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Help for struggling Port Coquitlam property owners at tax time

The city extends the late penalty deadline while reminding residents that home owner grants are now administered by the provincial government; a tax deferral program is also available for qualifying B.C. taxpayers
Diane Strandberg
Diane Strandberg
port-coquitlam-city-hall
The tax deadline for Port Coquitlam property taxes is July 2, but penalties have been delayed until Sept. 16.

Homeowners worried about paying their Port Coquitlam property taxes — due July 2 — can wait a little longer to pay, says the city.

To help businesses and residents facing economic hardship during the pandemic, Port Coquitlam has cancelled the typical 5% late fee in July and deferred the usual second penalty in August until Sept. 16. 

This change gives taxpayers until Sept. 15 to pay their 2021 taxes without incurring a late fee. However, those who can afford to pay by July 2 are encouraged to do so because property taxes support a wide array of essential city services. 

Residents also have a new process this year for claiming their Home Owner Grant. 

The provincial government is now administering the Home Owner Grant, and applications must be submitted online at gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant or by phone at 1-888-355-2700 rather than through the city. 

This is the only change to the grant program for 2021. 

DEFERRING PROPERTY TAXES AN OPTION FOR ELIGIBLE HOMEOWNERS

The provincial government also offers homeowners the option of applying to defer their 2021 taxes if they meet certain criteria, through either the regular program for people who are age 55 or older, a surviving spouse or a person with disabilities, or through the Families with Children Program. 

For information or to apply, visit gov.bc.ca/propertytaxdeferment. 

Interest is changed of between 0.45% for the regular program and 2.45% for the families with children program and the financial hardship program. 

Information and Resources

• Tax and budget information: Visit or portcoquitlam.ca/taxes for information about tax payments andportcoquitlam.ca/2021budget for information about the 2021 budget.

• Prepayment program: To make it easier to pay, residents are encouraged to take advantage of the city’s tax prepayment plan, which divides the following year’s utility and/or tax payments into an equal number of pre-authorized payments. The best time to start is in July. Visit portcoquitlam.ca/prepayment to sign up for 2022.

• Go paperless: Residents and businesses can also sign up for a MyPortCoquitlam account at my.portcoquitlam.ca to give them 24/7 secure access to information about their property taxes, utilities and dog and business licences. Subscribers can also choose to receive their tax and utility bills by email.