There are various grants and programs which may help reduce the amount you need to pay on your property taxes each year. Below you can find more information on some of these.
The Provincial Home Owner Grant Program helps reduce the amount of property taxes British Columbians pay on their principal residence.
To apply for the homeowner grant or find further information, please visit Province of British Columbia - Home Owner Grant or phone 1-888-355-2700 to speak with a live agent. You can no longer apply for the homeowner grant directly through the Town of Smithers.
If eligible, you must claim the Home Owner Grant and pay the remining amount of property taxes by the due date. The Home Owner Grant is a form of payment towards you property taxes. If the grant is not claimed prior to the due date, you will be levied a 10% penalty for the total property tax amount outstanding.
If your mortgage provider pays your property taxes, or if you defer your taxes, you are still responsible for claiming the Home Owner Grant each year. You are also responsible for notifying your Mortgagor of the grant you qualify for.
The Province's Property Tax Deferment Program is a loan program that allow property owners to defer annual property taxes as long as certain criteria are met.
Currently, there are two program which you may apply for if the qualifications are met. The Regular Program is for property owners that are 55 or older during the current year, a surviving spouse of any age, or a person with disabilities. The Families with Children program is for parents, step-parents or other person financially supporting a child.
To find out if you qualify and apply please visit the Provincial Provincial Tax Deferment Website
There is an application process through the Town that has to occur. There are a few fees and charges that the Province does not cover and they require that you claim your annual home owner grant. For more information on these Provincial Tax Deferment programs please contact the Smithers Town Office.
The Town of Smithers offers Seniors over the age of 65 an exemption from their annual water/sewer fees, under the Provisions of Bylaw 1941, schedules L & M.
Only Seniors, who are eligible for the "65 years of age and older" Provincial Home Owner grant and who sign a declaration stating that one, or all, of the following 3 criteria applies to them, will receive a 100% exemption off of the regular residential water/sewer user fees.
- Eligible for a Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement;
- Receive a Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement; and/or
- Undergoing financial hardship;
The process to claim the senior's annual water/sewer user fee exemption is as follows:
Senior's Water/Sewer User Exemption Claim Form
- Each year, when the senior citizen claims their annual "over 65 years of age" Provincial homeowner grant, they can claim their exemption from the annual residential water/sewer fees shown on their tax notice.
A signed and completed Senior Citizen Water/Sewer Exemption Claim Form is to be submitted to the Smithers Town Office by the property tax due date; and a reduction will be made to the senior citizen's current total property taxes owing by the annual water/sewer residential user fee senior citizen exemption claimed.
- Only those seniors charged a water/sewer user fee on their annual tax notice are eligible for an annual water/sewer user fee exemption.