Taxes & Utilities
PROPERTY TAXES FAQ
How much property tax do I have to pay?
The amount you pay is based on the funds needed to provide municipal services for the year. Tax rates are set by Council to determine how to share the cost of providing the services. Tax rates and your property assessment determine how much property tax you pay. Each year in January, your property assessment is sent in the mail by BC Assessment. The annual tax rate is then applied per thousand dollars of assessed value to calculate your annual property taxes.
How do I appeal the assessed value of my property?
BC Assessment determines the assessed value of your property. You can visit their website to search for your assessed value, and to appeal your assessment.
When are property taxes due?
Property taxes are due on the first banking day after July 1 of each year. If payment has not been made prior to the due date shown at the top of your tax notice, a 10% penalty will be applied to all outstanding amounts on the day after the due date. Penalties also apply to Home Owner Grant amounts that have not been claimed by the due date.
How do I claim my Home Owner Grant?
Visit the Province of British Columbia website to find out if you are eligible and to apply for a Home Owner Grant.
How do I pay my property taxes?
Village of McBride taxes can be paid in the following ways:
- At the Village Office with cash, cheque or debit card.
- By mailing a cheque or money order made out to "Village of McBride" (Please include your roll number on cheques or money orders.)
- In person or online banking at the following institutions: (Please use your roll number as your account number for online payments.)
-
- Scotiabank
- Toronto Dominion
- Bank of Montreal
- Tangerine
- Central 1 Credit Unions
What happens if I don't pay my annual property taxes?
Property taxes that have not been paid by December 31 of the year they were billed will be considered in "arrears" on January 1 of the following calendar year. Interest will accumulate based on an interest rate set by the Province. If arrears taxes are not paid by December 31 of the second year, they will be considered "delinquent" as of January 1 on the 3 year. On the last Monday in September of the 3rd year, any property owing delinquent taxes may be put up for auction at an annual tax sale, so that the municipality can recover outstanding tax amounts. All properties subject to tax sale will be advertised in 2 consecutive newspaper ads prior to the annual tax sale.
Utility Bill FAQ's
How are my Utility Bills calculated?
When do Utility Bills get mailed?
When are Utility Bills due?
How do I pay my Utility Bill?
Village of McBride Utilities can be paid in the following ways:
- At the Village Office with cash, cheque or debit card.
- By mailing a cheque or money order made out to "Village of McBride" (Please include your utility account number on cheques or money orders.)
- In person or online banking at the following institutions (Please use your utility account number as your account number for online payments):
-
- Scotiabank
- Toronto Dominion
- Bank of Montreal
- Tangerine
- Central 1 Credit Unions
What happens if I don't pay my Utility Bill by the due date?
All Utility amounts not paid by December 31 of the year they are billed will have a 10% penalty applied. The unpaid amount with penalty is then transferred into your property tax account as "arrears" and start accruing interest as of January 1 of the following year.
2024 Tax Sale will be held at 10am on October 7, 2024 at Council Chambers, 100 Robson Centre.
The following notes are intended to provide a general outline of the tax sale process. For more information about the annual sale of properties, read the information below or consult the Local Government Act, in particular (but not limited to) Sections 645 to 672.
- The Village is required by the Local Government Act to sell at Tax Sale all properties whose taxes have not been paid for three (3) years.
- The Local Government Act gives the Collector authority to sell a property for the upset price, which equals all outstanding taxes, penalties and interest, plus five per cent (5%) tax sale costs and Land Title Office fees.
- All property sales are "as is" without warranty or guarantee by the Village of McBride.
- Registration required for bidders; desk opens at 9 am.
- Requirement to adhere to all BC Provincial Health Officer orders pursuant to the Public Health Act (BC).
- 2024 Tax Sale List will be advertised in the Little McBride Paper on September 25th and October 2nd, and the Rocky Mountain Goat on September 26th and October 3rd, 2024 as per legislated requirements.
Advertising
- The Local Government Act requires municipalities to advertise in two issues of a local paper. The second advertisement must be no less than three, 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 three weeks prior to the Tax Sale.
Tax Sale
- A public auction will be held at 10 a.m. on the last Monday in September each year for each property with delinquent taxes.
- Prospective bidders are advised to research the property in advance.
- The minimum bid is the amount of the Upset Price.
- If no bidding takes place within three calls by the Collector (auctioneer), the Village is declared the purchaser at the Upset Price.
- If the last Monday in September is a holiday, the annual tax sale must instead be held on the next Monday that is not a holiday.
Purchasing a property
- The highest bid will be recorded.
- The successful bidder is required to have their social insurance number or business number if the bid is on behalf of a company.
- Payment is to be in the form of guaranteed funds (cash, certified cheque or bank draft) for the full bid amount.
- The payment must be received by 12:30 p.m. on the day of the Tax Sale.
- At 12:45 the day of the auction we will either adjourn or close the auction.
- If the highest bidder does not pay by 12:30 p.m. we will conduct another auction the next day at 10 am.
- NOTE: It’s recommended to make arrangements with your financial institution to ensure you can provide guaranteed funds by the deadline
Notifying charge holders
- The Collector is required by law to complete a title search on any property sold at Tax Sale 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 fees 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 Village has been declared the purchaser, 50 per cent 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.
- If the property is redeemed, the Collector will refund to the Tax Sale purchaser the purchase price, plus interest to the date of redemption.
- For information regarding rights during redemption period, please see the Local Government Act - Section 665
Property not redeemed
- If the property isn’t redeemed during the one-year period, the Collector registers the new owner at the provincial Land Titles Office, thus cancelling all previous registered charges, except for those matters set out in Section 276(1) (c) to (g) of the Land Title Act and any lien of the Crown, an improvement district or a local district.
- The new owners are required to pay the property transfer tax to the Provincial Sales Tax Administrator after application has been made to register in the Land Titles Office
