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KELOWNA - Kelowna property taxes for 2016 must be paid by midnight, Monday, July 4.

If residents have not received their tax notice, they are asked to contact the City of Kelowna’s Revenue Branch at 250-469-8757.

Property taxes can be paid by cash, cheque, money order or debit card. By applying for the Provincial Home Owner Grant every year before taxes are due residents can save money on their taxes. For more information about payment options and the homeowner grant, visit kelowna.ca/propertytax.

Payments can be made through the taxpayer’s bank via online, telephone or in-person, via City drop boxes, and at City Hall, 1435 Water Street, Kelowna (closed for Canada Day, Friday, July 1).

Current taxes outstanding after July 4, 2016 are subject to a five per cent late payment penalty, followed by a second five per cent penalty for outstanding taxes after Aug. 2, 2016. Penalties are provincially legislated under the Community Charter and are not discretionary.

Once 2016 taxes are paid, residents can schedule next year’s taxes as a recurring bill pre-payment through their financial institution. Taxpayers can estimate their 2017 taxes based on their current tax bill and then set up equal prepayments throughout the year, using “Kelowna” (taxes) as the payee with their tax roll number as the account number. For more information or to calculate your payments, call 250-469-8757.

For more information about City of Kelowna property taxes, payment options, the Provincial homeowner grant, and to sign up for e-updates visit kelowna.ca/propertytax.

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WEST KELOWNA - Tax notices were sent at the end of May to more than 13,000 property owners within the City of West Kelowna and payments are due by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 4, 2016.

With the possibility of mail service disruption, residents are asked to consider alternate methods of payment to ensure that property tax payments are received by the City before the deadline. Postmarks are not accepted as proof of payment. To avoid possible penalties, residents who have not yet paid their property taxes are encouraged to pay via one of the following options:

• In person, online or by telephone banking through most Canadian financial institutions; or
• Via courier or in person directly to West Kelowna City Hall at 2760 Cameron Rd., West Kelowna

Those who are unable to visit Municipal Hall during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding holidays, may use the exterior payment drop box located on the wall to the right of the main entrance. Please ensure drop box payments do not include cash, are placed in an envelope and attached to accompanying paperwork and that submitted forms are completed in full.

Avoid line ups by claiming your Home Owner Grant online through the City’s website at www.westkelownacity.ca/onlineservices. Once you have claimed your grant, you can also pay your taxes online by selecting the link to your financial institution and selecting “West Kelowna-Taxes” as the bill payee.

Please note, not all banks will accept the Home Owner Grant. Follow up with your financial institution to find out more.

Any current taxes not paid by the close of business on July 4 are subject to a 10% penalty. Those who are unable to pay their full taxes can reduce their penalty by paying as much as possible and claiming their Home Owner Grant by the due date.

News from © iNFOnews, 2016