Tax notices arriving, include 4.72% tax hike

Property owners in Kelowna will be getting their 2024 tax notices in the mail this week.

This year’s notice includes a tax increase of 4.72 per cent, which translates to an additional $9.33 a month, for the City of Kelowna portion on an average residential property tax bill in Kelowna.

General taxation will account for approximately 22 per cent of the city’s operational revenues this year. Other revenues sources include reserves, grants, user fees, and income from self-funding business units.

Payments must be received by the city or electronically processed by third-party financial institutions by Tuesday, July 2 to avoid a provincially legislated 10 per cent late payment penalty.

“The city is reminding property owners that Monday, July 1 is a statutory holiday and recommends making payments early as banks and credit card companies can take up to three business days to process payments,” a city news release stated.

Payments can be made the followign ways:

• By cheque using the drop box located at the main doors at City Hall.
• By mailing cheques to City Hall (Post-dated cheques are accepted. However, the postmark date is not considered date of payment).
• Through online or telephone banking with a financial institution.
• In person at a financial institution.
• Credit card online at kelowna.ca/onlinebilling (a 2.3% transaction fee will apply).

Eligible property owners can apply now for the annual provincial Home Owner Grant (HOG) at gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant or by calling 1-888-355-2700. Applications must be in before the July 2 deadline as it is considered a form of payment.

The BC Property Tax Deferment program is also now available to those who qualify. Taxpayers can learn more about the property tax deferment program including eligibility at gov.bc.ca/propertytaxdeferment.