre-payments towards their taxes are also responsible for claiming the grant.

To learn more, visit the Province of BC Home Owner Grant website or call them at 1-888-355-2700.

Notices

Notices are sent by mail in late May for the period of January 1 to December 31 of the current year.

Notices will include the municipal property tax portion, and, in some cases parcel taxes. Email taxes@westkelownacity.ca or call 778-797-8860 for questions regarding parcel taxes.

The notice will also include general taxes collected for other levels of government. For questions regarding other charges, please contact the corresponding organization below:

• BC Assessment Authority: 1-866-825-8322
• Municipal Finance Authority (MFA): 250-383-1181
• Regional District of Central Okanagan (Hospital, RDCO, and 911): 250-763-4918
• School (Province of BC): 1-888-355-2700
• Sterile Insect Release Program (RDCO): 250-469-6187

Haven't received your tax notice?

If you haven't received a tax notice by June 15, please contact the Property Tax Department at taxes@westkelownacity.ca or by phone at 778-797-8860. You can also view your account online (follow this how-to document for assistance, if required). 

Selling your property?

If a property sale occurs during the year, taxes are adjusted by a notary or lawyer. The City of West Kelowna does not adjust taxes due to property sales. Owners should check with their notary or lawyer to confirm if any action is required on their part.

A municipality must determine how much it needs to collect in property taxes, which contributes to the revenue required to provide infrastructure, programs and services for the year. 

To accomplish this the city uses a formula that includes the total assessed values of all properties within the municipality, and then you can use your assessed property value to estimate your taxes.

Example calculation

For example, assume the City of West Kelowna requires $42 million from taxation to cover its 2023 budget and the total assessed value of all properties within the municipal jurisdiction is $17 billion. The following formula would then be used.

• Establish the mil rate
  • Divide total assessed value of all properties by 1000
    • $17,000,000,000 ÷ 1000 = $17,000,000
  • Then divide the required revenue for the year by this number
    • $42,000,000 ÷ $17,000,000 = 2.471
  • Estimate the municipal portion of your property taxes
    • Divide your total assessed value by 1000, then multiply by the mil rate
      • ($980,000 ÷ 1000) X 2.471 = $2,421.18

This amount does not include taxes for other governments. To find out specific tax rates, please visit the Province of BC Local Government Tax Rates website. Current years’ specific tax rates are not available until later in the year, after individual municipalities have adopted their Tax Rates Bylaws, which must occur by May 15 each year.

See the current year's Tax Rates Bylaw, which is adopted by Council and then subsequently published online before mid-May, go to the Bylaws page.

Penalties

Penalties are statutory. Staff cannot waive these charges.

Property taxes are due July 4, 2023 by 4:30 p.m. Payments received after 4:30 p.m. on July 4, 2023 will be considered late. A 10 per cent late penalty applies July 5, 2023. Please pay all outstanding balances before the due date to avoid the penalty. If you cannot pay the full amount by July 4, make whatever payment you can to reduce the penalty amount:

• Claim your Home Owner Grant by July 4. Home Owner Grants not claimed by July 4, 2023 will also be subject to the 10 per cent penalty.
• Penalties are mandated under The Community Charter.

If taxes are still not paid after Dec. 31, further interest is applied to the outstanding balances. Interest on outstanding balances is calculated at rates set four times per year by the Province of British Columbia.

Property tax insert

Read the property tax insert to learn more about what the municipal tax portion of the budget funds.