Pre-Authorized Withdrawals - Property Taxes
The Pre-Authorized Withdrawal Plan (PAWS) is an optional payment plan that provides an opportunity for taxpayers to make monthly pre-payments towards the upcoming tax year through an automatic deduction from their bank account.
Please note: taxes must be paid in full to enroll in the plan.
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 manual 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.
Enroll in Pre-Authorized Withdrawals
To enroll in the plan, please complete and submit the application form below:
- 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.
Property Tax Plan FAQs
-
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).
-
Calculating the Prepayment Amount to be Withdrawn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.
-
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
-
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: August 2, 2024
Help us improve our website
Collection and use of your personal information
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.
-
Parks, Rec & Culture
- Recreation Facilities & Schedules
- Parks & Trails
- Activity Guide
- Events
- Register for a Program
- Drop-In Schedules
- Public Art
- Culture
- Poetry
-
City Services
- Garbage & Recycling
- Home & Property
- Water & Sewage
- Emergency Services
- Online Services
- Cemetery Services
- City Services Directory
-
Property & Development
-
Building Permits
- Online Building Permit Application
- Building Permit Revision
-
Application for a Residential Building Permit
- Access (driveway) Permit
- Accessory Building Permit
- Alteration Permit
- Building Envelope Repair
- Carriage House
- Demolition Permit
- Fence or Retaining Wall Permit
- Geotechnical Reports
- Locate Permit
- New Construction Permit
- Plumbing or Services Permit
- Secondary Suite Permit
- Special Inspection Permit
- Swimming Pool Permit
- Woodstove Installation Info
- Green Home Initiatives
-
Apply for a Commercial Building Permit
- Access (driveway) Permit
- Commercial Alteration Permit
- Building Envelope Repair Permit
- Demolition Permit
- Fence or Retaining Wall Permit
- Geotechnical Reports
- Leasehold Improvement
- Locate Permit
- New Commercial Construction Permit
- Occupant Load Permit
- Signs Permit
- Special Inspection Permit
- Sprinkler Requirements
- Fees and Bonding
- Commercial Plumbing Permit
- Bylaws for Building
- Forms and Guidelines
- Book a Building Inspection
- Report Illegal Construction
- Request Building Plans
- Building Permit Statistics
- Permit Fee Calculator
- Building News and Alerts
- Fast Track Building Permits
- Development Applications
- What's Building in my Neighbourhood
- Development Activity Map
- Community Planning
- NanaimoMap
- Rebates
- Engineering Survey
- Zoning and Parking Bylaws
- Soil Removal and Depositing
- Heritage Buildings
- Sustainability
-
Building Permits
- Transportation & Mobility
-
Your Government
- News & Events
-
City Council
- Contact Mayor & Council
- Council Meetings
-
Boards & Committees
- Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness
- Board of Variance
- Design Advisory Panel
- Finance and Audit Committee
- Governance and Priorities Committee
- Mayor's Leaders' Table
- Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel
- Special District 68 Sports Field and Recreation Committee
- Public Safety Committee
- Understanding Council Committee Structures
- Council Policies
- Mayor's Office
- Council Initiatives
- Proclamations
- Bastion Lighting Requests
- City Bylaws
- Budget & Finance
- Records, Information & Privacy
- Elections
- Departments & Contacts
- Careers
- Maps & Data
- Projects
- Tourism Nanaimo
- Community Safety and Wellbeing
- Grants
- Awards
- Accessibility & Inclusion
-
Doing Business
- Economic Development
- Doing Business with the City
- Business Licences
- Filming in Nanaimo
- City Owned Property
- Encroachments onto City Property
- Liquor Licences
- Cannabis Retail
- Business Improvement Areas
- Procurement Services
- Get Involved
- About Nanaimo
- Green Initiatives