Pre-authorized Withdrawals (PAWS) FAQs

• There is no fee for this service.
• You can cancel at any time.

• The City pays interest on any credits at the end of each month (except May and June). The interest rate is set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, and the rate is updated quarterly.
• This lessens the amount owing at the tax due date.

There are two plan options:

1. The City will calculate your monthly installment by:

• Multiplying the most recent tax levy by 5%
• Deducting the eligible Home Owner Grant
• Deducting any credits
• Dividing the total by remaining months
• Rounding to the nearest $5

This amount is recalculated each year and shown on your Tax Notice.

2. You choose your monthly installment: you can set the payment amount to what works with your budget.

 Please note: if there is a balance due after the installments, the City will not withdrawal said amount - this will be reflected on your tax notice. A manual payment must be made to avoid any penalties.

You can cancel the plan at any time except between May and June as these two payments are included in the calculation of your Tax Notice.

To cancel the plan:

• Email collections.info@nanaimo.ca at least ten (10) business days before the next withdrawal
• If you cannot send an email, you can mail a letter or come in to the office located at 411 Dunsmuir Street

 

If you have sold your property:

• It is your responsibility to notify the City in writing to stop the withdrawals
• Cancellation notice must be received by the City at least ten (10) business days before the next withdrawal
• Any credits should be adjusted by the lawyer or notary involved
• A refund request should come from the lawyer/notary office
• Refunds are subject to a $25 administration fee and can take up to six (6) weeks to process
• Credits can be transferred to another property within the City upon request by the lawyer or notary involved and are not subject to an administration fee

The City may cancel a ratepayer’s participation in an installment plan after two (2) payments fail to be honoured in a twelve (12) month period.

You will continue to receive your user rates bill.

If you enrolled in the Auto Debit Plan, the comment section of your bill (bottom right corner) will indicate the amount that will be automatically withdrawn from your bank account on (or after) the discount date as indicated on the bill. 

Auto Debit Plan: your first withdrawal will be due on the next due date after you enroll, provided your application is received at least ten (10) business days before that date.

No. The plan is ongoing until we receive written request to cancel it. The City may cancel a ratepayer’s participation in an installment plan after two (2) payments fail to be honoured in a twelve (12) month period.

The discount date is the day up to which a 5% discount will be given on the current User Rates bill if paid in full. The discount date is typically four weeks after each billing date. 

If the payment is returned to the City, a $25 non-sufficient funds fee for each returned payment will be added to the account. If an account has three (3) consecutive non-sufficient funds charges in a year, the account may be removed from the plan. 

If you are selling, or have sold your property, please have your lawyer or notary contact the City in writing to ask that the payments be stopped. Requests must be received at least ten (10) business days before the next withdrawal date.

Email: collections.info@nanaimo.ca

Mail: 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5J6

Any credits on the account should be adjusted by the lawyer or notary involved.

To request any changes to the Auto Debit plan, you must complete a request using our Pre-Authorized Withdrawal form and submit it to the City at least ten (10) business days before the next withdrawal date.

Online form: Pre-Authorized Withdrawals - User Rates

If you are changing your banking information, please submit a void cheque or bank authorization form along with your request.

Email: collections.info@nanaimo.ca

Mail: 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5J6