Prepaying Your Property Tax
The Pre-Authorized Withdrawal Plan (PAWS) is an optional payment plan that provides an opportunity for taxpayers to make monthly payments towards the upcoming year's property taxes through an automatic deduction from their bank account.
To qualify for the City's program your tax account must be up-to-date or have a credit balance.
Please note that if there is a balance outstanding on your tax account when the Tax Notice is issued (end of May), the City will not withdrawal the remaining balance and a separate payment must be made.
Home owners are still responsible for claiming their Home Owner Grant Annually before the tax due date to avoid any penalties.
How to enroll in the Plan
To enroll in the Plan, please complete the application form:
- Online Pre-Authorized Withdrawal Plan Application Form
- PDF Pre-Authorized Withdrawal Plan Application Form
Highlights of the Plan
- There are two options available: the City will estimate your monthly installment (this is recalculated each year) or you choose your monthly installment (this will only be changed upon written request).
- The regular program is comprised of twelve (12) monthly payments collected on the 15th of each month from July to June. You can enroll in the program at any time, however, the installments will be amortized over the number of months remaining before property taxes are due.
- Interest paid is set by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The rate is updated quarterly.
- There is no fee for this service.
- You can withdraw at any time.
- This program is not meant as a personal savings account - refunds are subject to an administration fee.
How to Prepay Your Property Taxes
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Enrolling in the Prepayment Plan
To be eligible to enroll in the plan the property tax account must be up-to-date (no outstanding balance) or have a credit balance.
- Please read the Terms and Conditions before enrolling in the plan
- Make sure you include a Void Cheque or Bank Authorization Form along with the application
- Your application must be received by the 5th of the month for an effective date of the 15th of the current month
You can also complete an application form in person at the Service and Resource Centre (411 Dunsmuir St).
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Important Information About the Prepayment Plan
- This is a prepayment plan, therefore you are paying your taxes in advance for the upcoming year. I.e. Payments made from July 2022 to June 2023 will be applied towards the 2023 property taxes which will be levied in May 2023.
- Prepayments will be reflected in your Tax Notice as a credit under "Adjustments/Prepayments" in the bottom section of the notice. The tax notice will include the June prepayment even though the tax notice is generated in May.
- Prepayments are based on an estimate, therefore, it is possible that there could be a balance owing after the last installment. Any outstanding balance will not be withdrawn from your bank account.
- Balance owing will be shown on the Tax Notice as a debit (+) and you must make a separate payment for this amount. If this is not paid by the due date, a penalty will be added based on the amount outstanding.
- Credit balance (overpayment) will be shown on the Tax Notice as a credit (- or in brackets). If you enrolled in the plan where the City estimates your monthly payments, any credit will be included in the calculation for the upcoming year's installments.
- The new estimated installment will be reflected in the Tax Notice as a message.
- You are responsible for claiming the Home Owner Grant every year.
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Calculating the Prepayment Amount to be Withdrawn
There are two plan options:
1. The City will calculate your monthly installment:
a) Multiply the most recent tax levy by 5%
b) Deduct eligible Home Owner Grant
c) Deduct any credits
d) Divide total by remaining months
e) Round to 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.
If you would like to estimate your property taxes, you can do so with the Residential Property Tax Estimator.
Please note: if there is a balance due after the installments, which will be reflected on your Tax Notice, the City will not withdrawal said amount. A separate payment must be made to avoid any penalties.
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Cancelling the Prepayment Plan or the Property Has Sold
You can cancel the plan at any time except between May and June as these two payments are including 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 to the office 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
- 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
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Returned Payments Due to Account Closures or Insufficient Funds
If the payment is rejected due to insufficient funds (or any other reason), a service charge will be applied to your installment account. If you have three (3) consecutive payments returned in one year, you will be removed from the installment plan.
Contact Us
Property Tax Department
Service and Resource Centre (directly behind City Hall)
411 Dunsmuir Street
Phone: 250-755-4415
Email: collections.info@nanaimo.ca
Last updated: June 20, 2024
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Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Questions about the collection of your personal information may be referred to the Legislative Services Department at 250-755-4405, or via email at foi@nanaimo.ca. Please also see our Privacy Policy.
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