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Property Tax and Billings FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions :

1. When are my taxes due?
2. What is City Hall’s address?
3. What are the methods of payment?
4. What are your hours?
5. Do you accept post-dated cheques?
6. Can I pay by credit card? 7. There are 3 different amounts on my property tax notice. Which one do I pay?
8. Why do I still receive a bill if my bank pays for me?
9. I would like to set up a bill payment option by telephone/Internet banking. What do I use for the account or reference number?
10. My brother/husband/etc. and I each received a bill. Do we pay both?
11. Can I make a partial payment of my taxes?
12. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was not able to pay my taxes by the due date. Can the City waive the 5% penalty?
13. If the bill for my property is not in my name, who pays the bill?
14. The Property Tax Levies have been paid through the lawyer. What else do I need to do?
15. I have overpaid my Property Tax Bill (or Utility Bill). How do I get a refund?
16. If there is a request for reassessment, do I have to pay the taxes by the due date?
17. I have received a property tax notice for a property that I no longer own. What should I do?
18. Can I make monthly installments for next year’s taxes?
19. My mortgage company pays my taxes. Should I forward this bill to them?
20. Can I still claim the Home Owner Grant without making payment?
21. Do I send my homeowner grant to the bank?
22. I did not apply for the grant in previous years. What can I do?
23. If the registered owner has recently passed away, can we still claim the grant on their behalf?
24. If I am selling, who claims the Home Owner Grant? If it's sold, who claims the grant?
25. I will be away for an extended period. How soon can I claim the Home Owner Grant?
26. There is an error in the spelling of my name on my property tax notice is incorrect. Who do I call?
27. My mailing address has changed. Will you change my address so that all correspondence or bills will be mailed to my new address?
28. How are property taxes assessed?
29. Who can I talk to about the charges on my property tax bill?
30. I’m on prepayment do I owe anything? If there is an amount owing, will that be taken from my next monthly installment?

1. When are my taxes due?

Taxes for 2013 are due before midnight Tuesday July 2, 2013.

2. What is City Hall’s address?

City of Port Coquitlam

2580 Shaughnessy Street

Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 2A8

3. What are the methods of payment?

Six Easy Ways to Pay

1. Through your financial institution's online or telephone banking.

2. In person at most Canadian financial institutions.

3. In person to cashiers at Port Coquitlam City Hall at 2580 Shaughnessy Street, Port Coquitlam.

4. 24-hour drop-off mail slot located to the right of the main entrance to Port Coquitlam City Hall.

5. By mail, to be received by July 2, 2013.

6. Sign up for the City's tax and utility Prepayment Plan.(link to prepayment plan application).

Don't forget to apply for your Home Owner Grant online or in person at City Hall Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30pm. If paying by telebanking or internet banking use your folio number (without the dash) as your account number.

4. What are your hours?

The Property Tax Department is open 8:30 am to 4:30 pm from Monday to Friday. Extended hours from June 24 – July 2: 8am – 5pm (closed June 29 – July 1).

5. Do you accept post-dated cheques?

Yes, we do. Please ensure that the information on the cheque is correct and complete.

6. Can I pay by credit card?

We do not accept credit cards for taxes. We accept debit cards, cheques and cash.

7. There are 3 different amounts on my property tax notice. Which one do I pay?

Column A: Pay this amount if this property is not your principal residence

Column B: Pay this amount if you are the registered owner of the property and meet all residency qualifications. 

Column C: Pay this amount if you qualify for the regular grant and meet one of the additional qualifications. 

8. Why do I still receive a bill if my bank pays for me?

Regardless of who is paying your property taxes, all property owners are notified of any levies. If you are eligible for the Home Owner Grant, you can apply for your grant online or use the remittance stub and submit the completed grant stub to City Hall by the due date in order to avoid penalties on the Home Owner Grant amount.

9. I would like to set up a bill payment option by telephone/Internet banking. What do I use for the account or reference number?

The 9 digit folio number that is on your Property Tax Notice is the correct account or reference number to use. Enter the folio number without the dash. Some banks require a 12 digit number, in that case please add 224 plus your 9 digit folio number.

10. My brother/husband/etc. and I each received a bill. Do we pay both?

If the folio number is the same, then you owe only one of the bills. Pay for only one physical property. You do not owe both bills collectively. Each owner receives a bill for notification purposes only.

11. Can I make a partial payment of my taxes?

Yes. If you are unable to make full payment of your taxes, we encourage partial payments prior to the due date. The 5% tax penalty is levied on any unpaid balance on the due date, therefore, any payment on your account will reduce the penalty amount that you are charged. You should also claim home owner grants before the property tax due date.

12. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was not able to pay my taxes by the due date. Can the City waive the 5% penalty?

Although the City understands the many difficulties that may make it impossible to pay your property tax bill by the due date, provincial legislation (Community Charter and Municipal Tax Regulation) requires Port Coquitlam to charge the penalty on all outstanding balances starting on the due date. Since the charging of this penalty is law, we cannot waive the penalty.

13. If the bill for my property is not in my name, who pays the bill?

If you recently purchased the property, you are still responsible for the Property Tax Levy, therefore you must pay the full amount on the bill and claim the grant (if eligible) by the due date. If you are not on title we require a copy of the Freehold Transfer, to claim the Home Owner Grant. Please contact the Tax Department to find out if there are any taxes outstanding and request a copy of your tax notice if you have not received one.

14. The Property Tax Levies have been paid through the lawyer. What else do I need to do?

Ask your lawyer if you are responsible for claiming the Home Owner Grant. If you are the new owner and you are to claim the grant, you will need to attach a copy of your Freehold Transfer. Ensure that your grant is at the Tax Department in City Hall by the due date. You will only be able to claim your grant this year if there is a balance owing on the account.

15. I have overpaid my Property Tax Bill (or Utility Bill). How do I get a refund?

To get a refund on overpayments, please submit a written request by mail or in person at City Hall. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for processing time. We mail all refund cheques to the registered owner.

16. If there is a request for reassessment, do I have to pay the taxes by the due date?

To avoid any penalties, we recommend that you pay the amount owing by the due date. Upon your request, we will refund overpayments to the property tax levy due to a reassessment

17. I have received a property tax notice for a property that I no longer own. What should I do?

Mark “SOLD” on the envelope and put it back in the mail. Canada Post will return the notice to us and we will redirect it or phone the Tax Department at 604 927-5425.

18. Can I make monthly installments for next year’s taxes?

The City has a pre-payment plan for taxes and utilities called the "Tax Prepayment Plan". To apply to join the tax and utility prepayment plan, complete the application form and submit it to the Tax Office along with a void cheque, allowing 5 business days before the end of the month.  Tax Prepayment Application

19. My mortgage company pays my taxes. Should I forward this bill to them?

No. The mortgage company will request information directly from the City. However, if this is a new mortgage, please confirm with your mortgage company that they will be paying on your behalf. Claim your Home Owner Grant online or forward your completed Homeowner Grant application directly to the City of Port Coquitlam, if eligible. Frequently, if you send your homeowner grant applications to the bank we will not receive it by the due date.

20. Can I still claim the Home Owner Grant without making payment?

Yes you may still claim the grant now and make payment at a later date. The advantage of claiming the grant now is to lessen the amount outstanding to be penalized. For example, if you owe $1,000 and your grant claim is $570, the amount left to pay is $430. If you are unable to pay by the due date, you will only be penalized on the $430. If you do not claim the grant and do not make any payments by the due date, then you will be penalized on the full $1,000.

21. Do I send my homeowner grant to the bank?

The most efficient way is to submit the grant online so it is posted to your account immediately. Or, you can send your home owner grant form directly to City Hall. Your bank will send the payment portion separately. You may be charged a 5% penalty on your grant amount if the form is lost in transit or arrives late.

22. I did not apply for the grant in previous years. What can I do?

The provincial government allows an extension of time in which to claim a grant for the previous year. Retroactive grant application forms are available at the Tax Department. We will need you to provide proof of residency. Retroactive applications are available for the preceding year only.

23. If the registered owner has recently passed away, can we still claim the grant on their behalf?

If a spouse or relative of the deceased owner is living at the property, then he/she may claim the grant on behalf of the owner, if the following applies:

Note: If the deceased was eligible for the additional grant during this calendar year, you may apply for the additional grant in the year of death only.

24. If I am selling, who claims the Home Owner Grant? If it's sold, who claims the grant?

Please talk to your notary or lawyer and they will advise you.

25. I will be away for an extended period. How soon can I claim the Home Owner Grant?

Property Tax notices are usually mailed out the week after the Victoria Day weekend. You may claim the grant on line when you receive the notice.

Note: if you leave the grant amount owing, you will be penalized on that amount. You can avoid penalties by paying the full amount owing now, and when you return home, you may claim the grant and request a refund.

You could also have someone else claim the grant for you as long as they have power of attorney. They will be required to submit a copy of the power of attorney when they apply for your grant.


26. There is an error in the spelling of my name on my property tax notice is incorrect. Who do I call?

Errors and/or corrections are processed through the BC Assessment Authority at 604-294-6441. This information will then be downloaded to our system for tax and utility billings. BC Assessment

27. My mailing address has changed. Will you change my address so that all correspondence or bills will be mailed to my new address?

You will need to contact the BC Assessment Authority at 604-294-6441 to request a change of address.

You may request a change in writing; include the roll number of the property, the previous mailing address, the new mailing address, your printed name and your signature. Send the letter to:

BC ASSESSMENT - North Fraser Region
420-2700 Production Way
Burnaby, BC V5A 4X1

Our system will show the new address in about 6-8 weeks. It is important to note that City Hall Screen is only for information purposes, we are unable to make any changes to reflect your new address.

28. How are property taxes assessed?

Properties are assessed by the BC Assessment Authority. If you would like to know how properties are assessed, please contact them at 604.294.6441.

The City determines property taxes by applying the assessed value of properties from the BC Assessment Authority to the current tax rate(s) to arrive at the amount of taxes owing each year.

29. Who can I talk to about the charges on my property tax bill?

Please call the tax Department at 604-927-5425 from Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays), 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Extended hours from June 24 - July 2: 8 am - 5 pm (closed June 29 - July 1). Questions can be sent by email to taxes@portcoquitlam.ca.

30. I’m on prepayment do I owe anything? If there is an amount owing, will that be taken from my next monthly installment?

Any balance owing will not be withdrawn from your July prepayment account. To avoid penalty, any outstanding balance should be paid by the due date. Also, if applicable please complete either an electronic home owner grant or sign and return the home owner grant application on the back of your tax notice to the Port Coquitlam City Hall by July 2, 2013.