For additional information on Home Owner Grant eligibility, please click here.
Buying or Selling Your Property
If you are buying or selling a property, there are other factors that will determine the amount that you can claim for the home owner grant.
If you purchased your property during the current tax year, you may be eligible for the home owner grant if you meet the following requirements:
- The previous owner didn’t pay all of the property taxes
- The previous owner didn’t claim the grant
- You didn’t receive a grant this year for another home
- You’re occupying the property when you apply for the grant
The home owner grant that you’re eligible to claim will be applied against only the property taxes that the previous owner didn’t pay. Contact our office for more information on how much you can claim for your grant.
Click here for 2019 Tax Rates.
2019 Property Tax Insert
Did you Know?
The Town of Ladysmith is only responsible for determining a portion of your overall property taxes. Altogether, 41 per cent of your bill is set by other agencies to pay for services like schools, the Vancouver Island Regional Library, the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Cowichan Regional Hospital fund. Sewer and water parcel taxes make up 21 per cent of taxes we collect and help to ensure the Town’s infrastructure is properly maintained.
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*Click on pie chart to expand.
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My Property Assessment Went Up. How Does This Affect My Property Taxes?
The value of your property is assessed by the B.C. Assessment Authority yearly.
Each January, BC Assessment Authority mails property assessment notices to the owners of 2+ million properties in the province. The notice contains your assessed value, which is the estimated market value of your property as of July 1st of the previous year, the property classification, and tax exemption status.
In Ladysmith, residential property assessments rose by 11 per cent for 2019. However, this does not mean that your property tax will automatically increase. Here is how to tell if you property taxes will go up: if your assessment has increased more than the average assessment increase in your property class, then it is likely you will see a higher tax increase. The diagram below is taken from the BC Assessment website.
**The diagram above assumes that there are no changes in the budgetary requirements of your taxing authority and/or any other taxing agency (from BC Assessment).
If you disagree with your property tax assessment, you must file an appeal with BC Assessment by January 31. You can call 1-866-825-8322, or complete the form at the following link, which also gives full information about the appeal process:
https://info.bcassessment.ca/Services-products/appeals
Questions relating to your property assessment should be referred to the B.C. Assessment Authority in Nanaimo (#300 - 125 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5B2) at 1.800.977.2775 or 250.753.6621. For more information on the B.C. Assessment Authority, visit the BC Assessment website.
Property taxation is the most important single source of municipal revenue. The value of your property, as assessed by the B.C. Assessment Authority, is multiplied by the tax rates as set out by each of the taxing jurisdictions to determine your property taxes.
If you have questions regarding property taxes, please contact the Financial Services Department at 250.245.6414, ext 6206 or email ccopp@ladysmith.ca.
2018 Home Owner Grant
If you missed claiming the 2018 Home Owner Grant, you can apply for it by filling out the Retro-Active Home Owner Grant and bringing it to City Hall before December 31, 2019.
2019 Property Tax Due Date is July 2nd, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.
Property Tax Payment Options:
- electronically at participating financial institutions;
- in person at City Hall (cash, cheque or Interac);
- at most financial institutions in Canada or;
- by mail. Please Note: Postmarks are NOT accepted as date of payment.
- Home Owner Grants must be received at City Hall or electronically before the due date.
If you have any questions regarding your Tax Notice, please contact City Hall at 250.245.6400.