Property Taxes

Property taxes are collected based on the funds required to balance the annual budget as approved by Town Council. Property taxes help pay for the municipal services which the Town of Smithers provides. The amount of property taxes you pay is based on the required tax rate and the assessed value of your property.

Property Taxes are due on Monday, July 4, 2022

Notices are mailed at the end of May and can be viewed online. If you have not received your notice by the second week of June, please contact the Finance Department at 250-847-1600 or finance@smithers.ca

Property taxes for all property tax classes is July 4, 2022. A 10% penalty will be applied on July 5, 2022, to all outstanding balances. Residents are encouraged to pay on time to avoid a penalty.

Click on a link below to discover available payment options, and continue reading to find answers to our most frequently asked questions about property taxes.

Payment Options

PLEASE NOTE: A 10% penalty will be applied to all unpaid property tax balances on July 5, 2022.

Property Tax Savings

Please visit Property Tax Savings to ensure you are not missing out on any important grants or other opportunities to reduce the amount you owe on property taxes.

Important Property Tax Information

You can find various information on important property tax items below. Should you have any questions or require further information please contact the Finance Department.

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.
Find more information about Home Owner Grants
The Town of Smithers offers a Property Tax Prepayment Plan, which you may wish to participate in.
You can make tax prepayments for the next tax year (2023) using the Town of Smithers' "Tax Prepayment Plan".
Tax prepayments start in August of each year and end by mid May of the year the taxes are billed out. Payments are taken out of your bank account automatically each month. Interest is paid on the tax prepayments. Forms to enroll in this program can be obtained from Town Office or downloaded below.
Tax Prepayment Enrollment: Brochure and Application Form
Many property owners choose to have their property taxes paid by their mortgage company or financial institution (the Mortgagor). When property owners make their mortgage payments, the Mortgagor allocates a portion of each total mortgage payment to a property tax account held by the Mortgagor.
If your taxes are being remitted by a mortgage company or financial institution, you will still receive a property tax notice from the Town of Smithers. The Town of Smithers mails to each Mortgagor a listing of all known properties to which this Mortgagor remits property taxes on behalf of. It is between you and your Mortgagor to ensure the correct property taxes are paid to the Town of Smithers taking into consideration your eligibility of the Provincial Home Owner Grant. You are not required to take your property tax notice to your Mortgagor - they will already have been advised of the property taxes outstanding on your property.
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.
Note: The Mortgagor must advise the Town of Smithers that they require annual property tax information on your property. As a precaution, it is recommended that if you have a new mortgage that you take a copy of your property tax notice to your Mortgage holder to ensure that they are remitting property taxes on your behalf.
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.

Frequently Asked Questions

On December 31st of each year - taxes, interest and penalties unpaid for the current year are transferred to arrears taxes. The previous years' taxes plus interest and penalties are transferred to delinquent taxes. Taxes accrued and to accrue on land and its improvements, are a special charge on the land and improvements, and have priority over any claim, lien, privilege or encumbrance of any person except the Crown, and do not require registration to preserve it.
Property owners and registered charge holders will be advised by registered mail in August of each year that their property is subject to the tax sale proceedings. The registered letter will outline the outstanding taxes and interest to date and amount required to avoid tax sale. This amount must be paid in full prior to the last Monday of September in each year. Any payment made within fifteen (15) days of the tax sale date must be either cash, money order, bank draft or by debit card.
Property tax rates are based on the required funds from the Financial Plan as approved by Council each year.
- 2022 Financial Plan
- 2022 Tax Rate Bylaw

Property Tax Bylaw

To view current and historical property tax rates and bylaw's please visit Property Tax Rate & Poll Tax

Property Taxes are due on Monday, July 4, 2022

Property Tax Savings

Important Property Tax Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Property Tax Bylaw

Historical Property Tax Information