FAQ
Can I pay my property taxes online?
Can I pay my taxes using a post-dated cheque?
I can only pay part of my taxes. What should I do?
How is a partial payment applied to my account?
If the bill for my property is not in my name, who pays the tax bill?
My bank pays my taxes. Should I send my home owner grant application to my bank?
My bank pays my taxes. Why do I still receive a tax bill?
Myself and another person own the property and both of us received a tax notice. Do we both pay?
The property taxes were paid by the lawyer. What do I need to do?
What are my payment options?
Please view our Payment Options page for more details.
Can I pay by credit card?
Yes, credit cards are accepted online and by telephone only. You can pay through the Online Services portal of our website, or by phone at 1-855-347-9799. If paying by credit card, you will be charged a 2.5% convenience fee at the time of payment. Credit Cards are not accepted as payment at the District of Sicamous office.
Can I pay my property taxes online?
Yes, you can pay your taxes using your bank’s online banking. Make payment to your property roll number.
Can I pay my taxes using a post-dated cheque?
The District of Sicamous directly, is able to accept a post-dated cheque payment. In order to avoid any penalty on outstanding taxes, your cheque should not be post-dated beyond the due date. The due date is the first working day after July 1st. After this date, current outstanding taxes are subject to a 10% penalty.
Check your tax notice for the exact dates involved each year.
Cheques that are not negotiable due to errors made by the payer will be considered returned cheques. All returned cheques are subject to a District of Sicamous administrative fee of $25.00, possible service fee from your bank, and a District of Sicamous late penalty if they are not replaced by the tax due dates.
I can only pay part of my taxes. What should I do?
After the due date, a 10% penalty is applied to outstanding property taxes. No further charges are applied until January 1st the following year, so property owners have time to pay off the balance without further charges. If you are eligible for the Home Owner Grant, remember to claim it online prior to the due date. The due date for property taxes and applications for the Home Owner Grant always fall on the first business day following July 1st.
How is a partial payment applied to my account?
Payments for taxes must be applied in the following:
- delinquent taxes, including interest, from past years;
- taxes in arrear, including interest, from the preceding year;
- a penalty added in the current year;
- current year taxes.
If the bill for my property is not in my name, who pays the tax bill?
If you recently purchased the property, you are responsible for the property taxes; therefore, you must pay the full amount on the bill and apply for the grant (if eligible) by the due date. Attorneys for buyers and sellers of property normally adjust the purchase/sale price to account for the property taxes that are the responsibility of either the buyer or seller.
If you are the new owner and are going to claim the home owner grant, you will need to provide a copy of your Form A Freehold Title Transfer showing your name on title. This Form A is found in the paperwork from the sale of the property, or from your lawyer/notary.
My bank pays my taxes. Should I send my home owner grant application to my bank?
No, apply for the grant online. Your bank will send the payment portion separately. Please see Home Owner Grant for more information.
Important: The District of Sicamous is not responsible for errors made by financial institutions. You will be charged a 10% penalty on the grant amount if the application form is not received at the District Office by the penalty date in early July. Check your tax notice for the exact date.
My bank pays my taxes. Why do I still receive a tax bill?
All property owners are notified of tax levies. Keep the tax notice for your records. If you qualify for the home owner grant, be sure to claim it as the bank cannot claim the grant for you.
Myself and another person own the property and both of us received a tax notice. Do we both pay?
If the tax roll number is the same, then you make one payment for one physical property. Each owner receives a bill for notification purposes only.
The owner who resides on the property should apply for the home owner grant online if eligible.
The property taxes were paid by the lawyer. What do I need to do?
Ask your lawyer if you are responsible for applying for the home owner grant. If you are the new owner, you may need to attach a copy of the registered Form A Freehold Title Transfer form when submitting the online grant application. Please submit your grant application prior to the due date to avoid penalties.