The City of Kelowna is reminding its property owners that 2014 property taxes must be paid by midnight, Wednesday, July 2.
And it is encouraging those paying to use online or telephone banking to make their payments. “We encourage taxpayers to pay through their bank using online or telephone banking because it’s quick, easy and you get to bypass the hassle of waiting in line (at city hall),” said Lynn Walter, revenue manager for the city.
“Alternatively, taxes can be paid by mail, at drop boxes at various city locations or in person at City Hall with our friendly staff.”
Property taxes can be paid by cash, cheque, money order or debit card in Kelowna.
Taxpayers who plan to visit city hall to pay are also being reminded about road work adjacent to city hall at the Queensway Transit Exchange, as well as road improvements at Queensway and Water Street that started in May and will continue through August.
Transit stops have been relocated to Ellis Street. Parking is available in the downtown parkades, on Water Street between city hall and Stuart Park, on Doyle Avenue and in the visitor spaces in the city hall lot.
City hall will be closed for Canada Day, on Tuesday, July 1 but deposit boxes are available around the clock at the Water Street entrance to City Hall, at the Doyle Avenue parking lot exit and at the Parkinson Recreation Centre. Deposit boxes are emptied each evening.
Current taxes that remain outstanding after July 2, are subject to a five per cent late payment penalty. A second five per cent penalty is applied to any outstanding amount as of Aug. 6. Penalties are provincially legislated under the Community Charter and are not discretionary.
City taxpayers can also remove some of the stress of paying next year’s taxes by signing up to prepay through Kelowna’s Pre-Authorized Withdrawal System (PAWS).
Once this year’s taxes are paid, residents can sign up for prepayment of their 2015 taxes. Payments are calculated specifically for individual properties and an amount is withdrawn monthly. There are no fees and participants earn tax-free monthly interest. Current PAWS participants do not need to reapply.
New applicants can apply online at kelowna.ca/propertytax, call 250-469-8757 for more information or sign up at City Hall’s Revenue counter.
“On top of no fees and receiving interest on your payments, the City of Kelowna’s prepayment plan takes the guess work out of paying your property taxes,” said Walter. “As tax experts, we can be sure that you are paying the right amount, every time and on time.”
For more information about property taxes, visit kelowna.ca/propertytax, sign up for e-updates, email revenue@kelowna.ca or call 250-469-8757.
