Property Taxes

Read First

Property Taxes are mailed the third week of May.

• Due date is July 4 each year.
• Penalty on current year taxes unpaid as at 4:30PM on July 4 is 10%
• Penalty is applied to all outstanding current taxes, including unclaimed Home Owner Grants
• It is important for all homeowners to claim their Home Owner Grant WITH THE PROVINCE here: www.etax.gov.bc.ca/btp/HOG or via phone at 1-888-355-2700 before July 4, 2022.

If you are interested in Property Assessment, Click here.

Maximize Utility Discount / Reduce Property Tax Penalty

• Pay your Utilities before the deadline to receive the discount
• Claim your homeowner grant
• Make a partial payment or set up online regular payments
• Investigate the Property Tax Deferment Programs

Payment Options

Permissive (Property) Tax Exemptions

As per Section 224 of the Community Charter, Council may exempt certain lands or improvements or both from taxation. Community Charter Section 224.

A permissive tax exemption is a means for Council to support organizations within the community which further Council’s objectives of enhancing the quality of life (environmental, economic, social, cultural) and delivering community services economically. There is no obligation on the part of Council to grant exemptions.

The exemptions will be approved for a two-year period (tax years 2023-2024).

Council will consider applications for permissive tax exemptions annually. The opportunity to apply will be advertised in the local newspaper and on the City’s web site. Applications can be picked up at City hall, downloaded from the web site or emailed upon request.

Applications must be submitted to Financial Services, using the prescribed application. Applications for 2023-2024 will be due on or before 4:30 PM on September 12, 2022.

Financial Services will review the applications for completeness and will contact applicants for additional information as necessary.

Permissive Tax Exemption Policy

2023-2024 Permissive Tax Exemption Application

We encourage you to fill out the application online, print, sign and mail it in.

Register and View your Property Tax Account Online

You may view details of your Property Tax account including assessments and bill summaries if you are registered.

1. Click on the “Register / Sign In” below.
2. Click on “Register” on the upper right of the screen.
3. Complete the required fields.
4. Click “Register”. Once registration is complete a new screen will appear.
5. Click on your Name on the upper right hand corner of the screen.
6. Under “Need to Add an Account”, select PT-Property Taxes.
7. Use the last 8 digits after the 451 of your Roll Number (including the decimal, i.e. 451 09999.030 ➔ 09999.030) and the Access Code/PIN from your Property Tax Notice.
8. Click on “Save Account”.
9. You account is now saved and you can add additional properties or utility billing accounts under the same profile.
10. To view your Property Tax account place your cursor over the “Online Services” tab above the City logo and click on “Property Taxes” or access through the “Quick Link” tool at the top of the page.

Provincial Home Owner Grant

Effective January 1, 2021, the Province of BC is responsible for the Home Owner Grant program.  All homeowner and retroactive grant applications must be submitted directly to the Province using their online system at www.gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant or phone 1 888 355 2700 to speak with a live agent.

Please ensure that your homeowner grant application is submitted by the “Due Date” on your tax notice to avoid penalty.

Effective January 1, 2021 the City of Merritt is no longer able to accept homeowner or retroactive grant applications.

Property Tax Sale

Tax Sale Process

The following notes are intended to provide a general outline of the tax sale process. For more information about the annual sale of properties, prospective purchasers should consult the Local Government Act, starting with Section 645.

• The City is required by the Local Government Act to sell at Tax Sale all properties whose taxes have not been paid for 3 years.
• The Local Government Act gives the Collector authority to sell a property for the Upset Price which equals all outstanding taxes + penalties + interest + 5% tax sale costs + Land Title Office fees.
• All property sales are “as is” without warrant or guarantee by the City of Merritt.
• Advertising
  • The Local Government Act requires municipalities to advertise in a local paper not less than 3, or more than 10 days prior to the Tax Sale.
  • The legal description and street address must be published.
  • To avoid your property being listed in this ad in the newspaper, your delinquent taxes must be paid approximately 2 weeks prior to the Tax Sale date.

Tax Sale

• A public auction will be held at 10 am, on the last Monday in September each year in Council Chambers, City Hall.
• Bidding is accepted on all properties.
• Prospective bidders are advised that it is their responsibility to search the title of the property in advance to determine if there are any charges registered against the property.
• The minimum bid is the amount of the Upset Price.
• If no bidding takes place within 3 calls by the Collector (auctioneer), the City is declared the purchaser at the Upset Price.

Purchasing Property

• The successful bidder is required to have their SIN or BN, your corporate seal if required.
• Payment is to be in the form of cash or certified cheque for at least the upset price amount at the close of the Tax Sale.
• The balance owing must be received by 12:00 pm on the day of the Tax Sale.
• If full payment is not received by 12:00 pm on the day of the Tax Sale, the Collector again offers the property for sale.

Notifying Charge Holders

• The Collector is required by law to search all property titles and within 90 days after Tax Sale notify all registered charge holders shown on each property.

Redemption

• The original owner has one year after the property is sold at Tax Sale to pay the taxes and buy back their property. This is called redemption.
• All registered charge holders have full right to redeem the property.
• To redeem the property, the charge holder must remit the full upset price, plus interest on the purchase price at a rate set by the Province, within one year of the Tax Sale.
• If the property has been sold at Tax Sale and the City has been declared the purchaser, 50% of the upset price, plus interest may be paid as an instalment thus extending the redemption period by 11 months and 21 days. This applies only to property having improvements.
• As soon as the property is redeemed, the Collector will refund to the Tax Sale purchaser the purchase price, plus interest to the date of redemption