Property owners are reminded that 2014 property taxes must be paid by midnight, Wednesday, July 2.

“We encourage taxpayers to pay through their bank using online or telephone banking because it’s quick, easy and you get to bypass the hassle of waiting in line,” says Lynn Walter, Revenue Manager for the City of Kelowna. “Alternatively, taxes can be paid by mail, at drop boxes at various City locations or in person at City Hall with our friendly staff.”

Property taxes can be paid by cash, cheque, money order or debit card.

Taxpayers who plan to visit City Hall to pay their taxes should be aware that upgrades to the Queensway Transit Exchange and other road improvements began in May and will continue through August. Transit stops have been relocated to Ellis Street. Parking is available in the downtown parkades, on Water Street between City Hall and Stuart Park, on Doyle Avenue and in visitor parking in the City Hall lot. To help plan your trip, visit kelowna.ca/parking.

City Hall will be closed for Canada Day, Tuesday, July 1; however, deposit boxes are available around the clock at the Water Street entrance to City Hall, Doyle Avenue parking lot exit and at Parkinson Recreation Centre. Deposit boxes are emptied each evening.

Current taxes that remain outstanding after July 2, 2014 are subject to a five per cent late payment penalty. A second five per cent penalty is applied to outstanding taxes on Aug. 6, 2014. Penalties are provincially legislated under the Community Charter and are not discretionary.

City of Kelowna property taxpayers can remove some of the stress of paying next year’s taxes by signing up to prepay through the City’s Pre-authorized Withdrawal System (PAWS). Once 2014 taxes are paid, residents can sign up for prepayment of their 2015 taxes. Payments are calculated specifically for individual properties and withdrawn monthly. There are no fees and participants earn tax-free monthly interest. Current PAWS participants do not need to reapply. New applicants can apply online at kelowna.ca/propertytax, call 250-469-8757 for more information or sign up at City Hall’s Revenue counter.

“On top of no fees and receiving interest on your payments, the City of Kelowna’s prepayment plan takes the guess work out of paying your property taxes,” says Walter. “As tax experts, we can be sure that you are paying the right amount, every time and on time.”

For more information about property taxes, visit kelowna.ca/propertytax, sign up for e-updates, email revenue@kelowna.ca or call 250-469-8757.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014