For most homeowners, 2020 property taxes are due across the Lower Mainland on July 2, however some cities have provided a combination of COVID-19-related relief via: payment due date extensions; late payment penalty assistance; and lower overall tax rate increases for 2020, adjusted from previously approved budgets.
Here are the changes made across Lower Mainland municipalities for residential property taxes:
Note: It is considered an extension ('YES') if the municipality allows for penalty-free payments beyond the usual due date. Municipalities generally encourage early and on-time payments.
Extension: NO
Due date: July 2
Penalty assistance: YES
Penalties: 5% after July 2 and an additional 5% after September 15
Lower rate: YES
Rate deduction: “On April 20, 2020, Council decreased the City’ budgeted tax revenue increase from 2.97% to 2.12% in light of the financial uncertainties impacting residents and businesses at this time. The decrease to 2.12% reduced the 2020 municipal tax revenue increase from $4.3M to $3.0M, with $1.3M in savings going directly to taxpayers.” -City of Abbotsford
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: NO
Penalties: 10% after September 30
Lower rate: YES
Rate deduction: “City council is aware of the financial stress the pandemic has placed on Burnaby residents and businesses, and has taken measures to lower the property tax rate increase to 1.75% for 2020. The reduced property tax rate increase will be achieved through a delay in hiring and deferral of projects due to the current circumstances, without affecting services to residents.” -City of Burnaby
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: YES
Penalties: 5% after September 30
Lower rate: NO
Rate deduction: “Council voted in favour of a 2.98% rate hike on residential properties and 1.98% on commercial properties — the same increase outlined in the financial plan presented in December.” –
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: NO
Penalties: 10% after September 30
Lower rate: YES
Rate deduction: “The revised budget reduces the property tax increase from a planned 3.5% to 1.75%, which provides some financial relief for residents and businesses while also ensuring sufficient funding for base service levels. This 1.75% increase equates to $4.00 a month or $48 per year for a property assessed at $1 million.” –
Extension: NO
Due date: July 2
Penalty assistance: YES
Penalties: 1.75% after July 3 and an additional 8.25% after November 17
Lower rate: YES
Rate deduction: “For 2020, Council initially considered a 4.02% increase in property tax revenue and sent it to the public for input. Subsequently, when considering final adoption of the 2020 budget bylaw, and in light of COVID-19 impacts, Council adopted a reduced increase of 2% by deferring capital works and temporarily borrowing from reserves.” –
Extension: NO
Due date: July 2
Penalty assistance: YES
Penalties: 2% after July 2 and an additional 8% after September 30
Lower rate: YES
Rate deduction: “As approved by council, the overall property tax increase of 6.67 per cent has been adjusted to 1.83 per cent.” – and
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: NO
Penalties: 10% after September 30
Lower rate: NO
Rate deduction: NIL (increase stays at 3.8%) –
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: NO
Penalties: 10% after September 30
Lower rate: NO
Rate deduction: NIL
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: NO
Penalties: 10% after September 30
Lower rate: NO
Rate deduction: NIL (increase stays at 4.1%) –
Extension: NO
Due date: July 2
Penalty assistance: YES
Penalties: 2% after July 2 and an additional 8% after September 1
Lower rate: YES
Rate deduction: “The City has delivered a balanced 2020 budget with an overall tax rate increase of 2%. This reduced rate reflects our efforts to minimize the tax increase as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and provides funding that enables the City to continue to provide essential services to residents and businesses.” –
Extension: NO
Due date: July 2
Penalty assistance: YES
Penalties: 2% after July 2 and an additional 8% after September 1
Lower rate: YES
Rate deduction: “Concerned for the impact COVID-19 will have on residents and businesses ability to pay their taxes, council voted Monday night to chop the usual 3% increase down to 2%.” –
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: NO
Penalties: 10% after September 30
Lower rate: YES
Rate deduction: “COVID-19 Financial Relief Grant for homeowners. This optional one-time grant for residential taxpayers offers $150 for a single-family home or $100 for a multi-family home. The COVID-19 Financial Relief Grant will be automatically applied to every privately owned account with a Class 1 Residential designation. There is no need to apply for the grant. If you do not require the reduction in your property tax bill and wish to decline the one-time grant (i.e. you wish to pay the full amount of your residential property taxes without a $100 or $150 reduction), please send an email with the subject line “Waive Grant” to [email protected]” -
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: YES
Penalties: 5% after September 30
Lower rate: YES
Rate deduction: “Council agreed to eliminate this year’s proposed tax increase – originally 0.48 per cent for the average home,” –
Extension: YES
Due date: July 2
Penalty assistance: YES
Penalties: 5% on October 1
Lower rate: YES
Rate deduction: “On April 21, council’s finance committee recommended the city reduce a planned tax increase of 3.62% to 1.61%.” –
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: NO
Penalties: 10% after September 30
Lower rate: YES
Rate deduction: “Council also approved budget amendments that will result in a two percent decrease in the previously approved property tax amount. This includes cancelling plans under Council’s Long-term Financial Management Strategy to increase the annual transfer to reserve of one percent to support capital improvements and funding for new or replacement facilities.
A further one percent will come through placing the hiring of 12 RCMP Officers and five RCMP support positions on hold, delaying phased funding for the City Centre Community Centre North, and deferring the operating budget impact of projects previously approved in the 2020 Capital Budget. Combined, the proposed changes will reduce 2020 property taxes by $4.6 million.” –
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: NO
Penalties: 10% after September 30
Lower rate: NO
Rate deduction: NIL (increase stays at 2.9%) –
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: YES
Penalties: 5% after September 30
Lower rate: NO
Rate deduction: NIL (increase stays at 7%) –
Extension: NO
Due date: July 2
Penalty assistance: YES
Penalties: 2% after July 2 and an additional 8% after September 1
Lower rate: NO
Rate deduction: (increase stays at 6.1%) –
Extension: YES
Due date: September 30
Penalty assistance: NO
Penalties: 10% after September 30
Lower rate: NO
Rate deduction: NIL (increase stays at 3.1%) –
