Pre-Authorized Payment Plan
The Property Tax Pre-Authorized Payment Plan is an optional
payment plan which provides an opportunity for taxpayers to
make 10 equal monthly payments for property taxes. The payments
can be made any time by authorizing automatic transfer of
payments from a chequing account at any Canadian financial
institution to your property tax account with the District
of Saanich.
To apply, complete and SIGN the
Authorization Form (PDF 9KB) in this brochure and return
it with a VOID blank cheque to the following address:
District of Saanich
Tax Department
770 Vernon Avenue
Victoria BC
V8X 2W7
Eligibility Guidelines
- You need to have chequing privileges at a Financial Institution
in Canada.
- An Authorization Form (PDF
9KB) must be completed and submitted with a blank cheque
marked "VOID".
Monthly Payment
- A fixed monthly payment will
be mutually agreed upon between the applicant and the
District of Saanich at the time of application. Changes
to the monthly payment will be indicated on your annual
property tax notice.
- Pre-authorized payments are
applied firstly to outstanding taxes and then to the
following year's taxes, which are subject to penalty
or interest as applicable.
- Any over-payments will be
applied to the next year's taxes.
Payment Dates
- Pre-authorized payments will
be debited on the first business day on or after the
1st of each month.
- Pre-authorized payments start
August 1st and continue to May 1st for
a maximum of 10 consecutive automatic withdrawals.
- No prepayments will be withdrawn
in June or July.
Interest on credit balances
- Payments are credited to the tax account each month.
- Interest will be paid on your tax account credit balance
effective January of each year and then on each monthly
installment to April 1st inclusive. The interest is calculated
to the July penalty date each year.
- The interest rate is 3% below bank prime rate on December
15th of the preceding year.
- Payments are applied firstly to any outstanding taxes
plus applicable interest and/or penalty.
Annual Tax Notice
When you receive your tax notice in mid-May, it will show
the total of the accumulated credits plus interest earned.
If this amount is less than the property taxes due, you must
pay the outstanding amount by the penalty date to avoid a
10% penalty charge. The penalty date is the first working
day of July. In addition, your tax notice will indicate your
new monthly payment, if applicable.
Home Owner Grant
Even if you prepay your property taxes, property owners
meeting the eligibility requirements for the Home Owner Grant
must sign and complete the application form at the bottom
of the tax notice and return it to the District of Saanich
before the penalty date.
Important:
- Home Owner Grant applications that are incomplete,
unclaimed or late will result in a 10% penalty charge.
- Your utility account with the District of Saanich must
be paid to December 31st each year to avoid a transfer
onto your property tax account.
Dishonoured Payments
- All dishonoured payments will be subject to a service
charge set by the District of Saanich
- The District of Saanich may cancel enrolment in the Pre-Authorized
Payment Plan if two payments are not honoured by the financial
Institution.
Requesting Changes?
Written notification to the District of Saanich is required
30 days prior to a payment date for the following changes:
-
Selling your property
-
Changing your bank account, bank or
branch
- Withdrawal from the Pre-Authorized Payment Plan. If you
withdraw from the Plan, any payments received will remain
as a credit to your account.
Selling Your Property?
If you sell your property during the year, all pre-authorized
payments received will stay with the property tax account.
PLEASE CANCEL YOUR PLAN BY NOTIFYING THE DISTRICT OF SAANICH
TAX OFFICE. It is your responsibility to ensure that the conveyancing
lawyer or notary provides you with a full credit on your statement
of adjustments.
Further Information
For further information or general inquiries, contact the
Tax Office at (250) 475-5454 or come in person to 770 Vernon
Ave.
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