Property Taxes

• Property Tax Notices

  Notices are sent by mail in late May for the period of January 1 to December 31 of the current year. To avoid possible mail delays, register for Online Services to have your tax notice sent by email. Visit our Online Services to register. 

  • If you haven’t received a tax notice by June 15, please contact the Finance Department via email or by phone at 250-485-6203
    • Not receiving a property tax notice may occur due to a recent property purchase, land title change, or outdated mailing address. Be sure to update your mailing address and contact information with the Town as soon as possible to avoid disruption.
    • If a property sale occurs during the year, taxes are adjusted by a notary or lawyer during the sale process. The Town of Oliver does not adjust taxes due to property sales.
  • Notices will include the municipal property taxes and in some cases, parcel taxes. Contact the Finance Department for any questions about parcel taxes.
  • The notice will also include general taxes collected for other levels of government. For questions regarding other charges, please contact the corresponding organization below:
    • BC Assessment Authority: 1-866-825-8322
    • Municipal Finance Authority (MFA): 250-383-1181
    • Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (Hospital, RDOS, and 911): 250-492-0237
    • School (Province of BC): 250-590-0239
    • Sterile Insect Release Program (RDOS): 250-469-6187
• Home Owner Grants

  The Home Owner Grant Program is administered by the Province of BC. Learn more about the province’s home owner grant program here.

  The home owner grant reduces the amount of property taxes you pay each year on your principal residence. The grant is available to homeowners who pay property taxes to a municipality.

  • Must apply every year
  • Only one qualifying owner can claim the home owner grant for a property each year. The grant amount may be higher for a homeowner who is a senior, veteran or person with a disability, and that homeowner must be the one who is the applicant to receive the higher grant amount for the principal residence.
  • To apply online, visit the Province of BC's website 
  • To apply by phone, call toll free 1 888 355-2700
    • When you apply, you will need your social insurance number and folio number
    • Must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
    • Live in BC
    • Occupy the residence as your principal residence
  • Apply before the tax due date July 2, 2026 to avoid a penalty. Unclaimed home owner grants are considered unpaid taxes and are subject to the 10% penalty if claimed after the due date.

  You also must claim the grant even if you are paying through your mortgage or deferring your payment. 

• Property Tax Penalties

  The Town of Oliver charges an automatic 10% penalty on all current taxes outstanding as of July 3rd. Penalties are statutory and Town Staff does not have the discretion to waive or reverse them.

  • Unclaimed home owner grants are considered unpaid taxes and are subject to the 10% penalty if claimed after July 2nd, 2026.
  • If after December 31, taxes are still not paid, further interest penalties are applied to the outstanding balances. Interest on outstanding balances is calculated at rates set quarterly by the Province of British Columbia. 
• Tax Rates

  A tax rate is established by taking the net revenue requirement of the municipality and dividing it by the total assessed value of all properties in their jurisdiction.

  For example, if a municipality requires $2 million from taxation to cover its budget and the total assessed value of all properties within their jurisdiction is $1 billion, the tax rate is 0.00200.

  Budget Need ÷ Assessed Value = Tax Rate

  $2 million ÷ $1 billion = 0.00200

  This rate is then used to calculate property taxes.

  Tax Rate x Assessed Value = Property Taxes

  0.0020 x $530,000 = $1,060.

  To find out specific tax rates, please visit the Province of BC Local Government Tax Rates website.

  Current year’s Tax Rates Bylaws can be found here

• Payment Options

  In Person at the Finance Department

  Cash, cheques and debit cards are accepted in office. Post dated cheques are also accepted.

  Cheques by Mail 

  Cheques can be mailed to Town of Oliver Box 638, Oliver, BC V0H 1T0. Please allow sufficient time for delivery. The Town Finance Department must receive the payment by tax due date. If there is a mail service interruption, the payment deadline will not change.

  Credit Card (online only)

  Credit cards are not accepted at Town Hall or Finance.  Credit Card Payments are available ONLINE ONLY with a 2.5% service fee. Please click here to make your payment.  Note: The service fee is not collected by the Town, it is collected by the credit card provider.

  Online Banking (Internet/Telephone)

  Online Banking Bill Payee set up instructions

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  IMPORTANT NOTES:

  • Please ensure that you are paying the correct account (Utilities versus Property Taxes) and the correct account number. Misallocated payments will only be corrected on a one-time basis. Subsequent payment adjustments will be subject to a $25.00 administration fee.
  • If you have recently moved, you MUST update your bank payee with new property tax and utility account numbers. Otherwise, your payments will go to your previous property, and will require an adjustment. 
  • The Town does not consider a postmark or a teller stamp as proof of payment.
  • E-TRANSFERS are NOT accepted.

  Property Tax Pre-Payment Plan

  For information on setting up your account, visit the Pre-authorized Payments page. If you sign up for the Town's Property Tax Pre-Payment Plan, you do not need to re-apply every year. You must make sure you claim your Home Owner Grant (if eligible) and any balances owing are paid in full by July 2, 2026. (See Total Amount Due on your tax notice)

  If your banking information changes, please contact the finance department and provide updated banking information. Email  or call 250-485-6203.

• Address, Name and Title Changes

  Change Address

  The property tax accounts stay with the properties. If you have sold or purchased your property, the lawyers will send the updated information to the Land Title office and the Land Title office then sends the information to the Town. We then update the accounts with the new owner’s name and mailing address, as listed on the land title.

  If you require a mailing address change, please contact the Finance Department via email or by phone at 250-485-6203. 

  You will also need to change your address with BC Assessment at 1-866-825-8322 or complete the online address change form.**If there is more than 1 owner on title, you will need to include them on this change form.

  IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are moving within Oliver and you pay your property taxes and utilities online,  you MUST update your bank payee with new property tax and utility account numbers. Otherwise, your payments will go to your previous property.

  Change Name or Title

  Any changes related to title requires notifying the Kamloops Land Titles Office. You may contact a land title corrections officer or have these changes made by a notary or lawyer acting on your behalf.

  Talk to a Land Title Corrections Officer at:

  Kamloops Land Title Office
  114-455 Columbia Street
  Kamloops, BC V2C 6K4

  Website

  Tel: 1-877-577-5872
  Fax: 1-250-371-3717

More Property Tax Information

• Assessments

  How do assessments impact taxes?

  BC Assessment establishes property values and issues notices in January.

  The Town of Oliver sets tax rates and issues notices in May.

  These are two separate processes, but one does have an impact on the other.

  How do I appeal my assessment?

  You cannot appeal your property taxes; however, you can appeal your assessment by contacting the BC Assessment Authority:

  • Call 1-866-825-8322
  • Visit BC Assessment online

  Who do I call if I have more questions?

  For inquiries or concerns regarding your assessment notice please contact the BC Assessment Authority by phone at 1-866-825-8322.

  For inquiries or concerns about your property tax notice, please contact the Finance Department by email or phone 250-485-6203.

• Deferments

  The Province of B.C. offers a program to allow you to defer all or part of your annual property taxes on your home. Under these programs, taxes are paid on your behalf by the Province, and are accrued along with simple interest set by the Minister of Finance. 

  You may defer all or a portion of your current year taxes on your principal residence after the amount of the Home Owner Benefit.  You cannot defer user fees for sewer, garbage and recycling.  Do not forget to claim your home owner grant.

  Property Tax Deferment Program

  If you have questions about the Property Tax Deferment program, please call 1 888 355-2700 toll free (in B.C.) or 250 387-0555 (outside B.C.), or email taxdeferment@gov.bc.ca. Please visit the Province of BC's website for eligibility requirements.  

  If you have questions about eTaxBC, please call eTaxBC support at 1 877 388-4440, option 1. Please visit the eTax BC website for application details.

• Permissive Tax Exemptions

  The purpose of the Town’s tax exemption bylaws are to exempt properties specified in the bylaw from paying all or a portion of the municipal portion of property taxes.  Properties owned by the municipality or other levels of government and used for public purposes are 100% exempted under the Community Charter. 

  Other properties are generally exempted only for buildings and the land directly beneath the footprint of the building.  It has been Council’s practice to also provide permissive tax exemptions to all of the land surrounding these types of properties.

  In order for a property to be considered for exemption from taxes the property must be included in the Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw.  Council of the Town of Oliver has adopted a Permissive Tax Exemption Policy which outlines criteria and decisive factors for review of granting tax exemptions that will consistently be applied to all applications.  All current properties with exemptions will need to complete an annual declaration and re-apply every 4 years. The current tax exemption bylaw expires for the 2028 tax year. 

  New Applications 

  Applications for the 2027-2028 taxation years are being accepted. Application deadline of July 31st, 2026. 

  Annual Declaration

   If you received a Permissive Tax Exemption in 2026, you are required to complete an Annual Declaration form by July 31, 2026. 

  Permissive Tax Exemption Bylaw

  Permissive Tax Exemption Policy

  Permissive Tax Exemption Application

  Community Charter Section 224

• Tax Sale

  2026 Tax Sale 

   

  Information regarding this year's tax sale will be posted September 14, 2026.

  For further information, please contact Deputy Finance Officer at 250-485-6208 or by email.

  Tax Sale Auction Information

  • The Town is required by the Local Government Act to sell at Tax Sale all properties whose taxes have not been paid for 3 years.
  • Tax sales in BC are conducted on the last Monday in September at 10:00 am for any properties with delinquent taxes outstanding. If the last Monday in September is a holiday, the annual tax sale must instead be held on the next Monday that is not a holiday.  
  • The Local Government Act requires the Town to advertise tax sale properties in two issues of a local newspaper.
  • All property sales are “as is” without warranty or guarantee by the Town of Oliver.
  • The Local Government Act gives the Collector authority to sell a property. The minimum bid is the amount of the Upset Price which consists of:
    • all outstanding taxes plus
    • penalties plus
    • interest + 5% tax sale costs + Land Title Act fees.
  • If no bidding takes place within three calls by the Collector (auctioneer), the Town is declared the purchaser at the upset price.

  Redemption

  • In order to buy back your property after it’s been sold in a tax sale, you have one year from the date of tax sale to do so. You’ll need to pay:
    • The upset price (see breakdown above)
    • All costs for maintenance of the property
    • Taxes advanced by the purchaser
    • Interest, on the purchase price, from the tax sale date to the date of redemption
  • When property is sold at an annual tax sale under the Local Government Act, all rights held by persons who, at the time of the tax sale, were an owner of the property or the registered owner of a registered charge on the property, immediately cease to exist, except as follows:
    • The right of redemption
    • The right to bring an action to set aside the Tax Sale
    • The right to possession
  • During the redemption period, the registered owner at the time of the tax sale retains the right to possession, and may reside at the property for up to one year from the date of the tax sale. The purchaser has the right to enter the property only to maintain it in a proper condition and to prevent waste during this period.

  Property Not Redeemed

  • If a property sold at tax sale is not redeemed, the Collector registers the purchaser as the new owner with the Land Titles office. This cancels all previous registered charges, except for those set out in the Land Title Act.

  For more information about the annual municipal tax sale, please refer to the Local Government Act, part 16, sections 645-672 and the Local Government website.