Property Taxes

The following factors may affect the amount of your tax bill:

• Increase in the tax rate
• Change in property assessment value Link to Property Assessments
• Increase in taxable value
• New or increased utility charges
• New Local Improvement charges for a project in your area
• Changes in Home Owner Grant status

• The Home Owner Grant is available to most residential property owners who occupy their property.
• Tax deferment is a provincial loan program that assists qualifying BC homeowners in paying their annual property taxes.

• It is still the responsibility of the property owner to complete the Home Owner Grant application directly to the provincial government every year (if eligible)
• To avoid penalties, submit the Home Owner Grant application online directly to the provincial government
• Your financial institution will request tax information directly from the City so you do not need to provide them with copy of the bill.
• Water and sewer levies are the homeowner’s responsibility. Your financial institution is advised of property taxes only.

• No Grant: Pay this amount if this property is not your principal residence.
• Basic Grant: Pay this amount if you are the registered owner of the property and meet all residency qualifications.
• Additional Grant: Pay this amount if you qualify for the regular grant and meet one of the additional qualifications.

Each owner of the property receives a bill for notification purposes only. Only one payment is due per folio number/property.

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 your Home Owner Grant before the property tax due date.

If you recently purchased the property, the name on the bill may be the previous owner. However, as the current owner you are responsible for the property tax levy. You must pay the full amount on the bill and claim the Home Owner Grant (if eligible) by the due date to avoid penalty.

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.

Ask your lawyer if you are responsible for claiming the Home Owner Grant directly to the provincial government. 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 claimed directly with the provincial government or phone 1-888-355-2700.

You will only be able to claim your grant this year if there is a balance owing on the account.

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

Even if the reassessment results are still pending, we recommend that you pay the amount owing by the due date to avoid any penalties. Upon your request, we will refund over payments to the property tax levy due to a reassessment.

Yes. Learn about the City’s Tax Prepayment Plan for property taxes and/or utilities.

Learn about claiming the Home Owner Grant.

Errors and/or corrections on property tax billings are processed through the BC Assessment Authority at 1-866-825-8322. This information will then be downloaded to the City system for tax and utility billings.

New property owners
New owners should contact the Port Coquitlam Tax Office to find out if any taxes are outstanding. Please have the property address ready along with the strata lot number if applicable.

Former owners
If you receive a notice for a property you have sold, mark “SOLD” on the envelope and put it back in the mail. Canada Post will return the notice to the City, which will redirect it. You may also phone the Tax Department at 604.927.5425.

Selling your home

• Credits on your property tax account remain on the account. The purchaser assumes that credit. Your legal counsel will reflect this on the Statement of Adjustments upon the sale of your home.
• Please cancel your prepayment plan when your property is being sold.  Written cancellation notice must be received by mail or fax by the Tax Office at least five business days prior to the last day of any given month.

The City cannot change your mailing address. To change your mailing address, contact the BC Assessment Authority at 1-866-825-8322 or complete this change of address form.

You may also 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

The City’s system will show the new address in about 6-8 weeks.

Change of Name 


Any changes to the ownership of a parcel, including name changes, should be filed at:

BC ASSESSMENT – Lower Mainland
200-2925 Virtual Way
Vancouver BC V5M 4X5

Lower Mainland Land Title Office
88-6th Street, New Westminster  BC
V3L 5B3
Tel 604.630.9630
www.ltsa.ca

Balances 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 submit your Home Owner Grant application online directly to the provincial government by the due date.