Tax Relief for View Royal Commercial and Residential Property Owners

May 12, 2020

View Royal property owners who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to delay their municipal tax payments following a decision by View Royal council. 

“We recognize the pressure property owners are under during this challenging time, and we hope that delaying property tax penalties for a 90-day period will help to alleviate some of the burden,” explained Mayor David Screech. 

On May 5, council approved extending the 2020 property tax penalty effective date from July 3 to October 1 for property owners, including residential, business, industrial, farm, and utility property classes. Typically, municipalities would charge a 10 per cent penalty on any amounts owing the day after the property tax deadline. 

“This measure, in addition to relief efforts provided so far by other levels of government, is another way to help ease the financial hardship of COVID-19 to our community”, says Screech. “We are, however, strongly encouraging those property owners who are able to meet the July 2 tax due date to please do so to ensure we have the revenues needed to continue to provide essential and priority services. 

For property owners paying property taxes through installments, the program will continue as usual, allowing taxpayers to make equal payments in advance of next year’s taxes, starting in August 2020.

Property owners are also strongly encouraged to apply for their Homeowner Grant (if eligible) as soon as they receive their property tax notice to avoid a penalty on the grant amount if missed or submitted late. Homeowners can apply for this grant online or complete the form at the bottom of the tax notice and drop it in the box at Town Hall’s front entrance. More information is available on our Home Owner Grant (HOG) page.

The Provincial Tax Deferment Program also remains available for residents to consider. Information about this robust, low-interest loan program that helps qualified BC homeowners pay their annual property taxes on their principal residence can be found on the BC Government website:  http://www.gov.bc.ca/propertytaxdeferment. 

Property tax bills will be issued by the end of May 2020, and the property tax due date remains July 2, 2020, however the 10 per cent late penalty is delayed to October 1, 2020. New this year is the electronic delivery of tax notices for property owners who sign up for e-billing before May 20, 2020 through the Online Services link. Property owners who have not received their tax notice by the second week of June should contact the Finance Department at 250-708-2270.

Background information:

To date, the Town of View Royal has taken the following steps to lower operational costs and provide financial relief to residents and businesses:

  • Reducing the 2020 tax increase from 2.9% to 1.5% - or $16 per year for a representative residential property in View Royal with an assessed value of $731,000.
  • Keeping the tax deadline as July 2, but delaying the 10 per cent interest penalty on late payments to October 1.
  • Keeping municipal costs down by:
    • Reassigning qualified staff to high priority work and essential services
    • Delaying non-essential projects to a future year
    • Purchasing locally and supporting local businesses
  • Creating financial security for essential municipal operations by strategically using reserves to mitigate the need to borrow.

The Town of View Royal is taking steps to ensure ongoing provision of services while keeping the public safe:

  • While access to Town Hall is limited, service delivery continues online, over the telephone and through videoconferencing.
  • Council meetings are now being held electronically.
  • Our playgrounds, View Royal Park’s adult fitness stations and bike park are closed.
  • Emergency Preparedness Fair set for early May 2020 has been cancelled.
  • Canada Day celebrations at Craigflower Manor have been cancelled.

The Town will continue to post regular updates on our website and through social media. If you have any questions regarding the Town of View Royal’s response that are not answered through our website or social media please email: info@viewroyal.ca or call: 250-479-6800 from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.