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Property tax penalty unfair

The Editor, Due to Canada Post labor service halt, I just received my municipal property tax today (July 5, 2011) in my mail box, to find the due date is July 4! I called the City of Richmond and the staff on the phone insist that I am liable to pay

The Editor,

Due to Canada Post labor service halt, I just received my municipal property tax today (July 5, 2011) in my mail box, to find the due date is July 4!

I called the City of Richmond and the staff on the phone insist that I am liable to pay the five per cent penalty based on "No Grant" amount plus "Basic Grant" amount for main residence property.

I then asked him to let me speak to his supervisor, so I could explain the situation. She was even tougher and explained that the property tax bill was mailed out a couple weeks before the post service trouble.

I have a rental unit as well. The tax bill for that property still has not yet come.

I believe many other folks here are encountering the same situation and will likely be charged a penalty without even having the chance to pay their bill.

This is somewhat unfair and it appears the government is earning the extra benefit from innocent tax payers.

I'd like to alert all property owners in the city, call for notice of this unpleasant expenditure.

Shen Wang

Richmond