Got your property assessment and want to appeal, theres not much time left if you want to this year. IF you think that something is wrong it's always a good idea to check this year's property assessment against last year's for any kind of discrepancy.

BC Assessment determines values for all properties in BC so municipalities can tax property owners based on a single province-wide set of standards. Tax rates differ from one municipality to another because they're set by the local governments, so even if the valuation of your home goes down, you could still pay more tax. BC Assessment isn't responsible for that, only for the value it sets for your home. Your property is assessed according to its value on July 1 of the previous year.

So how do you

Kamloops should escape the price shock homeowners in many parts of the province will experience when they tear open assessment notices next month.

Area deputy assessor Graham Held said yesterday that, while real-estate sales volumes in the Thompson region remain healthy, the market is not seeing the wild price increases found in the Lower Mainland.

“We’re looking at another flat market this year, a marginal increase,” Held said of assessment valuations.

Property owners across B.C. receive assessment notices in the first week of January. Those notices reflect property values as of July 1 the previous year.

“Certainly in the Kamloops market, it’s marginal increases,” Held said.

Kamloops & District Real Estate Association president Cyndi

Some interesting facts from the BC Government about receiving help with paying your property taxes.

Once you receive your property tax notice, you may be able to apply for a low interest loan to pay your current year property taxes on your principal residence. There are two programs you may qualify for: 

• Regular Program
  You may qualify for this program if you’re:
  • 55 or older during the current year or
  • a surviving spouse of any age or
  • a person with disabilities
• Families with Children Program
  You may qualify for this program if you're a parent, stepparent or financially supporting a child.

You can apply to defer a portion or all of your residential (class 1) or residential and farm (class 1 and 9) property taxes after