Property Tax
Together We Fund Great Services
The District of Tofino sends property tax notices to all Tofino property owners annually before June 1. Property taxes cover the calendar year and are due the first business day after July 1 by 4 PM.
Municipal Property Tax Rates
District Council determines the budget it needs to provide services to residents and businesses. Each year in May, a Property Tax Rate is set to collect the necessary taxes to pay for the many important services provided.
Understanding Property Taxes
Property taxes are the District’s main source of revenue to pay for the services provided.
On your Property Tax Bill there are levies from the Province of BC for school taxes and for other regional bodies, including the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, Regional Hospital District, BC Assessment Authority, Regional Library, Municipal Finance Authority, and Police. These taxing authorities determine the amounts payable, and the District collects on their behalf, remitting 100% of what is collected.
Changes in property values do not change the overall tax levy.
Council sets the overall tax levy annually by determining the revenue required from property taxes to cover the annual budget. The rates are then developed based on applying the overall budget amount proportionately; each of the nine property classes has a different tax rate.
Tax Deferment Programs are available through the Province of BC.
Property Tax Assessment
The British Columbia Assessment Authority (BCAA) is an independent organization that determines the value of all properties in British Columbia. When establishing the market value of a property, BCAA considers many factors, including size, layout, age, condition, location, neighbourhood and the value of recent sales of similar properties. All owners receive a Property Assessment Notice by December 31 each year.
The assessed value of your property as determined by the BCAA is used to calculate how much property tax you will pay. It is important to check all details on the Property Assessment Notice. If you have questions about your property assessment, please call BCAA to speak with an appraiser.
The deadline to file a Notice of Complaint (Appeal) is January 31 at:
BC Assessment, Vancouver Island Region
Toll Free: 1-800-825-8322
Fax: 250-754-1890 (Nanaimo Office)
Mailing Address:
#300 - 125 Wallace Street
Nanaimo, BC V9R 5B2
Home Owner Grant
The Province of British Columbia's Home Owner Grant is a provincial program designed to help homeowners reduce the amount of property tax they pay on their primary residences.
This grant provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners, including seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities, by applying a reduction directly to their property tax bill.
Homeowners must meet specific criteria and submit an application each year to receive the grant, which supports sustainable and manageable living expenses across the province.
Annual Property Tax Sale
The Local Government Act requires the District to sell all properties whose taxes have not been paid for 3 years at Tax Sale. The Local Government Act gives the District's Collector authority to sell a property for the Upset Price, which equals all outstanding taxes + penalties + interest + 5% tax sale costs + Land Title Office fees. All property sales are "as is" without warrant or guarantee by the District of Tofino.
Advertising
The Local Government Act requires municipalities to advertise in a local paper not less than three (3), or more than ten (10) days, prior to the Tax Sale.
The legal description and civic (street) address must be published. To prevent having your property listed in this newspaper ad, your delinquent taxes must be paid approximately two (2) weeks prior to the Tax Sale date.
Tax Sale
Each year, a public auction will be held at 10 AM, on the last Monday in September in the Council Chambers located at 380 Campbell Street. Bidding is accepted on all properties. Prospective bidders are advised that it is their responsibility to search the title of the property in advance to determine if there are any charges registered against the property. The minimum bid is the amount of the Upset Price. If no bidding takes place within three (3) calls by the Collector (auctioneer), the District is declared the purchaser at the Upset Price.
Purchasing Property
Payment of the Upset Price (by cash or certified cheque) must be remitted immediately.
If the purchase price is above the Upset Price, the purchaser must pay the balance by 3 PM on the tax sale date.
If payment is not remitted, the Collector again offers the property for sale.
Notifying Charge Holders
The Collector is required by law to search all property titles and within ninety (90) days after the Tax Sale, notify all registered charge holders shown on each property.
Redemption
The original owner has one year after the property is sold at Tax Sale to pay the taxes and buy back their property. This is called redemption. All registered charge holders have full right to redeem the property. To redeem the property, the charge holder must remit the full Upset Price, plus interest on the purchase price at a rate set by the Province, within one year of the Tax Sale.
Rights During Redemption Period
Section 665 of the Local Government Act provides that when real property is sold at Tax Sale, all rights held by the owner at the time of the sale, immediately cease to exist, except for the right of redemption, the right to bring an action to set aside the Tax Sale, and the right to possession. The registered owner's right of possession is subject to the purchaser's right to bring action against the original property owner for waste (ie. damage or destruction to the premises) and the right of the purchaser to enter onto the property to maintain it in the proper condition and to prevent waste.
Damage, destruction, or loss of property during the redemption period is at the risk of the purchaser. The purchaser is advised to insure his interest in the property.
Property not Redeemed
If the property is not redeemed during the one (1) year period, the Collector registers the new owner at the Land Titles Office in Victoria, thus cancelling all previous registered charges, except for those matters set out in Section 276(1)(c) to (g) of the Land Title Act and any lien of the Crown, an Improvement District or a Local District.
The purchase of a tax sale property is subject to tax under the Property Transfer Tax Act.