(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
March 13, 2019 - 5:00 PM
KELOWNA - The March 31 deadline for applying for an exemption from the new Speculation and Vacancy Tax is fast approaching and there is no appeal process for those who file late.
Between mid-January until the end of February, the Ministry of Finance sent notices to all residential property owners in Kelowna and West Kelowna, telling them how to apply for an exemption from the tax, which is aimed at absentee owners who don’t rent out their properties.
Kelowna and West Kelowna are the only Interior cities where homeowners are subject to the tax - a tax they will all pay unless they apply for, and qualify for, an exemption.
A Jan. 15 release from the Ministry stated, in part: “Residential property owners who do not complete their declaration before April 1, 2019, will receive a tax notice of assessment. Owners whose property is not exempt from the tax have until July 2, 2019, to pay their assessed tax.”
A ministry official confirmed to iNFOnews.ca that you cannot appeal "an assessment you receive because you didn't submit a declaration by the deadline.”
You also can’t appeal an assessment if you disagree with the tax.
While it is a fairly short and simple process to file the application on-line, and it can also be done by phone, the letters mailed out contain a Declaration Code and a Letter ID that are needed to file for the exemption. And, if more than one person owns the property, each person has to file a separate application.
People can call the tax call centre at 1-833-554-2323 for more information.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2019