About 30 people were lining up to pay their property taxes at Richmond City Hall on Monday morning as the city opened the municipal building to the public for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.
City hall is only open for property tax payments and physical distancing measures are in place with two cashier dealing with transactions. Cash is not being accepted for payments – the city normally accepts up to $10,000 in cash payments.
Property taxes are due by July 2 but, because of the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent economic downturn, council voted to allow residents and businesses to pay by Sept. 30 without any penalty. After that, at 10 per cent penalty will be imposed.
Residents and business owners can also pay through their financial institution, the city’s website or by dropping off a cheque in the city’s dropbox. Any cash dropped off will not be processed.
City hall will be open Monday to Friday from 8:15 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Information on the City of Richmond property tax payment process can be found at www.richmond.ca/tax.
Tax or utility enquiries can be made by phone to the city's tax department at 604-276-4145 or via email to [email protected].
Information and eligibility requirements for the BC Property Tax Deferment Program are available on the provincial website at www.gov.bc.ca/propertytaxdeferment.
