Home owner grant process changed

Jan 5, 2021 | 12:02 PM

There is a major change in how residential property owners will claim their 2021 home owner grant (HOG).

The province, not the municipality you live in, will now take the grant application directly.

B.C. has announced the 2021 home owner grant threshold is set at $1.625 million, ensuring the same percentage of British Columbia homeowners continue to be eligible.

The province is taking over full administration of the grant program to ease the burden on municipalities. It already administers the grant for rural homeowners. Homeowners in all municipalities will now submit their applications directly to the province instead of through their municipal office. Similar to previous years, applications will open in May when a majority of property tax notices are received.

Homeowners are reminded to keep their property assessment notice from BC Assessment or property tax notice from their municipality. They will need their roll and jurisdiction number from their notice to apply for the HOG with the province.

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The grant is reduced by $5 for every $1,000 of assessed value above the threshold. Some low-income seniors, veterans and people with disabilities can also apply for a supplement that replaces any grant amount they lose due to the value of their home being over the threshold.

The grant amounts for 2021 for homeowners located in a northern or rural area (outside Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley Regional District and the Capital Regional District) are:

* up to $770; and

* up to $1,045 for homes in northern or rural areas where the homeowner is 65 years or older, or the homeowner is a person with a disability.

Homeowners may also be eligible for property tax deferment if they are 55 years or older or are financially supporting a dependent child.

To find out more about Home Owner Grant centralization starting this year, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/home-owner-grant

To find out whether you qualify for property tax deferment, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/property-taxes/annual-property-tax/defer-taxes

People with questions about their assessed property values, including questions about challenging assessments, can contact BC Assessment: https://www.bcassessment.ca/

by Kevin Rothwell

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